n8n vs Make (Integromat): The Definitive Comparison for 2026

Choosing between n8n and Make (formerly Integromat) is one of the most common decisions automation teams face in 2026. Both tools let you build powerful workflows across apps and APIs — but they're built for fundamentally different users, budgets, and use cases.

This guide covers everything: exact pricing plans, current integration counts, self-hosting options, AI agent capabilities, and a practical migration guide. Whether you're a developer, ops manager, or startup founder, you'll know which platform is right for you by the end.

Table of Contents

• At a Glance: Quick Comparison
• Philosophy & Use Cases
• Pricing Plans 2026 (Exact Numbers)
• How Many Integrations Does n8n Have in 2026?
• Can Make.com Be Self-Hosted?
• AI Agents & Automation
• Full Features Comparison
• Security & Deployment
• How to Migrate from Make to n8n
• User Experience & Developer Experience
• Community & Ecosystem
• Final Verdict
• FAQ

At a Glance: Quick Comparison

Feature	n8n	Make (Integromat)
Hosting	Open-source & self-hostable	Cloud SaaS only
Free Plan	Unlimited (self-hosted) / community cloud	1,000 operations/month
Starting Paid Price	$20/month (Starter cloud)	$9/month (Core)
Integrations	400+ native nodes + 600+ community nodes	1,500+ native apps
Custom Code	Native JavaScript & Python nodes	Limited scripting
Self-Hosting	✅ Yes (Docker, npm, cloud)	❌ No
AI Agent Support	Native AI agent workflows	Basic AI modules
Pricing Model	Per workflow execution	Per operation (module step)
Target User	Developers & technical teams	Business users & marketers
Data Sovereignty	Full control when self-hosted	Data processed on Make servers

Philosophy & Use Cases

n8n is built for developers and technical teams who want complete control over their automation infrastructure. It's open-source, self-hostable, and designed for complex workflows that need custom code, API integrations, and enterprise-grade reliability. Think of it as automation infrastructure you own.

Make (formerly Integromat) targets operations teams, marketers, and business users who need to automate across SaaS tools quickly without writing code. Its visual canvas and extensive pre-built module library make it accessible to non-developers. Think of it as the fastest path from idea to running automation.

Choose n8n if you:

• Need data sovereignty — your data should never leave your infrastructure
• Want to self-host to eliminate per-operation costs at scale
• Are building complex automations that require custom JavaScript or Python
• Need native AI agent workflows (LLM routing, tool-use, memory)
• Work in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, government)
• Want to avoid vendor lock-in with an open-source platform

Choose Make if you:

• Want the fastest setup — no servers, no configuration
• Need a wide library of ready-made app connectors (1,500+)
• Are a non-technical user or building for non-technical teams
• Have predictable, low-to-medium volume automation needs
• Prefer a visual builder where logic is easier to read at a glance

Pricing Plans 2026 (Exact Numbers)

Pricing is one of the most searched topics when comparing these two platforms. Here's the current breakdown:

n8n Pricing (2026)

Plan	Price	Executions	Key Features
Community (Self-Hosted)	Free forever	Unlimited	Full feature set, self-managed, pay only server costs (~$5–15/mo)
Starter (Cloud)	$20/month	2,500/month	Managed cloud, basic logging, 5 active workflows
Pro (Cloud)	$50/month	10,000/month	Advanced logging, debug mode, custom variables, unlimited workflows
Enterprise	Custom	Unlimited	SSO, audit logs, dedicated support, SLA, air-gap deployment

Key advantage: n8n counts a full workflow run as one execution, regardless of how many nodes it passes through. A 20-step workflow costs the same as a 2-step one.

Make.com Pricing (2026)

Plan	Price	Operations/Month	Key Features
Free	$0	1,000	2 active scenarios, basic apps
Core	$9/month	10,000	Unlimited scenarios, all core apps
Pro	$16/month	10,000	Custom variables, unlimited scenario history, priority support
Teams	$29/month	10,000	Team collaboration, multiple users, role permissions
Enterprise	Custom	Custom	SSO, advanced security, dedicated CSM

Key caveat: Make counts every individual module step as one operation. A 10-step scenario running 1,000 times = 10,000 operations consumed. Complex workflows can burn through quotas fast.

Real Cost at Scale

For a team running 50,000 workflow operations per month with moderate complexity (avg 8 steps per run = ~6,250 runs):

• n8n self-hosted: ~$10–15/month server costs only
• n8n cloud Pro: ~$50/month (if executions fit in plan)
• Make Pro: ~$48–96/month depending on operation add-ons

How Many Integrations Does n8n Have in 2026?

This is one of the most common questions when evaluating n8n vs Make. The numbers have changed significantly:

Platform	Native Integrations	Community/Additional	HTTP/Custom API
n8n	400+ native nodes	600+ community nodes	Yes — connect any REST/GraphQL API
Make	1,500+ native apps	Limited custom modules	Yes — HTTP module available

Make has more out-of-the-box app connectors. But n8n's community node library closes this gap significantly, and the HTTP Request node lets you connect to virtually any API without building a custom node. For developers, this matters more than raw connector count.

Practical verdict: If you're connecting mainstream SaaS tools (Slack, Salesforce, HubSpot, Shopify), Make's ready-made modules are faster to configure. If you're integrating internal APIs, custom services, or niche tools, n8n's extensibility wins.

Can Make.com Be Self-Hosted?

No — Make.com cannot be self-hosted. It is exclusively a cloud SaaS product. All your workflow data, execution history, and credentials are stored on Make's infrastructure. This means:

• You cannot run Make on your own servers or in your VPC
• Your data is processed on Make's servers in their chosen regions
• You depend on Make's uptime and data retention policies
• You cannot air-gap the deployment for classified or sensitive environments

If data residency is a requirement — for regulated industries, government contracts, or strict security policies — Make is not a viable option. n8n is the clear choice for self-hosted, on-premise, or private cloud deployments.

How to Self-Host n8n

n8n can be deployed in multiple ways:

• Docker: docker run -it --rm --name n8n -p 5678:5678 n8nio/n8n
• npm: npm install n8n -g && n8n start
• Railway, Render, Fly.io: One-click cloud deployment templates
• Kubernetes: Official Helm chart available for enterprise scale

A basic self-hosted instance on a $6/month VPS is sufficient for most small teams running hundreds of daily workflows.

AI Agents & Automation

AI-native automation is where n8n has pulled decisively ahead of Make as of 2025–2026.

n8n AI Capabilities

• AI Agent node: Build autonomous agents that use LLMs (GPT-4, Claude, Llama) to decide which tools to call based on incoming data
• LangChain integration: Native support for chains, memory, vector stores, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)
• Tool-use routing: Your AI can choose between Slack, databases, APIs, or custom functions at runtime
• Memory nodes: Persist conversation context across workflow runs
• Model flexibility: Connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, local Ollama models, or any LLM API

Make AI Capabilities

• OpenAI and Anthropic modules available as standard app connectors
• Can trigger GPT calls and process responses in a scenario
• No native AI agent architecture or tool-routing logic
• AI logic must be manually sequenced as separate modules

Verdict: For teams building AI-powered automations — chatbots, document processing agents, autonomous data pipelines — n8n has a fundamental architectural advantage. Make can call AI APIs, but n8n lets you build AI agents that reason and act.

Full Features Comparison

Feature	n8n	Make	Winner
Native integrations	400+	1,500+	Make
Custom code (JS/Python)	Native code node	Basic scripting only	n8n
Webhook support	Yes	Yes	Tie
Conditional logic	Full IF/ELSE branches, switch nodes	Supported, visual routing	n8n
Loops & iteration	SplitInBatches, loop nodes	Iterator module	n8n
Error handling	Fine-grained error workflows	Visual fallback paths	n8n
Scheduling	Cron-based, built-in	Built-in scheduler	Tie
Version control	Git-native (self-hosted)	GUI versioning only	n8n
Data transformation	JSON-first, programmable	Visual mapping with formulas	Tie (depends on skill)
Sub-workflows	Yes — call workflows from workflows	Yes — scenarios within scenarios	Tie
AI agent workflows	Native (LangChain, tool-use)	Basic API calls only	n8n
Self-hosting	Yes — Docker, npm, Kubernetes	No	n8n
Multi-user collaboration	Yes (Pro+)	Yes (Teams plan)	Tie
RBAC / permissions	Yes (Enterprise)	Yes (Teams+)	Tie
Audit logs	Yes (Enterprise)	Yes (Enterprise)	Tie

Security & Deployment

n8n Security

• Self-host in your own VPC, data center, or private cloud
• Credentials encrypted at rest on your own infrastructure
• Integrate with Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, or your own secrets store
• Full control over network access, audit logging, and data retention
• SOC 2 Type II (cloud version), air-gap deployment available

Make Security

• ISO 27001 certified, GDPR-compliant
• Data processed on Make's EU/US servers
• No self-hosting option — you trust Make's infrastructure entirely
• SSO available on Enterprise plan

Verdict: For regulated industries, government, healthcare, or any organisation with strict data residency requirements, n8n's self-hosted model is the only viable option. Make is suitable for teams comfortable with third-party SaaS data handling.

How to Migrate from Make to n8n

Many teams start on Make and migrate to n8n as complexity and costs grow. Here's a practical migration guide:

Step 1: Audit Your Make Scenarios

Export a list of all active scenarios. For each, note the apps involved, the trigger type (webhook, scheduled, instant), and any complex logic (filters, aggregators, iterators).

Step 2: Map Make Concepts to n8n

Make Concept	n8n Equivalent
Scenario	Workflow
Module	Node
Operation	Execution (entire workflow = 1 execution)
Router	IF node / Switch node
Iterator	SplitInBatches node
Aggregator	Merge node
Filter	IF node condition
Webhook	Webhook trigger node
Scheduled trigger	Schedule trigger node (cron)
HTTP module	HTTP Request node

Step 3: Rebuild High-Priority Workflows First

Start with your most critical and highest-volume scenarios. n8n's HTTP Request node can connect to any API your Make HTTP module was calling. For native Make apps (Slack, Gmail, HubSpot), n8n has equivalent nodes — connect them with the same credentials.

Step 4: Set Up Self-Hosting (if applicable)

If cost savings are driving the migration, deploy n8n on a small VPS or cloud instance. A $10–15/month Hetzner or DigitalOcean server handles most small-to-medium automation loads comfortably.

Step 5: Run Parallel for 2–4 Weeks

Keep Make scenarios active while you test n8n equivalents. Validate outputs match expected results before cutting over. Then cancel the Make subscription once confident.

User Experience Differences

Aspect	n8n	Make
Learning curve	Moderate — best for developers	Low — friendly for non-coders
Canvas style	Node graph (left to right)	Circular module flow
Debugging	Step-through execution logs, pinned data	Visual execution history
Testing	Test individual nodes with live data	Run scenario once with test data
Error visibility	Detailed error messages per node	Module-level error indicators
Template library	500+ community templates	1,000+ official templates

Community & Ecosystem

n8n

• Open-source on GitHub (70,000+ stars)
• Active community forum with 50,000+ members
• 600+ community-built nodes extending native integrations
• Transparent public roadmap and changelog
• Growing enterprise adoption driven by AI agent demand

Make

• Large SaaS user base (400,000+ registered users)
• Active Facebook group and community forum
• Commercial support team and certified partners
• Proprietary platform — no community extensions
• Well-established tutorial ecosystem on YouTube

Final Verdict: n8n vs Make

Situation	Best Choice
You want full data control & privacy	✅ n8n (self-hosted)
You need maximum ready-made SaaS connectors	✅ Make
You're building AI agents or LLM workflows	✅ n8n
You want the cheapest option at scale	✅ n8n (self-hosted ~$10–15/mo)
You need fast setup with no DevOps	✅ Make
Your team is non-technical	✅ Make
You work in a regulated industry	✅ n8n
You want to avoid vendor lock-in	✅ n8n (open-source)
You need custom JavaScript or Python in workflows	✅ n8n

FAQ: n8n vs Make

Is n8n better than Make?

It depends on your use case. n8n is better for developers, complex workflows, self-hosting, AI agents, and cost-sensitive scaling. Make is better for non-technical users, fast setup, and teams that rely on a wide library of pre-built SaaS connectors without any code.

How many integrations does n8n have in 2026?

n8n has 400+ native built-in nodes and 600+ community-built nodes, giving access to 1,000+ integrations in total. Additionally, any REST or GraphQL API can be connected via the HTTP Request node — meaning n8n can effectively integrate with any service that has an API.

Can Make.com be self-hosted?

No. Make.com is exclusively a cloud SaaS product and cannot be self-hosted. If you need to run automation on your own infrastructure for data privacy, compliance, or cost reasons, n8n is the only option between the two.

What is Make's free plan limit in 2026?

Make's free plan allows 1,000 operations per month with up to 2 active scenarios. Each step in a multi-module scenario counts as one operation, so complex workflows consume the free quota quickly.

How does n8n pricing work?

n8n charges per workflow execution on cloud plans (not per step). Self-hosted is completely free — you only pay server costs. Cloud plans start at $20/month for 2,500 executions (Starter) and $50/month for 10,000 executions (Pro).

Is it hard to migrate from Make to n8n?

Migration requires manual rebuilding — there's no automated import tool. However, the concepts map cleanly (scenarios → workflows, modules → nodes, operations → executions). Most teams can migrate a simple scenario in under an hour. Complex scenarios with custom aggregators or filters may take longer.

Which is better for AI automation — n8n or Make?

n8n is significantly stronger for AI automation. It has native AI Agent nodes, LangChain integration, memory management, and tool-routing logic built in. Make can call AI APIs but lacks the architectural support for building autonomous AI workflows.

Conclusion

Both n8n and Make are production-ready automation platforms — but they serve different teams at different stages.

Start with Make if you need something running today without any technical setup, your team isn't comfortable with servers or JSON, or you rely heavily on popular SaaS tools with official Make connectors.

Start with (or migrate to) n8n if you're building anything complex, you care about data sovereignty, you're scaling past a few hundred runs per day and Make costs are climbing, or you want to build AI-powered automation workflows with real agent capabilities.

The most common trajectory we see: teams start on Make, hit its limits at scale or encounter a workflow that requires custom logic, then migrate to n8n self-hosted and dramatically reduce costs while gaining flexibility.

Also compare: n8n vs Zapier and our full n8n vs Zapier vs Make three-way comparison.