The Automation Platform Landscape
If you're evaluating automation platforms, you've probably narrowed it down to three options: Zapier, Make (formerly Integromat), and n8n. Each serves different needs.
After implementing hundreds of automations for clients, here's our honest assessment.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | Zapier | Make | n8n | |--------|--------|------|-----| | Ease of Use | Easiest | Medium | Technical | | Pricing | Expensive | Moderate | Free (self-hosted) | | Integrations | 6,000+ | 1,500+ | 400+ (growing) | | Complexity | Simple workflows | Medium complexity | Unlimited | | Data Privacy | Cloud only | Cloud only | Self-hosted option | | Best For | Non-technical teams | Marketing teams | Developers & enterprises |
Zapier: The Gateway Drug
Best for: Teams that need simple A-to-B automations without technical resources.
Zapier pioneered the "Zap" concept. Connect App A to App B with a trigger and action. It's intuitive enough that anyone can build basic automations in minutes.
Pros
- Largest integration library (6,000+ apps)
- No technical knowledge required
- Excellent documentation
- Reliable and well-maintained
Cons
- Expensive at scale. 750 tasks/month costs $19.99. Enterprise clients easily burn through that in a day.
- Limited logic. Paths and filters exist but complex branching gets messy.
- No self-hosting. Your data flows through Zapier's servers. Period.
- Task-based pricing. You pay per execution, not per workflow.
When We Recommend Zapier
- Startups with simple needs (<500 monthly automations)
- Non-technical teams needing quick wins
- Testing automation concepts before investing
Make: The Middle Ground
Best for: Marketing teams and agencies needing visual workflow builders.
Make (formerly Integromat) offers more power than Zapier with a visual interface that's still accessible to non-developers.
Pros
- Visual workflow builder with clear data flow
- More affordable than Zapier
- Better handling of complex scenarios
- Operations-based pricing (cheaper for data-heavy workflows)
Cons
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier
- Fewer native integrations
- Can get slow with large data volumes
- Still cloud-only
When We Recommend Make
- Agencies managing multiple client automations
- Marketing teams with complex campaign workflows
- Budget-conscious teams needing more than Zapier offers
n8n: The Developer's Choice
Best for: Technical teams, enterprises with data privacy requirements, and anyone needing unlimited customization.
n8n is open-source and can run on your own infrastructure. This changes everything for enterprise use cases.
Pros
- Self-hosted option. Your data never leaves your servers.
- Truly unlimited. No task limits on self-hosted. Pay for infrastructure, not executions.
- Code when needed. JavaScript/Python nodes for custom logic.
- Fair pricing. Cloud version is reasonable; self-hosted is free.
- Active development. New features and integrations regularly.
Cons
- Requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain
- Smaller integration library (but HTTP requests cover gaps)
- Less polish than commercial alternatives
- Community support vs. enterprise support tiers
When We Recommend n8n
- Enterprises with data privacy/compliance requirements
- Technical teams comfortable with self-hosting
- High-volume automations where per-task pricing is prohibitive
- Custom integrations requiring code
Real Cost Analysis
Let's compare costs for a realistic scenario: 10,000 monthly automations.
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Notes | |----------|--------------|-------| | Zapier | $599/mo | Business plan, 50,000 tasks | | Make | $99/mo | Teams plan, 10,000 ops | | n8n Cloud | $50/mo | Starter plan | | n8n Self-Hosted | ~$20/mo | VPS hosting costs only |
At 100,000 monthly automations, the gap widens dramatically:
- Zapier: $1,169/mo (Enterprise)
- Make: $299/mo (Teams, overage charges)
- n8n Self-Hosted: Same $20/mo
Why We Chose n8n for Client Projects
At Syntora, we deploy n8n for most enterprise clients. Here's why:
1. Data Stays Private
Many clients can't have their data flowing through third-party servers. Healthcare, finance, legal. Self-hosted n8n solves this.
2. No Execution Limits
When you're automating thousands of daily operations, per-task pricing becomes untenable. n8n's flat infrastructure cost is predictable.
3. Custom Integrations
Half our client work involves APIs that don't have pre-built connectors. n8n's HTTP Request node and code nodes handle anything.
4. We Manage It
Clients get the benefits without the operational burden. We handle hosting, monitoring, updates, and support.
The Verdict
Choose Zapier if: You're non-technical, need simple automations, and budget isn't a concern.
Choose Make if: You're marketing-focused, need visual workflows, and want a balance of power and usability.
Choose n8n if: You're technical, care about data privacy, need custom integrations, or plan to scale significantly.
Need Help Deciding?
We've implemented all three platforms. Our recommendation depends on your specific situation: team technical ability, data sensitivity, expected volume, and budget.
Book a free AI audit and we'll assess which platform fits your needs. No obligation, no sales pitch. Just honest advice.
This comparison was last updated January 2025. Platform features and pricing change frequently.