Simplest interface to learn

Largest app library (6,000+)

Excellent documentation

Wide community support

Most expensive at scale

Limited free tier (100 tasks)

Less flexibility for complex workflows

No self-hosting option

Free: 100 tasks/month

Starter: $19.99/mo (750 tasks)

Professional: $49/mo (2,000 tasks)

Team: $69/mo per user

Visual workflow builder is powerful

More operations per dollar than Zapier

Advanced data manipulation

HTTP module for any API

Steeper learning curve than Zapier

Fewer native integrations

No self-hosting

Can get complex quickly

Free: 1,000 ops/month

Core: $9/mo (10,000 ops)

Pro: $16/mo (10,000 ops + features)

Teams: $29/mo per user

Self-host for free (open source)

Full JavaScript code nodes

Complete data control

No per-operation limits when self-hosted

Fewer native integrations

Requires more technical knowledge

Self-hosting needs server management

Smaller community than Zapier

Self-hosted: Free (you pay for hosting)

Cloud Starter: Free (limited)

Cloud Pro: $20/mo

Cloud Enterprise: Custom

Zapier: 3 steps, ~5 min setup, $0-20/mo

Make: 3 modules, ~10 min setup, $0-9/mo

n8n: 3 nodes, ~15 min setup, $0 (self-hosted)

Zapier: Possible but limited, $49+/mo

Make: Built for this, $9-16/mo

n8n: Full flexibility, $0-20/mo

Zapier: $599+/mo

Make: $99-299/mo

n8n: $0 (self-hosted) or ~$100/mo cloud

You're not technical

You need simple, quick automations

Budget isn't a primary concern

You need complex data workflows

Cost efficiency matters

You're comfortable with a learning curve

Data privacy is critical

You have technical resources

You need unlimited automations

Assess your automation needs

Recommend the best platform

Build and maintain your workflows

Train your team on the tools