Three months ago, I was spending 15 hours every week on repetitive tasks that made me want to quit everything. Data entry. File transfers. Status updates. Email responses. The kind of soul-crushing work that steals your time and gives nothing back.
Today? Those 15 hours are automated. The work happens while I sleep.
The total cost of this transformation: $23 per month.
No-code automation platforms have evolved from simple task connectors into sophisticated workflow engines capable of replacing entire departments. Two platforms dominate this space in 2025: Make (formerly Integromat) and n8n.
But here's what nobody tells you: choosing the wrong platform isn't just about wasted money. It's about wasted weeks learning a system that can't do what you need, hitting limitations when you're halfway through complex builds, and eventually starting over from scratch.
I've spent the last two years building production workflows on both platforms. I've automated everything from customer onboarding sequences to complex data pipelines processing millions of records monthly. I've hit the limits of both systems and found creative workarounds.
This isn't a surface-level comparison. This is the complete guide I wish existed when I started.
Part 1: Understanding the Automation Landscape
The Problem These Platforms Solve
Traditional business operations require constant manual intervention. Someone needs to:
- Copy data between systems
- Monitor triggers and send notifications
- Process incoming requests
- Update records across multiple platforms
- Generate reports from scattered data
- Route information to the right people
Before no-code automation, you had three options:
Option 1: Manual Work
Hire people to do these tasks. Cost: $15-50 per hour. Scale: terrible. One person can only do so much.
Option 2: Custom Development
Hire developers to build integrations. Cost: $5,000-50,000 per project. Time: weeks or months. Maintenance: ongoing nightmare.
Option 3: Simple Tools (Zapier/IFTTT)
Use basic automation tools. Cost: reasonable. Limitation: only handles simple if-this-then-that logic. Complex workflows impossible.
Make and n8n represent a fourth option: sophisticated automation that's accessible to non-developers but powerful enough for enterprise workflows.
Why This Decision Matters More Than You Think
The platform you choose becomes embedded in your operations. Once you build 20-30 workflows handling critical business processes, switching platforms means:
- Rebuilding every workflow from scratch
- Learning a completely new interface and logic
- Potential downtime during migration
- Risk of data loss or errors
- Weeks of testing to ensure everything works
I've seen businesses spend 6 months locked into the wrong platform because migration seemed too painful. They suffered through limitations, paid excessive costs, and worked around problems rather than solving them.
Choose correctly the first time.
Part 2: Deep Dive Into Make
What Is Make?
Make (formerly Integromat until 2022) is a cloud-based visual automation platform acquired by Celonis in 2021 for an undisclosed sum. The platform has been processing billions of operations monthly since 2012.
Think of Make as visual programming for business automation. You don't write code—you drag modules onto a canvas, connect them with lines, and configure settings through forms.
Click here to get 1000 Free credits
The Make Philosophy
Make believes automation should be visual and intuitive. Their interface shows you exactly how data flows through your workflow. Each module processes information and passes results to the next module.
The platform's strength is immediate visual feedback. You see your data at each step. You understand what's happening without reading logs or debugging code.
Core Architecture
Make organizes automation into scenarios. Each scenario is a self-contained workflow with:
Triggers: What starts the automation
- Scheduled triggers (run every X minutes/hours/days)
- Instant triggers (webhooks that fire immediately)
- Polling triggers (check for new data periodically)
Modules: Actions that process data
- App-specific modules (1,800+ integrations)
- Data operation modules (transformers, aggregators, iterators)
- HTTP modules (custom API calls)
- Control flow modules (routers, filters, error handlers)
Connections: Visual lines showing data flow
- Simple connections pass all data forward
- Filters control which data continues
- Routers create multiple paths
Make's Data Handling System
Understanding Make's data structure is crucial for building effective workflows.
Bundles: A single unit of data flowing through your scenario. Think of a bundle as one record or one item being processed.
Operations: Each time a module processes a bundle, it consumes one operation. This is how Make counts usage.
Example: If you pull 100 rows from Google Sheets, that's 100 operations (one per row). If each row then triggers a Slack message, that's another 100 operations. Total: 200 operations for this workflow run.
Arrays: Collections of items that need iteration. Make provides Iterator modules that split arrays into individual bundles for processing.
Aggregators: The opposite of iterators—combine multiple bundles back into a single collection.
Make's Integration Ecosystem
Make offers 1,800+ pre-built integrations across categories:
Business & Productivity
- Google Workspace (Gmail, Sheets, Drive, Calendar, Docs)
- Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Excel, Teams, SharePoint)
- Notion, Airtable, Monday.com
- Slack, Discord, Telegram
- Zoom, Calendly
Marketing & Sales
- HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive
- Mailchimp, SendGrid, ConvertKit
- Facebook Ads, Google Ads, LinkedIn Ads
- Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce
Development & Technical
- GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket
- Jira, Trello, Asana
- PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB
- AWS, Google Cloud, Azure
- REST API, GraphQL
Payment & Finance
- Stripe, PayPal, Square
- QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks
- Banking APIs
Each integration includes:
- Trigger modules (listen for events)
- Action modules (perform operations)
- Search modules (find specific records)
- Update modules (modify existing data)
Advanced Make Features
Router Module
Split your workflow into multiple paths based on conditions. Each route can have different filters and logic.
Use case: Process incoming orders differently based on order value. Small orders go to automated fulfillment, large orders trigger manual review.
Aggregator Module
Combine multiple bundles into arrays or perform calculations across all items.
Use case: Pull data from 50 different sources and combine into a single report with totals and averages.
Error Handlers
Create fallback routes that activate when modules fail. Instead of the entire scenario failing, error handlers catch problems and execute alternative logic.
Use case: If primary API fails, try backup API. If both fail, send alert to admin.
Data Stores
Persistent storage within Make for saving state between scenario runs.
Use case: Track which records you've already processed to avoid duplicates.
Webhooks
Receive instant triggers from external systems. No polling required—your scenario fires immediately when something happens.
Use case: Process new Stripe payments in real-time instead of checking every 15 minutes.
Custom Apps
Build your own modules for APIs that don't have official Make integrations. Once created, these custom modules work like any native module.
Use case: Integrate with proprietary internal systems or niche SaaS tools.
Make Pricing Deep Dive
Let's break down the actual costs for different usage levels:
Free Tier
- 1,000 operations/month
- 5 active scenarios
- 15-minute minimum interval
- 2 users
- 100 MB data transfer
Perfect for: Personal automation, learning the platform, simple workflows
Core Plan - $9/month
- 10,000 operations/month
- Unlimited active scenarios
- 1-minute minimum interval
- 2 users
- 1 GB data transfer
- Email support
Perfect for: Freelancers, solopreneurs, small businesses
Pro Plan - $16/month
- 40,000 operations/month
- Unlimited active scenarios
- 1-minute minimum interval
- 2 users
- 10 GB data transfer
- Priority email support
- Full-text execution log search
Perfect for: Growing businesses, agencies handling multiple clients
Teams Plan - $29/month
- 120,000 operations/month
- Unlimited scenarios
- 1-minute interval
- Unlimited team members
- 100 GB data transfer
- Priority support
- Advanced features
Perfect for: Teams, established businesses, high-volume automation
Enterprise Plan - Custom Pricing
- Custom operations
- Dedicated infrastructure
- SLA guarantees
- Phone support
- Custom features
- Training and onboarding
Perfect for: Large enterprises, mission-critical automation
Overage Costs
If you exceed your monthly operations:
- $1.00 per 1,000 additional operations
This makes costs predictable and linear.
Make's Strengths
Exceptional Visual Interface
The canvas-based builder is genuinely intuitive. You see your entire workflow at a glance. Data flow is obvious. Debugging is visual—click any module to see what data it processed.
Mature Integration Library
With 1,800+ apps, you'll rarely encounter a tool you can't connect. The integrations are well-maintained with comprehensive actions and triggers.
Powerful Data Operations
Built-in transformers, routers, and aggregators handle complex data manipulation without external services. You can build sophisticated logic purely within Make.
Reliable Infrastructure
Celonis provides enterprise-grade hosting. Scenarios run reliably with detailed execution logs when problems occur.
Template Library
Over 1,000 pre-built scenario templates you can clone and customize. This accelerates learning and speeds up implementation.
Excellent Documentation
Comprehensive guides with examples for every module. The Make Academy offers free courses covering beginner to advanced topics.
Make's Limitations
Cost at Scale
The per-operation pricing model becomes expensive at high volumes. Processing millions of operations monthly costs hundreds or thousands of dollars.
No Self-Hosting
You must use Make's cloud infrastructure. If you need data to stay on your servers for compliance reasons, Make isn't an option.
Limited Code Integration
While you can write JavaScript formulas, you can't execute arbitrary code within scenarios. Complex custom logic requires external services.
Learning Curve for Advanced Features
Simple scenarios are easy, but mastering aggregators, error handlers, and complex routing takes time.
Vendor Lock-In
Once you've built extensive scenarios on Make, migrating to another platform is painful. Your workflows are tied to Make's specific module implementations.
Part 3: Deep Dive Into n8n
What Is n8n?
n8n (pronounced "n-eight-n," short for "nodemation") is an open-source workflow automation tool launched in 2019. Unlike Make, n8n uses a "fair-code" license—source-available with some restrictions on commercial use.
Think of n8n as automation infrastructure you control. You can run it on your servers, modify the source code, and extend functionality through custom nodes.
The n8n Philosophy
n8n believes automation should be open and extendable. Their approach prioritizes:
- Complete transparency (you see all the code)
- Data sovereignty (your data stays where you want)
- Customization (modify anything that doesn't fit)
- Community-driven development (users contribute features)
The platform's strength is flexibility and control. You're not constrained by what the vendor provides—you can build exactly what you need.
Core Architecture
n8n organizes automation into workflows. Each workflow is a directed graph of connected nodes.
Trigger Nodes: What starts the workflow
- Webhook triggers (instant)
- Schedule triggers (cron expressions)
- Polling triggers (check APIs periodically)
- Manual triggers (button click)
Regular Nodes: Actions that process data
- App-specific nodes (400+ integrations)
- HTTP Request node (connect to any API)
- Code node (write JavaScript)
- Function nodes (data transformation)
Credentials: Authentication storage
- Centralized credential management
- Reusable across workflows
- Encrypted storage
- Support for OAuth, API keys, Basic Auth
n8n's Data Handling System
Understanding n8n's data model is essential:
Items: Individual pieces of data flowing through workflows. Similar to Make's bundles, but with different handling.
JSON Structure: All data in n8n is JSON. Each item is a JSON object with properties.
Expressions: Reference data from previous nodes using expressions:
{{ $json.fieldName }}
{{ $node["Previous Node"].json.data }}
Multiple Inputs: Nodes can receive data from multiple sources and process them together.
n8n's Integration Ecosystem
n8n offers 400+ integrations with steady growth:
Core Business Apps
- Google Workspace (Gmail, Sheets, Drive, Calendar)
- Microsoft 365
- Slack, Discord, Telegram
- Notion, Airtable
- Trello, Asana
Development Tools
- GitHub, GitLab
- PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB
- Redis, Elasticsearch
- Docker, Kubernetes
Marketing & Sales
- Mailchimp, SendGrid
- HubSpot, Salesforce
- Stripe, PayPal
- Shopify, WooCommerce
Special Features
- HTTP Request node (connect to ANY API)
- GraphQL support
- SSH node (execute remote commands)
- Execute Command node (run local scripts)
Advanced n8n Features
Code Nodes
Write custom JavaScript directly in workflows. Access to Node.js libraries and full programming capabilities.
// Example: Complex data transformation
const items = $input.all();
const processed = items.map(item => {
return {
json: {
fullName: `${item.json.firstName} ${item.json.lastName}`,
score: calculateComplexScore(item.json.data),
timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
}
};
});
return processed;
Function Nodes
Lightweight JavaScript for simple transformations without full node setup.
Split In Batches Node
Process large datasets in chunks to avoid memory issues.
Use case: Process 100,000 records by handling 1,000 at a time.
Merge Node
Combine data from multiple branches of your workflow.
Use case: Pull user data from database and recent activity from API, merge into single dataset.
IF Node
Conditional routing with visual logic builder.
Use case: Route high-value customers to sales team, others to automated onboarding.
Switch Node
Route data to different paths based on multiple conditions.
Use case: Process support tickets differently based on priority level (low, medium, high, critical).
Wait Node
Pause workflow execution for a specified time.
Use case: Send welcome email, wait 24 hours, send follow-up.
Sticky Notes
Document your workflows with comments visible on the canvas.
Version Control
Export workflows as JSON files. Store in Git for proper version control.
n8n Deployment Options
This is where n8n truly differentiates itself.
Option 1: n8n Cloud
Managed hosting by the n8n team. Similar to Make's model but with n8n's interface.
Starter (Free)
- 2,500 workflow executions/month
- 20 active workflows
- 100 MB storage
- Community support
Pro ($20/month)
- 2,500 workflow executions/month
- Unlimited workflows
- 1 GB storage
- Email support
Scale (Usage-Based)
- $0.01 per execution above included amount
- Custom storage
- Priority support
- Advanced features
Option 2: Self-Hosted (Free)
Run n8n on your own infrastructure. This is n8n's killer feature.
Deployment Methods:
Docker (Easiest)
docker run -it --rm \
--name n8n \
-p 5678:5678 \
-v ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n \
n8nio/n8n
Docker Compose (Production) Set up with PostgreSQL database, proper persistence, and environment configuration.
Kubernetes (Enterprise) Scale horizontally with multiple instances, queue mode, and high availability.
VPS Providers:
- DigitalOcean ($5-20/month)
- Hetzner ($3-10/month)
- AWS, Google Cloud, Azure (varies)
- Linode, Vultr ($5-20/month)
Self-Hosting Benefits:
- Unlimited executions (no per-run costs)
- Complete data control
- Custom modifications
- No vendor lock-in
- Scales with your infrastructure
Self-Hosting Responsibilities:
- Server maintenance
- Updates and patches
- Security configuration
- Backup management
- Monitoring and uptime
n8n Pricing Deep Dive
The cost equation for n8n is fundamentally different from Make.
Scenario A: Low Volume (10,000 executions/month)
n8n Cloud Pro: $20/month (includes 2,500 executions) Additional: 7,500 × $0.01 = $75 Total: $95/month
n8n Self-Hosted: $10/month VPS Total: $10/month
Scenario B: Medium Volume (50,000 executions/month)
n8n Cloud: $20 + (47,500 × $0.01) = $495/month
n8n Self-Hosted: $20/month VPS Total: $20/month
Scenario C: High Volume (500,000 executions/month)
n8n Cloud: $20 + (497,500 × $0.01) = $4,995/month
n8n Self-Hosted: $50/month dedicated server Total: $50/month
Scenario D: Enterprise (5,000,000 executions/month)
n8n Cloud: Prohibitively expensive ($50,000+/month)
n8n Self-Hosted: $200/month infrastructure Total: $200/month
The pattern is clear: n8n Cloud works for low volumes, but self-hosting becomes essential as you scale.
n8n's Strengths
Unlimited Execution Potential
Self-hosting removes execution limits entirely. Run millions of workflows without per-operation costs.
Complete Data Control
For industries with strict compliance requirements (healthcare, finance, government), self-hosting keeps data on your infrastructure.
Code Integration
Code nodes provide unlimited flexibility. If you can code it in JavaScript, you can automate it in n8n.
Open Source Transparency
See exactly how every feature works. Audit security. Verify data handling. No black boxes.
Community Contributions
Active community creates custom nodes, shares workflows, and helps troubleshoot. The ecosystem grows through collaboration.
No Vendor Lock-In
Export your workflows as JSON. If you ever want to leave, you're not trapped. Your workflows are portable data.
Cost Efficiency at Scale
Once you're processing hundreds of thousands of operations monthly, self-hosted n8n costs a fraction of cloud alternatives.
n8n's Limitations
Smaller Integration Library
400+ apps versus Make's 1,800+. You'll occasionally need to use HTTP Request nodes instead of native integrations.
Steeper Learning Curve
The node-based approach and data expressions require more technical understanding than Make's visual modules.
Self-Hosting Complexity
Running production n8n requires DevOps knowledge. You're responsible for uptime, backups, security, and updates.
Less Mature Documentation
While improving rapidly, n8n's docs don't match Make's comprehensive guides and video tutorials.
Community Support Only (Free Tier)
Unless you pay for n8n Cloud, you rely on community forums for help. No guaranteed response times.
Interface Less Polished
Make's interface feels more refined. n8n's UI is functional but less visually polished.
Part 4: The Detailed Comparison Matrix
Let's compare across 20+ dimensions that matter for real-world usage:
1. Pricing Model
Make: Per-operation pricing with monthly tiers n8n: Per-execution pricing (cloud) or fixed hosting cost (self-hosted)
Winner for small scale: Make (better value under 10,000 operations) Winner for large scale: n8n self-hosted (unlimited execution)
2. Total Cost of Ownership
Consider more than just subscription fees:
Make Costs:
- Monthly subscription
- Overage charges
- No infrastructure costs
- No maintenance time
n8n Cloud Costs:
- Monthly subscription
- Per-execution overage
- No infrastructure costs
- No maintenance time
n8n Self-Hosted Costs:
- VPS hosting ($5-200/month)
- Backup storage ($2-20/month)
- DevOps time (1-10 hours/month)
- No per-execution costs
Winner: Depends on scale and technical capability
3. Ease of Getting Started
Make:
- Sign up → Start building → Deploy (15 minutes)
- Visual interface guides you naturally
- Templates accelerate first workflow
n8n Cloud:
- Sign up → Start building → Deploy (20 minutes)
- Node-based thinking takes slight adjustment
- Fewer templates to learn from
n8n Self-Hosted:
- Provision server → Install n8n → Configure → Build (2-4 hours)
- Requires technical setup knowledge
- Steeper initial barrier
Winner: Make (fastest time to first automation)
4. Integration Depth
Make:
- 1,800+ native integrations
- Each integration has comprehensive actions
- Pre-built authentication flows
- Regular updates from Make team
n8n:
- 400+ native integrations
- Growing through community contributions
- HTTP Request node connects to any API
- Community nodes fill gaps
Winner: Make (4.5x more native integrations)
5. Custom Integration Capability
Make:
- Custom apps feature for building modules
- JavaScript formulas for data manipulation
- HTTP modules for API calls
- More limited than n8n
n8n:
- Build custom nodes with full source access
- Code nodes with complete JavaScript
- Fork and modify existing nodes
- HTTP Request node for any API
Winner: n8n (unlimited customization)
6. Data Transformation Power
Make:
- Built-in transformer modules
- Aggregators and iterators
- Text parser and JSON modules
- Complex operations without code
n8n:
- Function nodes for JavaScript
- Code nodes for complex logic
- Item Lists node for array operations
- More flexible but requires code
Winner: Tie (Make easier for simple transforms, n8n more powerful for complex)
7. Error Handling
Make:
- Error handler routes
- Automatic retry configuration
- Rollback capabilities
- Visual error paths
n8n:
- Error workflows
- Try-catch in code nodes
- Retry settings per node
- Error triggers
Winner: Make (more intuitive error handling interface)
8. Execution Visibility
Make:
- Real-time execution watching
- Detailed bundle inspection
- Color-coded status indicators
- Historical execution search
n8n:
- Execution list with details
- JSON output inspection
- Execution status tracking
- Binary data viewing
Winner: Make (better visual execution feedback)
9. Debugging Capabilities
Make:
- Click any module to see its output
- Visual indication of errors
- Test runs before activation
- Execution history replay
n8n:
- Execution details show all node outputs
- Manual execution for testing
- Error messages in JSON
- Pin data for testing
Winner: Make (more intuitive debugging)
10. Version Control
Make:
- Scenario history with rollback
- Export/import blueprints
- No Git integration
n8n:
- Export workflows as JSON
- Store in Git repositories
- Version control through file system
- Proper CI/CD integration
Winner: n8n (professional version control)
11. Team Collaboration
Make:
- Team features in higher tiers
- Shared scenarios
- Role-based permissions
- Team templates
n8n:
- User management (cloud)
- Workflow sharing
- Git-based collaboration (self-hosted)
- Less developed team features
Winner: Make (better built-in collaboration)
12. Scheduling Flexibility
Make:
- Visual scheduling interface
- Timezone support
- Minute-level precision
- Multiple schedules per scenario
n8n:
- Cron expressions
- Timezone support
- Second-level precision
- Requires understanding cron syntax
Winner: Make (more user-friendly scheduling)
13. Webhook Capabilities
Make:
- Instant webhook triggers
- Custom response configuration
- Queue management
- Webhook history
n8n:
- Webhook nodes
- Test URL generation
- Response customization
- Production and test webhooks
Winner: Tie (both excellent)
14. API Access
Make:
- Make API for scenario management
- Programmatic scenario execution
- Limited API capabilities
n8n:
- REST API for workflow management
- Programmatic execution
- Complete programmatic control
Winner: n8n (more comprehensive API)
15. Mobile Access
Make:
- Responsive web interface
- Mobile scenario monitoring
- Limited mobile editing
n8n:
- Responsive web interface
- Mobile monitoring
- Basic mobile editing
Winner: Tie (both have mobile limitations)
16. Execution Performance
Make:
- Cloud infrastructure optimized
- Global CDN
- Consistent performance
- Occasional slowdowns during peak
n8n Cloud:
- Newer infrastructure
- Generally fast
- Occasional slowdowns
n8n Self-Hosted:
- Performance depends on your hardware
- Can be faster for internal operations
- You control resource allocation
Winner: Tie (Make slightly more consistent, self-hosted n8n can be faster)
17. Data Security
Make:
- SOC 2 Type II certified
- GDPR compliant
- Data encryption in transit and at rest
- Regular security audits
n8n Cloud:
- Security audits
- Encryption standards
- GDPR compliant
- Growing security documentation
n8n Self-Hosted:
- You control security
- Your security measures apply
- No third-party data exposure
- Your compliance responsibility
Winner: n8n self-hosted (maximum control) or Make (professional security)
18. Backup and Recovery
Make:
- Automatic scenario backups
- Export blueprints manually
- Scenario history for rollback
n8n Cloud:
- Automated backups
- Export workflows
- Recovery support
n8n Self-Hosted:
- You manage backups
- Database backup strategies
- Complete control over recovery
Winner: Make (automated without your effort)
19. Documentation Quality
Make:
- Comprehensive documentation
- Video tutorials
- Make Academy courses
- Active community forum
n8n:
- Growing documentation
- Community tutorials
- Workflow examples
- Active Discord community
Winner: Make (more mature documentation)
20. Support Quality
Make:
- Email support (paid plans)
- Priority support (higher tiers)
- Fast response times
- Professional support team
n8n Cloud:
- Email support (paid)
- Community forum
- Discord community
- Growing support team
n8n Self-Hosted:
- Community support only
- GitHub issues
- Discord help
- No guaranteed response
Winner: Make (professional support infrastructure)
21. Scalability
Make:
- Proven at enterprise scale
- Automatic infrastructure scaling
- Handles millions of operations
- Cost increases with usage
n8n Cloud:
- Scales with infrastructure
- Cost increases dramatically
- Less proven at massive scale
n8n Self-Hosted:
- Scales with your infrastructure
- Queue mode for high volume
- Horizontal scaling possible
- Fixed infrastructure cost
Winner: n8n self-hosted (most cost-effective scaling)
22. Compliance Capabilities
Make:
- SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA-ready
- Data residency options (Enterprise)
- Audit logs
- Compliance documentation
n8n Self-Hosted:
- Complete data control
- Your compliance framework
- No third-party data processing
- Full audit capability
n8n Cloud:
- Growing compliance certifications
- Less mature than Make
Winner: n8n self-hosted (ultimate compliance control)
Part 5: Real-World Implementation Scenarios
Let's walk through detailed scenarios with specific workflow examples.
Scenario 1: E-commerce Order Automation
Business Requirement:
- Receive Shopify orders
- Check inventory in warehouse system
- Send to fulfillment if in stock
- Order from supplier if out of stock
- Update customer via email
- Log everything in Google Sheets
- Process 500-1,000 orders daily
Make Implementation:
Difficulty Level: 🟢 Beginner
Modules needed:
- Shopify Trigger (watch orders)
- HTTP Request (check warehouse API)
- Router (split based on stock status)
- Path A: Send to fulfillment API
- Path B: Order from supplier API
- Gmail (send customer update)
- Google Sheets (log transaction)
Estimated operations per order: 6-7 Monthly operations (1,000 orders/day): ~200,000 Estimated Make cost: $29-99/month (Teams plan)
n8n Self-Hosted Implementation:
Modules needed:
- Shopify Trigger
- HTTP Request node (warehouse)
- IF node (stock check)
- HTTP Request node (fulfillment or supplier)
- Send Email node
- Google Sheets node
Estimated cost: $20/month VPS Total monthly cost: $20
Winner for this scenario: n8n self-hosted (90% cost savings)
Scenario 2: Content Publishing Pipeline
Business Requirement:
- Writers submit content to Airtable
- Content manager reviews and approves
- Approved content converts to WordPress
- Images optimize and upload
- Social media posts auto-generate
- Email newsletter includes new content
- Analytics track performance
- Process 20-30 articles weekly
Make Implementation:
Difficulty Level: 🟡 Intermediate
Modules needed:
- Airtable Trigger (watch status changes)
- Filter (approved only)
- Router (handle different content types)
- Image optimizer API
- WordPress (create post)
- Buffer/Hootsuite (schedule social)
- Mailchimp (add to newsletter)
- Google Analytics (track)
Estimated operations per article: 15-20 Monthly operations (120 articles): ~2,000 Estimated Make cost: $9/month (Core plan)
n8n Cloud Implementation:
Same workflow complexity Monthly executions: ~2,000 Estimated cost: $20/month (included in Pro)
n8n Self-Hosted Implementation:
Same workflow Cost: $10/month VPS
Winner for this scenario: Make or n8n self-hosted (similar costs at this scale)
Scenario 3: Customer Support Ticket Routing
Business Requirement:
- Tickets arrive via email, chat, and form
- AI categorizes urgency and topic
- Route based on category and priority
- Assign to appropriate team member
- Send acknowledgment to customer
- Escalate if no response in 4 hours
- Update CRM with all interactions
- Process 500-1,000 tickets daily
Make Implementation:
Difficulty Level: 🟡 Intermediate
Modules needed:
- Multi-source triggers (Email, Chat API, Webhook)
- Router (combine streams)
- OpenAI API (categorization)
- Router (multi-path routing)
- Assignment logic modules
- Email or chat response
- Schedule + Iterator (check for response)
- CRM update module
Estimated operations per ticket: 8-12 Monthly operations (25,000 tickets): ~250,000 Estimated Make cost: $99-199/month
n8n Self-Hosted Implementation:
Modules needed:
- Multiple trigger nodes
- Merge node
- HTTP Request (OpenAI)
- Switch node
- Code node (assignment logic)
- Send Email node
- Wait node + Schedule trigger
- HTTP Request (CRM)
Cost: $20-40/month VPS Total monthly cost: $30
Winner for this scenario: n8n self-hosted (70-85% cost savings)
Scenario 4: Financial Report Automation
Business Requirement:
- Pull data from accounting software
- Retrieve bank transactions
- Match invoices to payments
- Calculate metrics (MRR, runway, etc.)
- Generate charts and visualizations
- Compile into PDF report
- Email to executives
- Run daily at 8 AM
- Strict data privacy (finance industry)
Make Implementation:
Difficulty Level: 🔴 Advanced
Problem: Data privacy concerns. Financial data passes through Make's servers.
n8n Self-Hosted Implementation:
Difficulty Level: 🟡 Intermediate
Modules needed:
- Schedule trigger (daily 8 AM)
- HTTP Request nodes (QuickBooks, bank APIs)
- Code node (complex matching logic)
- Function node (calculations)
- HTTP Request (chart generation)
- HTML to PDF conversion
- Email node
All data stays on your infrastructure.
Cost: $20/month VPS
Winner for this scenario: n8n self-hosted (only viable option for compliance)
Scenario 5: Social Media Management Agency
Business Requirement:
- Manage 50 client accounts
- Schedule posts across platforms
- Monitor mentions and engagement
- Generate weekly reports per client
- Variable usage (some clients more active)
- No upfront cost per client
- Scale as agency grows
Make Implementation:
Difficulty Level: 🟡 Intermediate
Challenge: Costs scale with number of clients and their activity.
50 clients × 100 posts weekly × 5 platforms = 25,000 operations weekly Monthly: ~100,000 operations Estimated cost: $99-199/month
Problem: As you add clients, costs increase proportionally.
n8n Self-Hosted Implementation:
Difficulty Level: 🔴 Advanced
Same workflow complexity All 50 clients run on single instance
Cost: $40/month dedicated server Total monthly cost: $40 (regardless of client count)
Winner for this scenario: n8n self-hosted (enables profitable agency model)
Scenario 6: Internal HR Onboarding
Business Requirement:
- New hire fills onboarding form
- Create accounts (email, Slack, tools)
- Assign to mentor
- Generate equipment order
- Schedule first-day meetings
- Send welcome materials
- Track completion
- Process 10-20 new hires monthly
Make Implementation:
Difficulty Level: 🟢 Beginner
Modules needed:
- Typeform/Google Forms trigger
- Google Workspace (create account)
- Slack (send invite)
- Various tool APIs (create accounts)
- Router (assignment logic)
- Calendar (schedule meetings)
- Email (welcome packet)
- Airtable (tracking)
Estimated operations per hire: 10-15 Monthly operations (20 hires): ~300 Estimated Make cost: $0 (free tier sufficient)
n8n Cloud Implementation:
Same workflow Monthly executions: ~300 Cost: $0 (free tier)
Winner for this scenario: Tie (both free at this scale)
Part 6: Migration and Platform Switching
Migrating from Make to n8n
When It Makes Sense:
- Growing operations costs unsustainable
- Need data sovereignty
- Require custom code capabilities
- Have technical team to manage infrastructure
Migration Process:
Step 1: Inventory Your Scenarios
List all Make scenarios with:
- Purpose and business function
- Trigger type
- Number of modules
- Complexity level
- Operations per run
- Dependencies on other scenarios
Step 2: Assess n8n Compatibility
For each scenario, verify:
- Are all integrations available in n8n?
- Are there native nodes or will you use HTTP?
- What custom logic needs code nodes?
- Can you replicate the data transformations?
Step 3: Prioritize Migration Order
Migrate in this order:
- Simple scenarios (few modules, low risk)
- Independent scenarios (no dependencies)
- Complex scenarios (time to get right)
- Critical scenarios (test thoroughly)
Step 4: Build in Parallel
Don't turn off Make scenarios until n8n equivalents are fully tested. Run both in parallel during transition.
Step 5: Data Migration
Some scenarios maintain state. Plan how to:
- Export data from Make data stores
- Import into n8n databases
- Maintain data consistency during switch
Step 6: Testing Phase
Test each migrated workflow:
- Happy path (everything works)
- Error cases (what happens when things fail)
- Edge cases (unusual inputs)
- Load testing (can it handle your volume)
Step 7: Cutover
Switch production traffic:
- Update webhooks to point to n8n
- Deactivate Make scenarios
- Monitor n8n closely for first 24-48 hours
- Keep Make scenarios available for quick rollback
Estimated Timeline:
- Small portfolio (5-10 scenarios): 1-2 weeks
- Medium portfolio (20-50 scenarios): 1-2 months
- Large portfolio (100+ scenarios): 3-6 months
Risks and Challenges:
Integration Gaps: Some Make integrations might not exist in n8n. You'll need HTTP Request nodes and API knowledge.
Different Data Handling: Make's bundles vs n8n's items handle arrays differently. You'll need to rethink iteration logic.
Learning Curve: Your team knows Make. They need to learn n8n's node-based approach.
Downtime Risk: If migration goes wrong, business processes stop. Plan carefully.
Migrating from n8n to Make
When It Makes Sense:
- Self-hosting burden too high
- Need more integrations
- Want professional support
- Prefer paying for reliability over managing infrastructure
Migration Process:
Similar steps as above, but additional considerations:
Challenge 1: Code Nodes
Make doesn't have equivalent code node functionality. You'll need to:
- Rewrite custom logic using Make's formulas
- Use external services for complex processing
- Simplify workflows to fit Make's model
Challenge 2: Self-Hosted Dependencies
If your n8n workflows access internal systems, you'll need:
- Expose APIs publicly (security concerns)
- Set up VPN connections
- Use webhook bridges
Challenge 3: Cost Increase
Calculate actual Make costs for your operation volume. The increase might be significant.
Estimated Timeline:
- Similar to reverse migration
- Additional time for code conversion
Part 7: Making the Final Decision
The Decision Framework
Answer these questions honestly:
1. What's your monthly operation/execution volume?
- Under 10,000: Make or n8n (either works)
- 10,000-100,000: Make or n8n self-hosted
- 100,000+: n8n self-hosted (cost-effective)
- 1,000,000+: n8n self-hosted (only viable option)
2. Do you have technical skills or team?
- No: Make (managed everything)
- Basic: n8n Cloud (managed infrastructure)
- Advanced: n8n self-hosted (full control)
3. Are data privacy/compliance critical?
- No: Either platform works
- Yes: n8n self-hosted (data sovereignty)
- HIPAA/GDPR strict: n8n self-hosted (only option)
4. Do you need extensive integrations?
- Yes, many niche tools: Make (larger library)
- No, major tools only: Either works
- Custom systems: n8n (more flexibility)
5. How important is ease of use?
- Critical: Make (gentler learning curve)
- Moderate: Either works
- Not important: n8n (more powerful)
6. What's your budget?
- Limited: n8n self-hosted (lowest cost)
- Moderate: Make (predictable costs)
- Flexible: Either works
7. Do you need custom code?
- No: Make (better no-code experience)
- Occasionally: Either works
- Frequently: n8n (code nodes essential)
8. How critical is support?
- Very important: Make (professional support)
- Somewhat important: n8n Cloud (email support)
- Not important: n8n self-hosted (community)
Recommendation by User Type
Freelancers/Solopreneurs
- Best choice: Make
- Reasoning: Simplicity, templates, managed service
- Alternative: n8n Cloud if technically comfortable
Small Businesses (5-20 employees)
- Best choice: Make
- Reasoning: Easy team onboarding, reliable, comprehensive integrations
- Alternative: n8n self-hosted if have technical staff
Growing Startups
- Best choice: n8n self-hosted
- Reasoning: Cost efficiency, scales with growth, flexibility
- Alternative: Make if prefer managed service
Established Businesses
- Best choice: Make (Enterprise)
- Reasoning: Professional support, SLAs, mature features
- Alternative: n8n self-hosted for cost savings
Agencies
- Best choice: n8n self-hosted
- Reasoning: Unlimited client workflows, one infrastructure cost
- Alternative: Make if prefer simplicity over cost efficiency
Developers/Technical Teams
- Best choice: n8n self-hosted
- Reasoning: Maximum control, customization, code integration
- Alternative: Make only if prioritize time over flexibility
Enterprise IT Departments
- Best choice: Make (Enterprise) or n8n self-hosted
- Reasoning: Make for support, n8n for control
- Decision factor: Internal DevOps capability
Healthcare/Finance (Regulated Industries)
- Best choice: n8n self-hosted
- Reasoning: Data sovereignty, compliance control
- No alternative: Data privacy requirements eliminate cloud options
Part 8: Getting Started - Step by Step
Starting with Make
Phase 1: Account Setup (15 minutes)
- Visit make.com and create free account
- Complete onboarding tutorial
- Connect your first apps (Gmail, Google Sheets recommended)
Phase 2: First Scenario (30 minutes)
Build a simple workflow:
- Trigger: Watch Google Sheets rows
- Action: Send Slack message
- Action: Update Google Sheets
This teaches you:
- Module configuration
- Data mapping
- Testing and activation
Phase 3: Template Exploration (1 hour)
Browse Make's template library:
- Find templates in your industry
- Clone and examine how they work
- Modify templates for your needs
Phase 4: First Real Workflow (2-4 hours)
Build something useful for your business:
- Start simple (3-5 modules)
- Test thoroughly before activating
- Monitor first runs closely
Phase 5: Advanced Features (ongoing)
Learn progressively:
- Week 1: Routers and filters
- Week 2: Aggregators and iterators
- Week 3: Error handling
- Week 4: Webhooks
- Week 5: Custom API connections
Starting with n8n Cloud
Phase 1: Account Setup (15 minutes)
- Visit n8n.cloud and create account
- Create first workflow
- Add credentials for your apps
Phase 2: First Workflow (45 minutes)
Build simple automation:
- Manual trigger (for testing)
- HTTP Request node or app node
- Another app action node
This teaches you:
- Node configuration
- Data expressions
- Execution testing
Phase 3: Understanding Data Flow (1-2 hours)
Practice with data:
- Create test data with Set node
- Transform with Function node
- Split and merge data streams
Phase 4: First Real Workflow (3-5 hours)
Build production automation:
- Start with clear goal
- Test each node individually
- Build up complexity gradually
Phase 5: Advanced Features (ongoing)
Learn progressively:
- Week 1: IF and Switch nodes
- Week 2: Code nodes basics
- Week 3: HTTP Request for custom APIs
- Week 4: Error workflows
- Week 5: Complex data transformations
Starting with n8n Self-Hosted
Phase 1: Infrastructure Setup (1-4 hours)
Option A: Quick Start with Docker
# Create directory for n8n data
mkdir ~/.n8n
# Run n8n in Docker
docker run -it --rm \
--name n8n \
-p 5678:5678 \
-v ~/.n8n:/home/node/.n8n \
n8nio/n8n
Access at http://localhost:5678
Option B: Production Setup with Docker Compose
- Create docker-compose.yml:
version: '3.8'
services:
postgres:
image: postgres:15
environment:
POSTGRES_DB: n8n
POSTGRES_USER: n8n
POSTGRES_PASSWORD: your_password
volumes:
- postgres_data:/var/lib/postgresql/data
n8n:
image: n8nio/n8n:latest
ports:
- "5678:5678"
environment:
DB_TYPE: postgresdb
DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST: postgres
DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE: n8n
DB_POSTGRESDB_USER: n8n
DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD: your_password
N8N_BASIC_AUTH_ACTIVE: true
N8N_BASIC_AUTH_USER: admin
N8N_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD: admin_password
volumes:
- n8n_data:/home/node/.n8n
depends_on:
- postgres
volumes:
postgres_data:
n8n_data:
- Start with:
docker-compose up -d
Option C: VPS Deployment
- Choose VPS provider (DigitalOcean, Hetzner, etc.)
- Create Ubuntu server (minimum 2GB RAM)
- Install Docker and Docker Compose
- Deploy using docker-compose method
- Set up reverse proxy (Nginx) with SSL (Let's Encrypt)
- Configure firewall and security
Phase 2: Security Configuration (1-2 hours)
- Enable authentication
- Set up SSL certificates
- Configure firewall rules
- Set strong passwords
- Enable webhook security
Phase 3: Backup Strategy (30 minutes)
- Export workflows regularly
- Backup PostgreSQL database
- Store credentials separately
- Test restore process
Phase 4: Learning and Building (same as n8n Cloud)
Follow the n8n Cloud learning path.
Phase 5: Production Optimization (ongoing)
- Monitor resource usage
- Optimize workflow efficiency
- Set up logging and alerting
- Plan scaling strategy
Part 9: Advanced Tips and Tricks
Make Power User Tips
Tip 1: Use Blueprints for Version Control
Export scenarios as blueprints regularly. Store in a dedicated folder organized by date. This creates manual version control.
Tip 2: Build Reusable Sub-Scenarios
Create scenarios that receive webhooks and perform specific functions. Call them from multiple other scenarios to avoid duplication.
Tip 3: Optimize Operation Usage
- Use filters early in scenarios to prevent unnecessary processing
- Batch operations where possible (process 100 records at once vs. 100 separate runs)
- Use data stores to cache frequently accessed data
Tip 4: Master the Aggregator
The aggregator is powerful but confusing. Practice with simple examples before using in production.
Tip 5: Use Scenario Comments
Name modules clearly. Add notes explaining complex logic. Future you will thank present you.
n8n Power User Tips
Tip 1: Master Expressions
Learn n8n's expression syntax thoroughly:
{{ $json.fieldName }}
{{ $node["NodeName"].json.data }}
{{ $now.format('yyyy-MM-dd') }}
Tip 2: Use Sticky Notes Liberally
Document your workflows with sticky notes. Explain why decisions were made, not just what they do.
Tip 3: Build a Custom Node Library
For frequently used operations, create custom nodes. Store them in a Git repository and reuse across workflows.
Tip 4: Implement Proper Error Handling
Don't just let workflows fail silently. Create error workflows that:
- Log errors properly
- Send notifications
- Retry with exponential backoff
- Escalate when needed
Tip 5: Use Queue Mode for High Volume
For processing millions of executions, configure n8n in queue mode with Redis. This enables horizontal scaling.
Tip 6: Version Control with Git
Export workflows as JSON and commit to Git. Use branches for testing changes before merging to production.
Tip 7: Create a Staging Environment
Run two n8n instances: staging for testing, production for live workflows. Test everything in staging first.
Part 10: Troubleshooting Common Issues
Make Common Issues
Issue 1: "Insufficient Operations" Error
Problem: Exceeded monthly operation limit
Solution:
- Optimize workflows to use fewer operations
- Upgrade to higher plan
- Split workflows across multiple months
Issue 2: Scenario Times Out
Problem: Processing takes longer than maximum execution time (40 minutes default)
Solution:
- Break workflow into smaller scenarios chained with webhooks
- Process data in smaller batches
- Optimize slow external API calls
Issue 3: Data Mapping Errors
Problem: Fields show as empty or undefined
Solution:
- Check that previous module produced expected output
- Verify data structure matches what you're mapping
- Use fallback values in formulas
Issue 4: Authentication Fails
Problem: Can't connect to app despite correct credentials
Solution:
- Re-authenticate (tokens expire)
- Check API permissions in the app
- Verify IP whitelist includes Make's IPs
n8n Common Issues
Issue 1: Workflow Won't Execute
Problem: Trigger not firing or workflow hangs
Solution:
- Check trigger configuration
- Verify credentials are valid
- Check execution queue status
- Review error logs
Issue 2: Expression Errors
Problem: "Expression error" in node execution
Solution:
- Check expression syntax
- Verify field paths exist
- Test expressions in Set node first
- Check for null/undefined values
Issue 3: Self-Hosted Performance Issues
Problem: Slow execution or crashes
Solution:
- Check server resources (CPU, RAM, disk)
- Enable queue mode for high volume
- Optimize database queries
- Review workflow efficiency
Issue 4: Webhook Not Receiving Data
Problem: Webhook trigger doesn't fire
Solution:
- Verify webhook URL is accessible
- Check firewall rules
- Test with curl command
- Review webhook configuration
The Final Verdict
After 5,000+ words analyzing every dimension of these platforms, here's the straightforward truth:
Choose Make if:
- You value simplicity over cost
- You need extensive pre-built integrations
- You prefer managed services
- Your operation volume is moderate (under 100,000/month)
- You want professional support
- Your team is non-technical
- You need to start automating immediately
Choose n8n self-hosted if:
- Cost efficiency is critical
- You process high volumes
- Data privacy is non-negotiable
- You have technical capabilities
- You need custom code integration
- You want no vendor lock-in
- You're building for scale
Choose n8n Cloud if:
- You want n8n's flexibility without infrastructure management
- Your volume is low-moderate
- You're technically comfortable but don't want to manage servers
- You're testing before self-hosting
There's no universally "better" platform. There's only the right platform for your specific situation.
The best decision is the informed decision. Now you have all the information needed to choose correctly.
Start with the free tier of whichever platform fits your situation better. Build a few test workflows. Experience the interface firsthand. That practical experience will confirm (or contradict) everything you've read here.
The automation revolution isn't coming—it's here. The only question is which tool you'll use to be part of it.
Choose wisely. Build confidently. Automate relentlessly.