n8n vs Make.com 2026: Which Automation Tool Is Right for Your Business?

You are facing the decision: n8n or Make.com? Both tools are among the best automation platforms on the market, but they follow fundamentally different approaches. n8n bets on open source and maximum control, Make.com on visual simplicity and robust cloud infrastructure. In this comprehensive comparison, we analyze both platforms across every relevant category -- so you can make the right choice for your use case.

If you are also considering Zapier, read our full three-way comparison Zapier vs. Make.com vs. n8n.

n8n and Make.com at a Glance

Before we dive into the details, here are the key facts about both platforms:

User Interface and Usability

Make.com: The Visual Pioneer

Make.com has one of the best visual workflow interfaces on the market. Circular modules are connected via drag-and-drop, branches are immediately visible, and even complex workflows remain clear and organized.

Make.com UI strengths:

• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
• Clear visual representation of branches and loops
• Real-time data structure preview in each module
• Clear error markers directly on the canvas

For a detailed introduction, check out our Make.com Tutorial.

n8n: Functional and Extensible

n8n also offers a visual workflow editor that has improved dramatically in recent years. The interface is slightly more technical but offers more capabilities for power users.

n8n UI strengths:

• Canvas-based editor with free positioning
• Built-in code editor for JavaScript and Python
• Split view: workflow and data visible simultaneously
• Sticky Notes for documentation directly in the workflow

For getting started, we recommend our n8n Tutorial for Beginners.

User Interface Comparison

Verdict on usability: Make.com wins for beginner-friendliness. n8n is stronger for users who value code proximity.

Integrations and Connectors

The number of native integrations is a common decision factor -- but not the only relevant one.

Make.com: Broad Coverage

Make.com offers over 1,500 native integrations. From common tools like HubSpot, Shopify, and Google Workspace to specialized services, the coverage is broad. Make.com is particularly strong with:

• E-commerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon)
• CRM systems (HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive)
• Project management (Asana, Monday.com, Jira)
• Accounting (QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks)

n8n: Quality and Extensibility

n8n has approximately 400+ native nodes, supplemented by hundreds of community nodes. What n8n lacks in quantity, it makes up for in flexibility:

• HTTP Request Node: Any API can be connected, even without a native connector
• Community Nodes: Growing ecosystem of community-developed integrations
• Custom Nodes: Build your own connectors (JavaScript/TypeScript)
• Code Node: Any logic via JavaScript or Python

Integration Comparison

Verdict on integrations: Make.com has more out-of-the-box connectors. n8n offers greater depth and extensibility through code and community nodes.

Code Capabilities and Technical Flexibility

This is where the two platforms diverge most clearly.

n8n: Full Code Power

n8n allows JavaScript and Python directly in workflows. This means:

• Any data manipulation (regex, complex calculations, algorithms)
• Use of npm packages (in self-hosted deployments)
• Custom functions and libraries
• Direct database queries
• Complex API authentication flows

Make.com: No-Code with Code Options

Make.com primarily focuses on no-code. For technical users, it provides:

• Built-in functions (text, date, math, arrays)
• Custom JavaScript functions (limited)
• JSON/XML manipulation through built-in modules
• Regular expressions in filters

Code Capabilities Comparison

Verdict on code: n8n is clearly superior for technical teams. Make.com is sufficient for most standard use cases but hits its limits with custom requirements.

Pricing Comparison 2026: n8n vs Make.com

The pricing models of both platforms differ fundamentally.

Make.com Pricing (2026)

n8n Pricing (2026)

*Server costs approximately $10-50/month depending on provider

For full pricing details, see our comprehensive n8n Pricing 2026 article.

Cost Comparison at Scale

Important: The units are not directly comparable. A Make.com "operation" does not equal an n8n "execution" one-to-one. Make.com counts each module call as one operation, while n8n counts per workflow run. A workflow with 10 modules consumes 10 operations in Make.com but only 1 execution in n8n. Verdict on pricing: Make.com is cheaper than n8n Cloud at low to medium volume. n8n Self-Hosted is the most affordable option long-term but requires technical expertise.

Self-Hosting vs. Cloud: The Deciding Difference

The biggest differentiator between n8n and Make.com is the hosting option.

n8n Self-Hosted

• Full data control: Your data never leaves your server
• No volume limits: Unlimited workflows and executions
• Maximum customization: Custom nodes, npm packages, database access
• Server location of your choice: Germany, EU, or wherever you want
• Cost: Only server costs (from approximately $10/month on Hetzner)

Downsides: Setup effort (Docker, reverse proxy, SSL, backups), maintenance is your responsibility, updates must be applied manually.

Make.com Cloud

• No setup needed: Start immediately, no infrastructure to manage
• Automatic updates: Always the latest version
• EU data center: Servers available in the EU
• Reliability: 99.9% uptime SLA (Enterprise)

Downsides: No self-hosting option, data is stored with the provider, volume limits through pricing.

If you need support with self-hosting, we offer professional n8n implementation services.

GDPR and Data Privacy

For European businesses, data privacy is a critical decision criterion.

Verdict on data privacy: n8n with self-hosting offers the maximum GDPR compliance. No third party has access to your data. Make.com with EU data center is also GDPR-compliant, but data is stored with the provider.

Performance and Scalability

n8n

• Self-Hosted: Scales with your infrastructure (vertically and horizontally)
• Worker mode: Separate workers for parallel executions
• Queue system: Redis/Bull for reliable job processing
• No artificial limits: Everything depends on your hardware

Make.com

• Cloud infrastructure: Automatically scales (within plan limits)
• Parallel executions: Depends on plan (1 to unlimited)
• Data Store: Built-in data storage for intermediate results
• Operations limit: Artificial cap through pricing model

Verdict on performance: n8n Self-Hosted has no artificial limits and scales with hardware. Make.com offers hassle-free cloud scaling within plan boundaries.

Community and Support

Verdict on community: Make.com has the larger and more established ecosystem. n8n is growing fast and has a highly engaged developer community through open source.

Use Cases: When n8n, When Make.com?

Choose n8n when:

• Data privacy is your top priority -- Self-hosting guarantees full control
• You have a technical team -- Developers can fully leverage n8n
• High volume is expected -- Unlimited executions with self-hosting
• Complex custom logic is needed -- JavaScript/Python directly in workflows
• You want to avoid vendor lock-in -- Open source, no dependency risk
• Budget is limited but technical skills are available -- Self-hosting from $10/month
• You are building AI/ML workflows -- npm packages and Python integration

Choose Make.com when:

• Your team is non-technical -- The best visual interface on the market
• You want to be productive quickly -- No setup, start immediately
• Many standard integrations are needed -- 1,500+ native connectors
• E-commerce is your focus -- Strong Shopify/WooCommerce integration
• You do not want to manage infrastructure -- Hassle-free cloud solution
• Agency collaboration is key -- Established partner ecosystem
• Price-performance at medium volume matters -- From $9/month

You can also work with a specialized Make.com agency to help with the decision and implementation.

The Hybrid Approach: Using Both Tools

Some companies deliberately use both platforms:

• Make.com for marketing and sales: Quick workflows for lead management, social media, CRM integration
• n8n for data processing and backend: Complex ETL processes, API integrations, privacy-sensitive workflows

The tools communicate via webhooks. This way, you leverage the strengths of both platforms.

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FAQ: Common Questions About n8n vs Make.com

Is n8n really free?

n8n Community Edition is free to use if you self-host it. You only pay server costs (from approximately $10/month with providers like Hetzner or DigitalOcean). The cloud version of n8n starts at $20/month. For enterprise features (SSO, LDAP, extended execution logs), a paid license is required. Full details in our n8n Pricing 2026 article.

Which tool is easier to learn?

Make.com has the gentler learning curve. Non-technical users can build their first workflows within 1-2 days. n8n requires more ramp-up time, especially with self-hosting. For cloud users, the gap is smaller. Start with our n8n Tutorial for Beginners or the Make.com Tutorial.

Can I migrate from Make.com to n8n (or vice versa)?

Yes, but there is no automatic migration path. Workflows must be rebuilt manually. The logic can be transferred, but the implementation is tool-specific. Expect 2-8 hours of migration effort per workflow, depending on complexity. An experienced agency can accelerate this process.

Which tool is better for GDPR compliance?

n8n with self-hosting offers the highest GDPR assurance, as no data flows to third parties. Make.com with EU data center is also GDPR-compliant, but data is processed by the provider. For particularly sensitive data (health, finance, personal information), n8n self-hosted is the safer choice.

How do Operations (Make.com) and Executions (n8n) differ?

Make.com counts each individual module execution as one operation. A workflow with 8 modules consumes 8 operations per run. n8n, on the other hand, counts per workflow execution -- regardless of how many nodes the workflow contains. This makes n8n significantly cheaper per run for complex workflows with many steps.

Which tool has better AI integrations?

Both platforms offer integrations with OpenAI, Anthropic, and other AI providers. n8n has an advantage here through the ability to use Python code and npm packages directly. This allows advanced AI pipelines with LangChain, LlamaIndex, or custom models. Make.com offers solid standard integrations for common AI APIs that are sufficient for most use cases.

Can I use Make.com or n8n without programming skills?

Yes, both tools are designed as no-code/low-code platforms. Make.com is more strongly oriented toward no-code and can be used entirely without writing code. n8n also offers a visual editor that works without code but reaches its full potential with JavaScript knowledge. For pure no-code users, Make.com is the better choice.

Is n8n self-hosting worth it, or should I use the cloud?

Self-hosting is worth it if you have technical expertise (Docker, Linux) on your team, process high volumes, need maximum data control, or have a tight budget. The cloud is worth it if you want to start quickly, lack a DevOps team, need fewer than 50,000 executions/month, or want enterprise support. For setup assistance, you can engage professional n8n implementation services.

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Our Verdict: n8n or Make.com?

There is no clear overall winner. The right choice depends on your priorities:

Make.com wins on: Beginner-friendliness, number of native integrations, visual workflow design, price-performance at medium volume, fast project start. n8n wins on: Data privacy and GDPR, technical flexibility, cost at high volume, code integration, avoiding vendor lock-in. For most SMBs, we recommend Make.com as a starting point: fast setup, lower learning curve, strong price-performance ratio. For technical teams and data-driven companies, n8n Self-Hosted is the superior choice: unlimited possibilities, full control, minimal costs.

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We Help You Choose the Right Tool

Not sure whether n8n or Make.com is the better fit for your business? We provide vendor-neutral advice and help with implementation -- regardless of which tool you choose.

Our offer:

Free tool consultation -- We analyze your requirements and recommend the right tool

Proof of concept -- We build your most important workflow in both tools for direct comparison

Implementation -- Professional setup of n8n or Make.com by certified experts

Migration -- We help you switch from one tool to the other

The right platform is half the battle. The right implementation determines success.

Schedule a Free Consultation Now