If you run a business on your own, an automation tool is the closest thing to hiring an assistant. The three names that come up again and again are n8n, Make and Zapier. They all connect your apps and add AI steps, but they charge in very different ways, and that difference decides which one is cheapest for you.
Quick verdict. Choose n8n if you build longer, AI-heavy workflows and want the lowest cost per run (or want to self-host for free). Choose Make if you want a visual builder with a generous free plan and low entry price. Choose Zapier if you want the fastest setup and the most plug-and-play experience, and you mostly run short two- or three-step automations.
Side-by-side comparison
| n8n | Make | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | Workflow execution (one full run, unlimited steps) | Credits (most module actions = 1 credit) | Tasks (successful action steps; triggers are free) |
| Free option | Community Edition, self-hosted on your own server | Free plan: 1,000 credits/month | Free plan: 100 tasks/month, two-step Zaps only |
| Cheapest paid plan | Starter: €20/month billed annually, 2,500 executions | Core: $11/month billed annually, 10,000 credits | Professional: from $19.99/month billed annually ($29.99 monthly) |
| Next tier | Pro: €50/month billed annually, 10,000 executions | Pro: $20/month billed annually | Team: from $69/month billed annually |
| AI building blocks | AI Agent, LLM chains, Text Classifier, Information Extractor, MCP | AI agents (beta), Maia assistant, AI modules | Copilot, AI fields, Agents (add-on) |
| Best for | Builders who want power and low cost per run | Visual thinkers on a budget | Non-technical users who want speed |
Prices as listed on each vendor’s pricing page in October 2026. All three scale their price with volume, so check the current page before you buy.
The billing unit is what really matters
The headline prices look similar, but the three tools count usage differently. Take one typical solopreneur workflow: a new lead fills in your form, AI drafts a reply, Gmail sends it and Google Sheets logs it. That is one trigger plus three actions, and say it runs 1,000 times a month.
- n8n counts one execution per run, however many steps it has: about 1,000 executions.
- Make counts a credit for each module that runs, including the trigger: roughly 4,000 credits (AI steps that use Make’s own AI provider can cost more).
- Zapier counts each successful action as a task and does not charge for the trigger: roughly 3,000 tasks (AI steps can use more depending on the model).
The longer your workflows get, the more n8n’s per-execution model pulls ahead. For short, two-step automations the difference is small, and Zapier’s simplicity can be worth the premium.
n8n: most power per euro
n8n is open source. You can run the Community Edition on your own server for free, or use n8n’s hosted cloud from €20/month. Every plan includes unlimited users and workflows, and pricing is based only on how many workflows run from start to finish.
- Strengths: unlimited steps per execution, strong AI nodes (AI Agent, Text Classifier, Information Extractor), code when you need it, self-hosting option.
- Weaknesses: steeper learning curve than Zapier; self-hosting means you handle updates, backups and security yourself.
Make: the best value visual builder
Make shows each scenario as a flowchart of modules, which makes branching and data mapping easy to see. Its billing unit is the credit. The free plan includes 1,000 credits a month and paid plans start at $11/month (billed annually) for 10,000 credits.
- Strengths: generous free plan, cheap entry tier, very visual, 3,500+ apps.
- Weaknesses: every module counts, so long scenarios burn credits quickly; the free plan only checks for new data every 15 minutes.
Zapier: the fastest way to start
Zapier is the easiest of the three. Copilot can build a Zap from a plain-English description, and the free plan now includes Tables and Forms. The catch is cost at scale: the free plan is limited to 100 tasks and two-step Zaps, and multi-step Zaps start on Professional from $19.99/month billed annually.
- Strengths: easiest setup, huge app library, filters and formatter steps don’t use tasks.
- Weaknesses: the most expensive per action as you grow; agents are a separate add-on.
Which one should you choose?
- You are comfortable with a bit of tech and build AI workflows: n8n.
- You want a visual tool and the lowest monthly bill to start: Make.
- You want it working in 10 minutes and run simple automations: Zapier.
Our own stack at Mode:Solo runs on n8n, which is why most of our tutorials use n8n nodes. Every workflow we publish can be rebuilt in Make or Zapier.
FAQ
Is n8n really free?
The self-hosted Community Edition is free to use, but you pay for the server it runs on and you maintain it yourself. n8n’s hosted cloud plans are paid, starting with Starter.
Do triggers count towards my usage?
In Zapier, triggers do not use tasks. In Make, reading data (including from a trigger or webhook) uses credits. In n8n, you pay per execution, regardless of the number of steps.
Can I use ChatGPT or Claude in all three?
Yes. All three have native OpenAI and Anthropic integrations, and n8n and Make also let you use your own API keys inside their AI agent features.