Automation
Make vs n8n
Make if you want automations without running infrastructure. n8n if you want to self-host, write JavaScript inside workflows, keep data on your own servers, or build AI agents — and you have someone comfortable maintaining a server.
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Make or n8n — which should you use?
Make if you want automations without running infrastructure. n8n if you want to self-host, write JavaScript inside workflows, keep data on your own servers, or build AI agents — and you have someone comfortable maintaining a server. Make starts at From roughly $9/month (free tier: Free plan with 1,000 operations a month.); n8n starts at Cloud plans from roughly €20/month; self-hosting costs a VPS (free tier: Self-hosted community edition is free under the Sustainable Use Licence.). Prices are list prices and change, so check the vendor pages before buying.
Last updated 3 August 2026
Both are visual automation builders with a node canvas, and workflows look similar in either. The difference is the deployment model and how much code you can drop in.
n8n uses a source-available Sustainable Use Licence — free to self-host for internal business use, with restrictions on reselling it as a service. That's not the same as fully open source, and it's worth reading if you plan to offer automation to clients.
Side by side
Make and n8n in short.
Make
Hosted visual automation platform priced per operation.
- Free
- Free plan with 1,000 operations a month.
- Paid from
- From roughly $9/month
Good at
- Nothing to host, patch or back up
- Large module library with reliable, maintained connectors
- Error handling and scheduling built in
Weak at
- Data passes through Make's infrastructure
- Custom code is limited compared with n8n
n8n
Source-available workflow automation you can self-host, with code nodes and AI agent building blocks.
- Free
- Self-hosted community edition is free under the Sustainable Use Licence.
- Paid from
- Cloud plans from roughly €20/month; self-hosting costs a VPS
Good at
- Self-host for the price of a small server, with unlimited executions
- JavaScript and Python code nodes for anything the connectors don't cover
- Strong AI tooling — LangChain-based agent nodes and vector store integrations
Weak at
- Self-hosting means updates, backups and monitoring are your job
- Licence restricts reselling n8n itself as a hosted service
The differences
Where they actually diverge.
| Feature | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Managed only | Self-host or cloud |
| Cost at high volume | Scales with operations | Flat, if self-hosted |
| Custom code | Limited | Full JavaScript and Python nodes |
| AI agents | Basic AI modules | First-class agent and vector nodes |
| Maintenance burden | None | Yours, if self-hosted |
Pick one
Which one fits you.
Choose Make if
- Nobody wants to run a server
- Your workflows are standard app-to-app connections
- Predictable managed uptime matters
Choose n8n if
- Data can't leave your infrastructure
- You run high volumes and want a flat cost
- You're building AI workflows with custom logic
When neither is the answer
For a single scheduled job, a cron task in your existing app is simpler than either. Automation platforms earn their place once several tools need connecting.
Questions
Common questions.
Is n8n open source?
It's source-available under the Sustainable Use Licence, not an OSI-approved open source licence. You can self-host and modify it for internal use; you can't sell it as a hosted product. Read the licence if you're an agency.
What does self-hosting actually cost?
A small VPS runs it for a few pounds a month, plus your time for updates, backups and TLS. Budget an hour a month once it's stable, and more if it becomes business-critical.
Prices are list prices published by each vendor and change often — check the linked pricing pages before you buy. We take no affiliate commission and nobody pays to appear here.
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