Make vs n8n
The facts side by side, from official pages. Head-to-head tests are coming.
Make is cheaper to start ($16/mo vs $24/mo). Where it works: Make (Most countries), n8n (Most countries, or anywhere if you self-host). We haven't run head-to-head tests yet, so this compares facts only.
Side by side
| Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Make (part of Celonis) | n8n GmbH |
| Type | Workflow tool with AI agent steps | Workflow tool with AI agent steps |
| Paid from | $16/mo | $24/mo |
| Free option | Yes | Yes, if you self-host |
| Where | Most countries | Most countries, or anywhere if you self-host |
| Open source | No | Source available |
| License | Proprietary | Sustainable Use License (fair-code, not OSI open source) |
| Setup | Medium | Medium |
| Runs on | Make's cloud, in an EU or US data center you choose | n8n Cloud (Frankfurt, Germany) or your own computer or server |
| Use it from | Web editor. Your scenarios can reply by email, Slack, Telegram, WhatsApp and many other apps | Web editor. Your workflows can reply in a hosted chat, email, Telegram, Slack and many other apps |
| Real use cases in feed | 2 | 2 |
| Our test | Not tested yet | Not tested yet |
Facts checked Oct 20, 2026. Sources are on each agent's page.
Which one fits you
Make
Pick it if:
- you want a job to run the same way every time, with AI only for the steps that need judgment
- you don't want to install or look after anything yourself
- you want to try a couple of small jobs on a free plan before you pay
Seen in the feed:
- Ask an AI questions in Telegram by typing or sending a voice note, and get a short reply in seconds
- Check each supplier invoice against its purchase order, line by line, before anyone approves it
Affiliate link: if you sign up through it, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our picks.
n8n
Pick it if:
- you want a job to run the same way every time, with AI only for the steps that need judgment
- you are fine spending an afternoon connecting apps on a canvas, or starting from a template
- you want a free option you can run on your own computer
Seen in the feed:
Head-to-head test
Not tested yet. We haven't run our own tests on this yet. When we do, results will appear here with the date, agent version, time, cost, how often we had to step in, and screenshots. How we test.
Questions
Which is cheaper, Make or n8n?
Make paid use starts at $16/mo (free option: Yes). n8n starts at $24/mo (free option: Yes, if you self-host).
Which is easier to set up, Make or n8n?
Make: Medium. No install, and Maia or a template can give you a first draft. You still connect each app and login yourself and test the steps on the canvas, which takes an afternoon for most jobs. n8n: Medium. Cloud needs no install, but you build each job yourself by connecting apps and logins on a canvas. Ready-made templates help. Self-hosting needs Docker and some comfort with servers.
Have you tested Make against n8n?
Not yet. We will run both on the same jobs with the same instructions and publish pass or fail, time, cost and how often we had to step in.