n8n vs Make: Which to Choose for Business Automation
n8n compared with Make for automation: where data lives, how runs are billed, AI agents, custom code, learning curve. Who each suits and when to switch.
n8n and Make are the two most popular automation builders. In both you assemble a workflow from blocks: a lead arrives, parse it, write it to a spreadsheet, send an alert. The difference is in the details, and the details decide which one to build a system on that has to run every day.
I work in n8n daily; part of my AI agent newsroom runs on it. But Make is a good tool too, and for some tasks it is more convenient.
The short version
| n8n | Make | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | n8n cloud or your own server | Make's cloud |
| Data | Can stay with you | Passes through the vendor's cloud |
| Pricing | Self-hosted: essentially the server | By operations in your plan |
| Custom code | Code node in JavaScript and Python | Limited |
| AI agents | Built-in agent nodes, models, memory, MCP | AI and agent modules available |
| Learning curve | A bit steeper | Gentler, friendlier interface |
| Ready integrations | Many, plus any API | A great many |
When to choose n8n
- High run volume. If a workflow fires thousands of times a day, self-hosting is cheaper than paying per operation.
- Data must stay with you. Customer leads, personal data, internal documents.
- You need custom code. Complex processing, unusual APIs, your own checks.
- You are building agents. Agent nodes, multiple models and MCP.
- You need long run history to investigate failures.
When to choose Make
- You need it fast and without a server. Sign up and build.
- Run volume is low. At small volumes a cloud plan can be cheaper than a server.
- Nobody on the team is technical. Make's interface is easier for beginners.
- You need a rare ready integration that Make has and n8n would require building with HTTP requests.
What matters in practice
- 01Triggerlead, webhook, schedule
- 02ProcessAI parses it
- 03ActionCRM, message
- 04Errorretry and alert
- 05Historysee what went wrong
From running systems, not from comparison tables:
- Run history saves you. When something breaks at 3 am, you look at what came in and where it failed. Self-hosted n8n lets you set retention yourself.
- Error handling is everything. External services hang. Retries, timeouts and a fallback path should be built in from day one, on any platform.
- A workflow should not be a tangle. When logic grows, move it into a separate service and keep the builder for integrations and delivery.
Can you move from Make to n8n?
Yes. There is no automatic migration; workflows are rebuilt, but the logic usually transfers one to one. Good reasons to move: growing operation counts, data requirements or a need for custom code.
FAQ
Is n8n free?
The self-hosted version can be used for free under the project's license terms. The cloud version is paid. Check current terms on the n8n website.
Which is easier for beginners?
Make. But if you plan serious automation, n8n pays back the time spent learning it.
Can you build AI agents in both?
Yes. n8n offers more flexibility: custom code, different models, MCP and self-hosting.
Where can I learn n8n?
There are communities and courses. I run one-on-one sessions and team training using examples from production systems.