TL;DR
- n8n and Make (formerly Integromat) do the same thing: connect apps and automate data flow. They differ in approach, pricing, and target user.
- Make: better for non-architects, ready templates, clean UX, no server management, more expensive at high volume.
- n8n: cheaper long-term, self-hosted option, better for complex workflows with LLM and code, requires technical support.
- Choice depends on: workflow size, budget, developer availability, and GDPR/data requirements.
- Recommendation: Make for < 5,000 operations/month and low technical support. n8n for AI workflows, high volume, and companies with their own developer.
n8n vs Make: why this question gets harder every year
n8n vs make automation are the two most popular workflow automation tools in international SMB markets in 2026. Three years ago Make (Integromat) was the obvious no-code automation leader for European SMBs. n8n was a curiosity for developers. In 2026 the gap is smaller than ever, and the choice depends on very specific conditions.
n8n vs Make automation today isn't a question of "which is better", but "which fits your case". Both tools went through major updates (n8n AI nodes, Make 2.0 Visual UX), both have AI integrations, both have international users. But they operate on different assumptions and have different pricing models.
How n8n vs Make automation looks under the hood?
n8n: flow-based, code when needed
n8n is open-source workflow automation. Each node is a workflow step: trigger, transformation, action. Key difference: at any point in the workflow you can write JavaScript or Python. You don't need to find a dedicated node for every operation, you can write logic from scratch.
Hosting: n8n Cloud ($20-50/month) or self-hosted (your own server, no licensing fees). Self-hosted is $0 on licensing, only infrastructure.
Make: visual-first, templates and UX
Make focuses on visuals and low entry barrier. Connections between nodes are animated, scenarios (workflows) look like flow diagrams. There are thousands of ready templates: "Automatically add Airtable record when new Gmail email appears" is one click.
Make is full SaaS: no self-hosted option. All data passes through Make servers (in EU, important for GDPR).
n8n vs Make comparison: table
| Criterion | n8n | Make |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Operations or flat | Monthly operations |
| Free tier | 250 workflow executions/month | 1,000 operations/month |
| Paid (starter) | $20/month (2,500 executions) | $9/month (10,000 ops) |
| Paid (growing) | $50/month (10,000 executions) | $16/month (10,000 ops) |
| Self-hosted | Yes (free) | No |
| Code in workflow | JS/Python in every node | Limited |
| AI integrations | Anthropic, OpenAI, Hugging Face native | OpenAI, Anthropic via HTTP |
| Templates | 400+ | 2,000+ |
| Learning curve | Higher | Lower |
| Support | Forum + docs (EN) | Forum + docs (EN) |
Prices April 2026 without annual discounts.
When does n8n win?
High volume + own server
Company with 50,000 operations/month on n8n Cloud: $150/month. Same company on n8n self-hosted: $15-30/month (VPS). On Make Core 50,000 ops: $59/month. Per year: n8n self-hosted around $250, Make around $700.
AI workflows with LLM
n8n has native Anthropic node for Claude API. You can build workflows where AI model makes decisions, executes code, and calls APIs based on Claude output. All without leaving n8n. Make requires HTTP Request node and manual JSON handling.
Code and custom logic
When workflow needs to do something without a node: n8n Code node lets you write any JavaScript. Parsing custom CSV format, date calculations, regex on text. In Make it's either a ready node or HTTP Request to your own API which complicates architecture.
Data privacy
Self-hosted n8n: client data doesn't leave your infrastructure. For companies with GDPR, HIPAA requirements or corporate clients this is an argument. Make processes data on SaaS servers (EU, but SaaS).
When does Make win?
Quick start without developer
Make has 2,000+ templates for popular integrations (Slack + Trello, Gmail + Google Sheets, Shopify + Mailchimp). Someone without technical background can have working workflow in 30 minutes. n8n requires understanding how input/output of each node works.
Small companies up to 10,000 ops/month
At this level Make is cheaper or comparable in price to n8n Cloud, and UX is clearly better. At 3,000 operations/month Make Core ($9/month) is more economical and convenient to use.
Integrations with popular SaaS
Shopify, Airtable, Google Workspace, Slack, HubSpot: Make has specialized nodes with full API coverage. n8n too, but fewer templates and less community content.
Which platform handles AI agents better?
Key question for 2026. AI agents (autonomous systems that make decisions, not just execute) require:
- Loops and conditions (agent decides what to do based on previous step result)
- Memory (context of previous steps)
- API calls depending on model decisions
n8n wins this comparison. Loop node, IF node, and Code node give flexibility needed to build real agents. Make has loops, but limited code and harder architecture for multi-stage AI agents.
From my experience: when a client comes with "I need automation with AI that analyzes data and makes decisions", we start with n8n. When client says "I need new Shopify order to add to Airtable and send Slack email", I show Make. Both cases are automation, but one is SaaS integration, the other is agentic workflow.
Read more about building AI agents and when n8n is the right backbone.
n8n vs Make: what if you have both?
Some companies use both: Make for simple SaaS integrations (many templates, zero maintenance), n8n for complex AI workflows and operations requiring code. Cost: $9-20 Make + $0 n8n self-hosted = $9-20/month for both.
This is a reasonable approach if you have a developer who maintains n8n. Without developer: n8n self-hosted is a problem when something breaks.
n8n vs Make automation: recommendation for international SMB
Choose Make if:
- You're connecting popular SaaS without custom logic
- You don't have a developer on team
- Volume is 1,000-10,000 ops/month
- You need working workflow in 2-3 days
Choose n8n if:
- You're building workflows with LLM and AI agents
- You have over 20,000 ops/month (self-hosted=savings)
- You need own data handling (GDPR, corporate clients)
- You have developer who can maintain it
If you don't know which to choose or need someone to design and implement workflows, we'll quote specific scope. Details in automation services.