n8n vs Make.com — the honest comparison
Both are excellent. They win in different situations. Here's how we pick between them on real client projects.
Updated June 2026 · By ClarioAI
TL;DR
- Pick Make if you want the smoothest beginner UX, need 1700+ integrations, and operate under 20K ops/mo.
- Pick n8n if you're building AI-heavy workflows, need self-hosting (Canadian data residency, on-prem), or scaling past 50K ops/mo.
- For AI agents specifically: n8n wins by a wide margin in 2026.
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | n8n | Make.com |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat self-host or fixed cloud tier | Per-operation (every step counts) |
| Cost at 50K ops/mo | ~$50 flat self-hosted | ~$170/mo Pro tier |
| Hosting | Self-host anywhere or Cloud | EU cloud only |
| AI / LLM nodes | Native OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Ollama, agents, vector stores | Basic OpenAI nodes |
| Integrations | 1000+ | 1700+ |
| Visual debugger | Good | Excellent |
| Beginner-friendly | Medium | High |
| Open source | Yes (fair-code) | No |
| Data residency (Canada) | Yes (self-host) | EU only |
| Custom code nodes | JS, Python, full HTTP | Limited JS |
FAQs
Is n8n cheaper than Make.com?
Usually yes for high volume. Make charges per operation (each step is an op), so a 10-step workflow at 5K runs = 50K ops. Self-hosted n8n is flat. Below ~20K ops/mo, Make is competitive.
Which is easier to learn?
Make has a slightly more polished UI and better visual debugging for beginners. n8n is more powerful but has a steeper curve for branching workflows.
Which handles AI workflows better?
n8n. Native nodes for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Ollama, plus a built-in agent framework and vector store integrations. Make has AI nodes but they're shallower.
Can I self-host Make?
No. Make is cloud-only, hosted in the EU. n8n self-hosts anywhere — Canada, US, on-prem, air-gapped.
Which has more integrations?
Make has ~1700, n8n ~1000. Both cover the SMB stack. n8n's HTTP node + community nodes close most gaps.
Not sure which fits?
Tell us the workflow. We'll recommend the right tool and quote a fixed-price build in 48 hours.
Book a free auditSee also: n8n vs Zapier · n8n in Canada