Automation comparison · 2026
Make vs n8n (2026 Comparison)
Side-by-side: pricing, features, pros, cons, and our editorial winner for automation.
Winner summary
Make wins overall
Scoring 9/10 vs 8.8/10 in our 2026 review.
Cheaper
Make
Higher rated
Tie
Better free tier
Make
Feature comparison
| Dimension | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| ProductsVerdict score | 9/10 | 8.8/10 |
| User rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Starting price | $9/mo | $20/mo |
| Free trial | Free plan | Self-host free |
| Best for | Power users needing complex logic | Developers & privacy-first teams |
| Badge | Best Value | — |
Make key features
- Visual scenario builder
- Iterators & aggregators
- 1,500+ apps
- HTTP modules
- Error handling
n8n key features
- Self-hosted option
- 400+ nodes
- Code nodes (JS/Python)
- AI agent nodes
- Fair-code license
Make — pros & cons
Pros
- Best value per operation
- Powerful data mapping
- Visual debugging
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- Smaller app library than Zapier
n8n — pros & cons
Pros
- Self-hostable
- Free if self-hosted
- Code + no-code hybrid
Cons
- Requires technical setup for self-host
- Smaller community
When to pick which
Choose Make if…
- Workflow automation
- API orchestration
- Data ETL
- Marketing automation
Choose n8n if…
- Workflow automation
- AI agents
- Internal tools
- API orchestration