In this guide · 8 sections
Short answer
Zapier is the easiest to learn but usually the most expensive as volume grows. Make is cheaper for multi-step workflows and more visual, with a steeper learning curve. n8n charges per workflow run and can be self-hosted, which suits a business with technical help.
Zapier vs Make vs n8n at a glance
Prices are from the Zapier, Make and n8n pricing pages, in the currency shown there, approximate and as of October 2026. They exclude tax.
Zapier
EasiestProfessional from US$19.99/mo (annual)
- Simple step-by-step editor
- Very large app directory
- Pays per successful action (task)
- Team plan adds shared workspace and SSO
Best for: Owners who want to set up simple automations themselves.
Make
Best value for multi-stepCore from about US$9/mo
- Visual drag-and-drop scenarios
- Pays per module action (credit)
- Strong routers, filters and data handling
- Steeper learning curve
Best for: Workflows with branches, loops or many steps.
n8n
Most flexibleCloud Starter €20/mo (annual)
- Pays per full workflow run
- Can be self-hosted for free (Community Edition)
- Code steps in JavaScript or Python
- Hosted data stored in Frankfurt, Germany
Best for: Teams with a developer, or high-volume workflows.
How each tool counts usage
This is where the real price difference comes from, so it is worth understanding before comparing headline prices.
- Zapier: tasks. According to Zapier's help page on task usage, 'a task is any successful action that runs in Zapier'. Triggers, Filter and Paths steps, failed actions and steps that do not run are not counted. AI and code steps can use more, depending on settings.
- Make: credits. Make's pricing page says each module action in a scenario, such as adding a Google Sheet row, counts as one credit. AI modules can use more than one.
- n8n: executions. n8n's pricing charges per workflow execution 'regardless of complexity': one run from start to finish counts once, however many steps it has.
So a long workflow is cheap on n8n, moderate on Make and most expensive on Zapier. A very simple one-step automation costs much the same everywhere.
What a typical SME workflow costs on each
Take a common example: a website enquiry form triggers a workflow that adds the lead to a Google Sheet, creates a CRM contact, emails the customer a confirmation and alerts the owner. That is one trigger and four actions. At 500 enquiries a month:
| Tool | Usage counted | Plan that fits | Approximate price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | 4 tasks x 500 = 2,000 tasks | Professional, 2K tasks | US$49/mo annual, US$73.50 monthly |
| Make | About 5 credits x 500 = 2,500 credits | Core, 10,000 credits | From about US$9/mo |
| n8n Cloud | 500 executions | Starter, 2,500 executions | €20/mo billed annually |
| n8n self-hosted | 500 executions | Community Edition | Free licence, plus server and upkeep |
On Zapier the same workflow at 750 tasks a month fits the entry Professional tier at US$19.99 a month billed annually, or US$29.99 monthly. At 5,000 tasks it is US$89 a month annually. The yearly discount Zapier shows is 33%; Make advertises 'save 15% or more' for annual billing.
Before upgrading a plan, look for steps you can remove or combine. On Zapier, a Filter or Paths step that stops unwanted runs early costs no tasks, while every action that runs does.
Ease of use: who can build and maintain it
Zapier is the one most owners can learn in an afternoon: pick a trigger app, pick an action, map the fields. Make's canvas shows the whole flow visually, which helps with branches and loops, but its data mapping takes longer to learn. n8n looks similar to Make but expects more technical comfort, especially for code steps, credentials and self-hosting.
Think about who maintains it, not only who builds it. Apps change their fields and logins expire. A workflow nobody understands will fail quietly the week the person who built it leaves.
Data location, security and the PDPA
Every automation tool handles your customers' personal data as it passes through: names, phone numbers, emails, sometimes order details. Under the PDPA you remain responsible for that data, and transfers overseas must have comparable protection.
Before you connect customer data
When self-hosting n8n is worth the upkeep
n8n's Community Edition is free to run on your own server, which removes per-run charges and keeps data where you choose. It is a good fit when you have high volumes, need data to stay on a server you control, or have a developer who already runs servers.
Self-host n8n if
- You run thousands of workflows a month
- You must control where data is stored
- Someone already maintains servers for you
- You need custom code or nodes
Use a hosted plan if
- Nobody on the team manages servers
- You run a handful of simple workflows
- You need it working tomorrow
- You want the vendor to handle security updates
Self-hosting means you own updates, backups, uptime and security. An exposed, unpatched automation server holds the keys to all your connected apps, so it is a real target. Budget for that time honestly.
Do it yourself or get help?
One or two simple automations are a good DIY project on Zapier's free or entry plan. Once workflows touch payments, customer records or WhatsApp messages, it is worth having them designed with error handling, alerts and documentation. Our guides to connecting Shopify, Stripe and Xero, WhatsApp Business API costs and AI agents for small businesses show common next steps.
Our Workflow Automation service (S$390 per workflow) builds and documents one workflow on the tool that suits your volume, on an account you own. For larger systems, a Custom Tool or Dashboard (from S$1,990) is quoted to a written spec.
Frequently asked questions
For multi-step workflows, usually yes. Zapier charges a task for each successful action, while Make charges a credit for each module action, and its entry Core plan includes 10,000 credits from about US$9 a month. For a single-step automation the difference is small, and Zapier is easier to learn.
Zapier says a task is any successful action that runs. Trigger steps, Filter and Paths steps, failed or halted actions, and steps that do not run are not counted. AI by Zapier and Code by Zapier steps can use more than one task depending on the model tier or runtime.
The self-hosted Community Edition is free to use, but you pay for the server and the time to maintain, update and secure it. n8n's hosted cloud plans start at €20 a month billed annually for 2,500 workflow executions, with all integrations and unlimited users and workflows included.
If the owner will build simple automations alone, Zapier is the easiest. If workflows have several steps and branches, Make is better value. If you have a developer, high volumes or need control over where data sits, n8n is the most flexible. Check data location and PDPA obligations whichever you choose.
Not automatically in most cases. Workflows usually have to be rebuilt in the new tool, and app connections set up again. Keep a short written description of each automation, including its trigger, steps and the data it moves, so rebuilding or handing over later is quick.