Table of contents
n8n vs Zapier vs Make: Overview and Comparison
Growth marketers rely on automation platforms to streamline workflows, integrate apps, and scale their marketing efforts. Zapier, Make (formerly Integromat), and n8n are three popular automation tools frequently considered by growth marketing teams. This article compares Zapier, Make, and n8n, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and suitability for growth marketers.
Correct as of October 2026. Integration counts, G2 ratings, pricing and MCP support were checked against each vendor’s site and G2 on 9 October 2026.
Quick verdict: pick by who will build and maintain the automations.
| Quick verdict | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for beginners | Best pick, simplest interface | Good, with a slight learning curve | Harder, needs some technical knowledge |
| Best for complex logic | Limited | Strong, visual branching and routers | Strongest, custom JavaScript and Python |
| Best for self-hosting and MCP | MCP yes, cloud only | MCP yes, cloud only | Best pick, self-hosted with MCP server and client |
| Best for integration breadth | Best pick, 9,000+ apps | 3,500+ apps | 500+ apps, plus HTTP and code nodes |
Below is a detailed comparison table to help you quickly evaluate these platforms based on key criteria relevant to growth marketing:
| Criteria | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website | zapier.com | make.com | n8n.io |
| Ease of Use | Very easy, intuitive UI, beginner-friendly | Moderate, visual workflow builder, slight learning curve | Moderate, visual builder, requires some technical knowledge |
| Flexibility | Moderate, limited advanced customisation | High, advanced logic and branching | Very high, supports custom scripting (JavaScript/Python) |
| G2Crowd Total Reviews | 2,000+ | 360+ | 310+ |
| G2Crowd Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.7/5 |
| MCP Server Support | Yes, via Zapier MCP | Yes, via the Make MCP Server | Yes, MCP server trigger, MCP client and instance-level MCP |
| Total Pre-built Integrations | 9,000+ apps | 3,500+ apps | 500+ apps (2,300+ nodes including triggers) |
| Built-in Triggers (Classification, Sentiment Analysis) | Limited | Moderate | Advanced, customisable via scripting |
| Cloud, Self-hosted or Both | Cloud only | Cloud only | Both cloud and self-hosted |
| Open Source or Source-Available | No | No | Source-available (fair-code licence), free to self-host |
| Webhook Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise Security Controls (SSO, Audit Logs) | Yes, on higher plans | Yes, on higher plans | Yes, via self-hosted deployment |
| Support | Email, chat, extensive documentation | Email, chat, documentation | Community forum, documentation, paid support available |
| Ecosystem (Freelancers, Agencies) | Large, extensive freelancer availability (e.g. Upwork) | Moderate, growing freelancer availability | Smaller, niche community |
| Pricing | Zapier Pricing | Make Pricing | n8n Pricing |
| Starting Price | Free (100 tasks a month), paid from $19.99 a month | Free (1,000 credits a month), paid from $12 a month | Free self-hosted Community Edition, Cloud from €20 a month billed annually |
| Unique Features | Largest integration library, beginner-friendly | Advanced visual workflow builder, complex logic | Custom scripting (JavaScript/Python), open-source flexibility |
| Agent Module | Yes, Zapier Agents | Yes, Make AI Agents (beta) | Yes, AI Agent node |
Pricing
All three have a free way to start, but they bill differently, which matters once workflows get long. Prices below were checked on 9 October 2026, so confirm them on each vendor’s page before you buy.
- Zapier has a free plan with 100 tasks a month. Paid plans start at $19.99 a month (Professional) and $69 a month (Team), and every successful step in a Zap uses a task. See Zapier pricing.
- Make has a free plan with 1,000 credits a month. Core starts at $12 a month for 10,000 credits, with Pro at $21 and Teams at $38 for the same allowance, and each module action uses one credit. See Make pricing.
- n8n Cloud starts at €20 a month billed annually (Starter, 2,500 workflow executions) and €50 a month billed annually (Pro, 10,000 executions). The self-hosted Community Edition is free. n8n counts one execution per complete workflow run, however many steps it has. See n8n pricing.
Who each tool suits
Choosing between Zapier, Make, and n8n depends on your team’s specific needs and technical capabilities:
Zapier
Zapier is the best no-code automation for growth marketers who want working automations without technical help. It suits teams prioritising ease of use, quick setup and the largest app library, now 9,000+ apps.
- Choose Zapier if you want the fastest route to a working automation.
- Avoid Zapier if you run long, high-volume workflows, because every successful step uses a task.
Make
Make suits marketers who need advanced workflow logic and visual control without writing code. It offers more flexibility than Zapier but has a slightly higher learning curve.
- Choose Make if you want branching, routers and visual debugging for complex scenarios.
- Avoid Make if nobody on the team has time to learn a visual builder.
n8n
n8n is the best workflow tool for growth engineers and technical growth teams. It suits teams who are comfortable with code or prefer to self-host, and its scripting and customisation options make it flexible for complex workflows. It fits the shift described in the engineeringification of marketing.
- Choose n8n if you want custom JavaScript or Python, self-hosting and native MCP support.
- Avoid n8n if nobody on your team is comfortable with some code or hosting.
These tools share similar building blocks, so switching between them is realistic, though workflows usually need rebuilding. Match your team’s technical skills, workflow complexity, and integration requirements to the right platform. To connect AI assistants to whichever you pick, see our guides to n8n MCP and MCP servers for marketers.
About Growth Method
Zapier, Make and n8n run the work. They do not decide which campaigns are worth running, or tell you what moved the needle. Growth Method gives B2B marketing teams AI agents that run their campaigns: plan, launch and analyse, from live data, against one goal, then repeat. Platforms like these connect to Growth Method through their MCP servers, so your campaign agents can trigger the automations you already run, for people and agents alike.
We are on-track to deliver a 43% increase in inbound leads this year. There is no doubt the adoption of Growth Method is the primary driver behind these results.
Laura Perrott, Colt Technology Services
Get started and let your automation tools do the work while your agents decide which campaigns to run and measure what worked. First month free. No credit card required.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, n8n, Zapier or Make?
It depends on your team. Zapier is best for beginners and the widest app library, Make is best for visual control of complex logic, and n8n is best for technical teams that want custom code, self-hosting and native MCP support.
Is n8n cheaper than Zapier and Make?
Often, for long workflows. n8n bills per complete workflow execution, while Zapier bills per task and Make per credit, so costs rise with every extra step on those two. For short, low-volume automations all three have free or low-cost plans.
Which supports MCP servers?
All three now do. Zapier has Zapier MCP, Make has the Make MCP Server, and n8n offers an MCP server trigger, an MCP client and instance-level MCP, so AI assistants can call your workflows.
Can I self-host Zapier, Make or n8n?
Only n8n. Zapier and Make are cloud platforms, while n8n can be self-hosted for free through its Community Edition under a fair-code licence.
Which is best for growth marketers?
For most growth marketers without engineering support, Zapier or Make is the best no-code automation. Growth engineers and technical teams usually prefer n8n as the best workflow tool for custom logic, code and self-hosting.
Can I switch between them?
Yes. All three use triggers, actions and webhooks, so the logic maps across, but workflows generally need rebuilding in the new tool. Start with your highest-volume automations and run both side by side until the results match.