Comparison Report: Make vs. n8n Workflow Automation Platforms

• Make (formerly Integromat) and n8n are two powerful workflow automation platforms that differ significantly in their approach, features, pricing, and target audience.
• Key differences between Make and n8n include their visual interfaces, integrations, pricing models, ease of use, and custom code capabilities. Make offers a highly visual interface with 1000+ pre-built SaaS integrations, while n8n has a node-based editor with extensibility through custom nodes.
• n8n stands out for its self-hosting option, which provides maximum control over data privacy and cost, making it an attractive choice for users who require flexibility and customization. Make, on the other hand, is primarily a cloud-based platform with a free tier and paid subscription options.
• The ease of use and learning curve also vary between the two platforms. Make is generally considered more beginner-friendly due to its intuitive visual builder, while n8n can have a steeper learning curve, especially for users without technical expertise.
• Ultimately, the choice between Make and n8n depends on your specific requirements, technical skills, budget, and hosting preferences. If you prioritize ease of use and pre-built integrations, Make may be the better choice, while n8n offers flexibility and customization options for users who require more advanced features.

1. Introduction

Make (formerly Integromat) and n8n are powerful workflow automation platforms designed to connect different web applications and automate tasks without extensive coding. While both serve a similar purpose, they differ significantly in their approach, features, pricing, and target audience. This report compares Make and n8n across several key dimensions.

2. Core Features & Functionality

Workflow Builder Interface:

Make:Features a highly visual, playful interface where app modules are connected by dragging lines (like connecting dots). It visually represents the flow of data and operations clearly. Error handling and routing are also visually managed.

n8n:Uses a node-based visual editor. Each node represents an application or a function (trigger, action, logic). Users connect nodes to define the workflow sequence. It can feel more technical or flowchart-like compared to Make.

Triggers & Actions:

Make:Offers a wide range of triggers (instant webhooks, scheduled triggers, polling) and actions for its supported apps. Data mapping between modules is generally intuitive.

n8n:Also provides various triggers (webhooks, schedules, manual) and actions. It excels in offering nodes for lower-level operations like executing custom code (JavaScript), making HTTP requests, and interacting with databases.

Logic & Data Handling:

Make:Provides routers for branching logic, filters for conditional execution, iterators/aggregators for handling arrays, and robust error handling directives (e.g., resume, ignore, break).

n8n:Offers powerful logic capabilities through dedicated nodes (IF, Switch, Merge) and allows complex data transformations using JavaScript code within Function nodes. Error handling is managed via specific Error Trigger nodes or workflow settings.

3. Integrations (Connectors/Nodes)

Make:Boasts a very large library of pre-built integrations (1000+ apps). Focuses heavily on SaaS applications, particularly in marketing, sales, and productivity domains. Adding new community apps is possible but less central than n8n.

n8n:Has a smaller but rapidly growing number of official integrations (hundreds). However, its strength lies in its extensibility. Users can easily create custom integrations (nodes) using JavaScript/TypeScript or leverage generic nodes (HTTP Request, SQL) to connect to almost any API or database. Many community nodes are also available.

4. Pricing Model

Make:Offers a tiered subscription model based on the number of operations per month, data transfer, and the minimum interval between scheduled executions. It has a free tier with limitations (e.g., 1,000 operations/month). Primarily a cloud-based SaaS offering.

n8n:

Cloud:Offers tiered cloud hosting plans based on workflow executions and features. Includes a free-forever tier suitable for basic use.

Self-Hosted:This is a key differentiator. n8n is open-source (source-available license) and can be self-hosted for free (or on very low-cost infrastructure). Paid self-hosted plans offer enterprise features like SSO and advanced user management. This provides maximum control over data privacy and cost.

5. Ease of Use & Learning Curve

Make:Generally considered more beginner-friendly due to its highly visual and slightly less technical interface. The drag-and-drop connection style and clear visual flow make basic automations easy to set up.

n8n:While still visual, it can have a steeper learning curve, especially when dealing with complex data structures, custom code nodes, or advanced logic. It often appeals more to users with some technical background (developers, IT professionals) but is still accessible to non-coders for simpler workflows.

6. Hosting & Deployment

Make:Primarily a cloud-based platform. Users don’t need to worry about infrastructure management.

n8n:Offers both a managed cloud version and the option to self-host (e.g., using Docker, Kubernetes, or directly on a server). Self-hosting provides data sovereignty and potentially lower costs at scale but requires infrastructure management.

7. Community & Support

Make:Has a large user community, extensive documentation, tutorials, and paid support options.

n8n:Benefits from a strong open-source community, active forums, good documentation, and community support. Paid support is available for cloud and enterprise customers. The open-source nature encourages community contributions (e.g., custom nodes).

8. Typical Use Cases

Make:Often favored for marketing automation, sales pipeline automation, social media management, integrating common SaaS tools, and scenarios where a vast number of pre-built app connectors are needed quickly.

n8n:Strong choice for developers needing custom integrations, workflows involving custom code or complex data manipulation, internal tool building, connecting to databases or internal APIs, and scenarios where self-hosting/data privacy is paramount.

9. Summary & Conclusion

Which to Choose?

Choose Make if:You prioritize a vast number of pre-built SaaS integrations out-of-the-box, prefer a very intuitive visual builder for non-technical users, and are comfortable with a cloud-only solution and its pricing model.

Choose n8n if:You need flexibility, want the option to self-host for cost or data privacy reasons, require custom integrations or complex logic involving code, have some technical expertise (or are willing to learn), and value an open-source community.

Both platforms are powerful tools for automation. The best choice depends on your specific requirements, technical skills, budget, and hosting preferences.