Guide · compare
Make vs n8n vs Zapier — when to pick each
What this page tells you.A plain-English compare for solo operators and shops of about two to ten people. When to pick Make, n8n Cloud, Zapier, or n8n Self-host. This is not a second ranking and it adds no score cells.
GuideVendor pages accessed 2026-09-08Live scorecard
When to pick each
Job fit first. The /500 numbers below are the approved totals on Make vs n8n vs Zapier. They are not a new score on this page.
MakeCloud lead on the scorecard
Pick Make if
410/500
You want a visual scenario builder in vendor cloud and the current cloud lead on a complete /500 card. Pricing on that card is 4 of 5 from make.com/en/pricing, 2026-09-07 — operations-tiered list prices, not a CAD list we invented.
Try Make Affiliate. We may earn a commission. Affiliate disclosure
n8nRunner-up on the scorecard
Pick n8n Cloud if
368/500
You want the same editor family as self-host without running the box. Vendor cloud; you do not own uptime. Region named on the scorecard: EU Frankfurt — not Canadian residency.
ZapierThird on the scorecard
Pick Zapier if
353/500
You need the widest no-code app marketplace and will live with task-based pricing. Third in the cloud rank — not a hidden winner. CAD billing is available; GST/HST still belongs on the invoice line.
n8nSelf-hosted (not ranked)
Pick n8n Self-host if
382/500
You will own uptime, upgrades, and backups. 382/500 is the same 1–5 × weight sheet — not a fourth cloud product, and not mixed into the cloud #1 / #2 / #3 rank.
Same job, different lean
These rows are job-fit notes from published lane facts. They are not extra points.
Swipe sideways on a narrow screen.
| If you need | Lean | Why (published facts only) |
|---|---|---|
| A visual cloud builder and the current /500 cloud lead |  MakeMake | 410/500 on the live card. Operations-tiered pricing; pricing cell 4 of 5. |
| The n8n editor hosted, without owning the runtime |  n8nn8n Cloud | 368/500. Same editor family as self-host. Vendor cloud. |
| The widest marketplace and task-based billing |  ZapierZapier | 353/500. Largest no-code automation marketplace on this trio. |
| To run the engine yourself | n8nn8n Self-host | 382/500 on the same sheet — not a cloud-rank win. You own the ops. |
| Unit math for the same three-step job | Tasks vs credits vs executions — published USD/EUR list prices, not a ranking. | |
How they meter a job
Each vendor counts a different unit. Compare jobs in the vendor’s unit first. Do not treat one task as one credit as one execution. Full unit math and entry paid tiers: Tasks vs credits vs executions.
ZapierTask
Zapier
A task is a successful action step. Triggers, Filters, Paths, Formatter, and listed free apps do not count.
Source: Zapier — how task usage is measured · accessed 2026-09-08
MakeCredit
Make
A credit is usually one module action. Routers and error handlers are often free.
Source: Make pricing · accessed 2026-09-08
n8nExecution
n8n
An execution is one full workflow run. Step count does not multiply the execution.
Source: n8n pricing · accessed 2026-09-08
Approved totals (not a new rank)
Each tool is rated 1–5 on named criteria. Each criterion has a weight; the weights add up to 100. Total = rating × weight, summed. A perfect score is 500. Make’s 410/500 is 410 out of 500 possible points on that card. Higher is a better fit for small teams on those criteria — not “best tool forever.”
The live card is Make vs n8n vs Zapier. Approved totals only: Make 410/500, n8n Cloud 368/500, Zapier 353/500. n8n Self-host 382/500 is on the same sheet, not mixed into the cloud rank. This guide cites those totals. It does not replace them.
Make’s pricing cell on that card is 4 of 5 (from make.com/en/pricing, 2026-09-07). Other 1–5 cells stay inside the totals. Nothing on this page fills a cell. Rules: How scoring works.
Product links
MakeAffiliate
Make
Partner signup. We may earn a commission. Rankings are not sold.
Try Make Affiliate. We may earn a commission. Affiliate disclosure
n8nOfficial
n8n
Official site: n8n · no affiliate ID · not a partner mark
ZapierOfficial
Zapier
Official site: Zapier · no affiliate ID · not a partner mark
We may earn a commission on Make links. Rankings are not sold. Affiliate disclosure · Disclosures · [email protected]
Sources
Primary vendor pages. Access date for every unit definition cited on this page: 2026-09-08. List prices stay on the metering guide. We do not invent search volumes, testimonials, or a CAD list.
- Zapier — how task usage is measured · accessed 2026-09-08
- Zapier pricing · accessed 2026-09-08
- Make pricing · accessed 2026-09-08
- n8n pricing · accessed 2026-09-08
FAQ
Make vs n8n vs Zapier — which should a small team pick?
It depends on the job, not a second ranking. Make is the current cloud lead at 410/500 if you want a visual builder with operations-tiered pricing. n8n Cloud is 368/500 if you want the n8n editor hosted. Zapier is 353/500 if you need the widest app marketplace and will live with task-based pricing. n8n Self-host is 382/500 on the same sheet, not a fourth cloud seat.
Is this a new Make vs n8n vs Zapier scorecard?
No. Approved totals stay on the live scorecard: Make 410/500, n8n Cloud 368/500, Zapier 353/500, n8n Self-host 382/500. This guide is a when-to-pick read. It cites those totals. It adds no cells and no new rank.
How do Zapier, Make, and n8n bill the same job?
Different units: a Zapier task is a successful action step, a Make credit is usually one module action, and an n8n execution is one full workflow run. See Tasks vs credits vs executions. Do not treat one task as one credit as one execution.
Do you have a separate Make vs Zapier or Make vs n8n score?
Not a separate card. A thin Make vs Zapier guide cites 410/500 vs 353/500 only and points back here. Other pairwise titles jump to Choose-if on the live automation scorecard. Same published totals. This guide invents no pairwise numbers.
Will a commission change these numbers?
No. Make is a live partner signup (pc=stackscorecard). n8n and Zapier stay official-site URLs with no affiliate ID. Commissions do not move a score, a weight, or a pricing cell.
Affiliate disclosure
Product links on this page: Make is a live partner signup (pc=stackscorecard) and is marked affiliate. n8n and Zapier stay official-site URLs with UTM only — no invented IDs. We may earn a commission on Make. Rankings are not sold. Wordmarks are not partnership marks. Policy: Affiliate disclosure · Disclosures. Contact [email protected]. Commissions do not move a score, a weight, or a pricing cell.