Head-to-head comparison · 2026-07-18

Make vs n8n

Choose between operating models, not marketing checklists.

Make

Choose Make when the team needs visual control over non-trivial workflows.

  • Visual data flow
  • Strong branching and transformation tools
  • Official 35% affiliate commission for 12 months
VS

n8n

Choose n8n when control and extensibility justify technical ownership.

  • Cloud and self-hosted paths
  • Code-friendly workflow model
  • Official 30% revenue share for 12 months

Quick decision

Choose Make when

Teams that want visible branching, transformations, and detailed scenario control.

Choose n8n when

Technical teams that value code steps, deployment choice, and workflow control.

Control and maintenance

Make emphasizes visual scenario builder, while n8n emphasizes technical workflow automation. Validate branching, payload inspection, retry controls, credential ownership, and export behavior with the same representative workflow. The easier builder is not automatically the easier system to operate after six months.

Cost comparison

Do not compare headline plan prices alone. Model the number of runs, billable steps or operations, premium connectors, team seats, data transfer, AI usage, and human review. A platform can be cheaper at low volume and more expensive once a workflow fans out across several actions.

Shared caution

Make: Flexible scenarios still require ownership, error routing, and operations discipline. n8n: Self-hosting transfers reliability, upgrades, secrets, and incident response to your team.

Evidence

Primary sourceMake pricingChecked 2026-07-18. Verify current plan limits before purchase.
Primary sourcen8n pricingChecked 2026-07-18. Verify current plan limits before purchase.