n8n vs Make vs Zapier: Which Automation Tool Should You Use in 2026?

Short answer: just learn n8n.

Longer answer: Zapier is overpriced. Make is solid. But if you're going to invest time in automation at all, invest it in n8n. You'll spend a weekend learning it and then have a tool that doesn't punish you for building complex workflows.

The Pricing Problem

Zapier and Make charge per operation. Every step in your workflow costs you. Build a 20-step workflow that runs 10,000 times a month and you're looking at 200,000 operations. On Zapier that's hundreds of dollars. On Make it's still $100+.

n8n charges per execution - the whole workflow counts as one, regardless of how many steps. That same workflow costs $50/month on n8n cloud, or about $5/month if you self-host on a cheap VPS.

Zapier's per-task model isn't just expensive - it discourages you from building properly. You start optimizing for fewer steps instead of better workflows.

The "Technical" Fear is Outdated

People avoid n8n because they think it's for developers. It's not. You need to understand JSON and how APIs work. That's it.

And here's the thing: it's 2026. You can ask Claude or ChatGPT "how do I use the Notion API" and get a working answer in two minutes. The barrier that existed five years ago is gone.

Every Zapier integration is just a thin wrapper around an API anyway. Learn to use APIs directly and you have access to everything - not just the 7,000 apps Zapier decided to build integrations for. Plus n8n has hundreds of community nodes if you self-host.

The actual learning curve? A weekend. Build a few workflows, mess around with the HTTP Request node, and you'll get it.

Quick Comparison

Make is an OK middle ground - cheaper than Zapier for the same work. But you're still paying per operation, and you still can't write code when you need it.

What n8n Actually Gets You

Beyond the cost savings, n8n lets you build things the others can't.

Replace SaaS tools: Inbox management apps charge $30-50/month. Build the same thing in n8n - AI classifies emails, drafts responses - for cents per day in API costs. Content repurposing tools, lead enrichment services, same story. You own it instead of renting it.

Real flexibility: When you hit a wall in Zapier, you're stuck. In n8n, you write a few lines of JavaScript and move on. Most workflows don't need code, but when you do, it's there.

Self-hosting: Run it on a $5/month server and pay nothing to n8n. Your data stays on your infrastructure. No usage limits.

The Honest Take

Zapier is overpriced and I'd skip it entirely. The only thing it offers is a gentler onboarding, and that's not worth the ongoing cost.

Make is fine if you want a cheaper Zapier. But you're still in the same per-operation pricing trap.

But if you're reading a guide like this, you're probably the type who wants to actually understand what you're building. Spend a weekend with n8n. The investment pays off.

Get started: n8n cloud or self-host the free community edition.