Make.com vs. n8n (2025)

Two of the most prominent players in this space are Make.com (formerly known as Integromat) and n8n. Both offer robust solutions for building complex automations without extensive coding knowledge, but they cater to different philosophies, user bases, and technical needs. Choosing between them is a critical decision that can significantly impact your team’s workflow, budget, and scalability. This in-depth guide will dissect every facet of these platforms—from user interface and features to pricing and hosting—to help you determine which tool is the perfect fit for your specific automation goals.

Key Takeaways

• Core Philosophy: Make.com is a polished, user-friendly, and entirely visual platform designed for accessibility. n8n is a “fair-code,” open-source platform that prioritizes flexibility, developer control, and self-hosting capabilities.
• Target Audience: Make is ideal for marketers, small business owners, and non-technical users who value a visual, intuitive interface. n8n is built for developers, tech-savvy users, and organizations that require custom logic, deep extensibility, and full control over their data through self-hosting.
• User Interface: Make offers a highly visual and interactive “scenario” builder where you can see data flow in real-time. n8n uses a more structured, node-based workflow editor that is powerful but has a steeper learning curve for beginners.
• Hosting & Data Privacy: Make is a fully managed cloud service, meaning they handle the infrastructure. n8n offers both a managed cloud version and a self-hostable open-source version, giving you complete data sovereignty—a crucial feature for industries with strict compliance requirements.
• Pricing: Make uses a subscription model based on the number of “operations” you use per month. n8n’s self-hosted version is free (you only pay for your server), while its cloud offering has a usage-based pricing model that can be more cost-effective at scale.
• Flexibility & Customization: While both are powerful, n8n has the edge in customization due to its open-source nature and the “Code Node,” which allows users to run custom JavaScript or TypeScript for limitless possibilities.

What Exactly is Workflow Automation?

Before diving into the specifics of each platform, it’s essential to understand the concept at their core. Workflow automation is the process of using software to connect different digital tools and automate the flow of tasks and data between them. Think of it as creating digital “recipes” or “blueprints” where a specific event in one application (a “trigger”) initiates a series of actions in other applications.

For example, a common business workflow might be:

1. Trigger: A customer submits a form on your WordPress website built with Elementor.
2. Action 1: The customer’s information is automatically added as a new row in a Google Sheet.
3. Action 2: A notification with the customer’s details is sent to your team’s Slack channel.
4. Action 3: The customer’s email is added to a specific mailing list in Mailchimp.

Manually performing these steps for every form submission would be tedious, time-consuming, and prone to error. An automation platform handles this entire sequence instantly and reliably, every single time. This is the magic of iPaaS: it acts as the universal translator and delivery service between the apps you use every day, allowing them to communicate and work together seamlessly.

Introducing Make.com: The Visual Virtuoso

Make.com, which many still know by its former name Integromat, has carved out a significant niche in the automation market with its highly intuitive and visually engaging interface. Its core philosophy is to make automation accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical background. It achieves this by representing workflows not as abstract lists of tasks, but as dynamic, flowchart-like diagrams where you can literally watch your data move from one step to the next.

The Core Experience in Make

When you build an automation in Make, you’re creating what’s called a “Scenario.” A Scenario is a visual map of your workflow. Each step is represented by a “Module,” which is essentially an integration with a specific app or service (like Gmail, Slack, or Google Drive). You start with a trigger module and then connect subsequent action modules by dragging and dropping.

What truly sets Make apart is its real-time visual feedback. When you run a Scenario, you can see little bouncing dots traveling along the connectors between modules, representing the data being processed. If an error occurs, a module will turn red, and you can click on it to inspect the data bundle that caused the issue. This visual debugging is incredibly powerful and makes troubleshooting complex workflows far less intimidating for non-developers.

Key Features of Make.com

• Vast App Library: Make boasts over 1,700 integrated apps and services, one of the largest libraries on the market. From mainstream CRM and marketing platforms to niche project management tools, the chances are high that the apps you use are already supported.
• Advanced Visual Tools: Beyond simple linear workflows, Make offers powerful tools for managing complex logic visually.
  • Router: This module allows you to split a workflow into multiple branches based on specific filter conditions. For example, you could route new leads to different sales team members based on their geographic location.
  • Aggregator: This tool can take multiple bundles of data and combine them into a single bundle. For instance, you could aggregate daily sales data into a single summary report.
• Powerful Data Handling: Make provides a user-friendly interface for mapping data between modules. You can easily drag and drop data fields from one app to another and apply built-in functions to format text, dates, numbers, and more, all without writing a single line of code.
• Templates and Blueprints: To help users get started, Make offers a vast library of pre-built Scenario templates for common use cases. You can install a template with a single click and then customize it to fit your specific needs.
• Flexible Scheduling: Scenarios can be triggered in various ways: on a set schedule (e.g., every 15 minutes), instantly via a webhook (when an event happens in another app), or manually.

Make’s greatest strength is its ability to demystify automation. It turns abstract processes into tangible, interactive diagrams, empowering marketers, business owners, and operational managers to build sophisticated workflows that were once the exclusive domain of developers.

Introducing n8n: The Fair-Code Powerhouse

On the other side of the spectrum is n8n (pronounced “nodemation”), a platform built with developers, flexibility, and control in mind. Its “fair-code” license and open-source foundation mean that its source code is available for anyone to view, modify, and extend. This philosophy is at the heart of everything n8n does, positioning it as a powerful and transparent alternative to closed-source, proprietary platforms like Make.

The core promise of n8n is extensibility. While it offers a visual workflow editor similar to its competitors, it doesn’t shy away from its developer-centric roots. If a feature or integration is missing, you have the power to build it yourself.

The Core Experience in n8n

In n8n, you create “Workflows” composed of “Nodes.” A Node is the equivalent of Make’s Module—an integration point with an application or a function for manipulating data. You connect these nodes in the workflow editor to define the sequence of your automation.

The interface is clean and functional, but it’s less “playful” than Make’s. The focus is less on visual flair and more on raw capability. The true power of n8n becomes apparent when you encounter a limitation. Instead of hitting a wall, you’re given the tools to break through it.

Key Features of n8n

• Hosting Flexibility (The Game Changer): This is arguably n8n’s most significant differentiator.
  • Self-Hosting: You can download n8n and run it on your own server (or on a cloud provider like AWS or DigitalOcean) for free. This gives you complete control over your data, performance, and costs. For companies in regulated industries like healthcare (HIPAA) or finance, or those operating under GDPR, keeping data in-house is not just a preference—it’s a requirement.
  • n8n Cloud: For those who want the power of n8n without the hassle of managing a server, they offer a managed cloud service with a usage-based pricing model.
• The Code Node: This is the ultimate “get out of jail free” card for developers. The Code Node allows you to write and execute custom JavaScript or TypeScript at any point in your workflow. Need to interact with an obscure API, perform a complex data transformation, or implement custom business logic? The Code Node makes it possible, offering virtually limitless flexibility.
• Open-Source and Community-Driven: Being open-source means n8n benefits from a vibrant community of developers who contribute new nodes, fix bugs, and provide support. If you need an integration that doesn’t exist, there’s a good chance someone in the community has already built it, or you can commission its creation.
• Granular Error Handling: n8n allows for the creation of sophisticated error workflows. You can use a dedicated “Error Trigger” node to define exactly what should happen when a workflow fails—send a custom Slack message, create a ticket in Jira, or attempt a different series of actions.
• Source Control and Versioning: Because workflows can be represented as JSON files, they can be managed with version control systems like Git. This is a massive advantage for development teams who want to apply software engineering best practices like code reviews, version history, and automated deployments to their automation workflows.

n8n is the tool of choice for those who want to lift the hood and tinker with the engine. It’s for users who see a limitation not as a roadblock, but as an invitation to build a solution.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Make.com vs. n8n

Now that we have a solid understanding of each platform’s philosophy, let’s put them side-by-side and compare them across the categories that matter most.

1. Target Audience and Use Cases

This is the most fundamental difference between the two platforms.

• Make.com:
  • Audience: Marketing teams, sales professionals, small to medium-sized business owners, and anyone who prefers a “no-code” or “low-code” visual approach.
  • Common Use Cases: Lead nurturing sequences, social media posting automation, syncing data between a CRM and email marketing platform, automating client onboarding tasks, and generating reports.
• n8n:
  • Audience: Developers, DevOps engineers, IT professionals, and technically-inclined “power users.” It’s also for businesses with strict data privacy and security requirements.
  • Common Use Cases: Building complex data pipelines, creating backend workflows for applications, internal tool development, automating infrastructure tasks, and integrating with custom or in-house software.

2. User Interface (UI) and Ease of Use

Both platforms have visual editors, but their approach and feel are distinct.

• Make.com: Wins handily on pure intuitiveness and visual appeal. The drag-and-drop interface, animated data flow, and contextual menus make it incredibly easy for a beginner to get started. The learning curve is gentle, and the visual debugging process is second to none. It’s designed to be explored and learned by doing.
• n8n: The UI is clean, professional, and highly functional, but less intuitive for absolute beginners. The node-based paradigm is straightforward for those with some technical or flowcharting experience, but it lacks the interactive, real-time feedback that makes Make so engaging. Debugging often involves inspecting JSON data objects, which can be intimidating for non-technical users.

Winner for Ease of Use: Make.com

3. Pricing and Value Proposition

The pricing models are fundamentally different and reflect their core philosophies.

Feature	Make.com	n8n
Model	Subscription-based (SaaS)	Free & Open-Source (Self-Hosted) or Usage-Based (Cloud)
Core Metric	Operations. An operation is a single task performed by a module. A trigger is one operation.	Workflow Executions. A single run of an entire workflow, regardless of how many nodes it has.
Free Tier	Offers a Free plan with 1,000 operations/month.	The self-hosted version is always free. The Cloud version has a free tier for development with 200 executions/month.
Scalability	Can become expensive at high volumes, as every single action counts towards your operation limit.	Extremely cost-effective at scale, especially when self-hosted (your only cost is the server). The cloud pricing is also very competitive.

Value Proposition:

• Make.com: You’re paying for convenience, polish, and a fully managed service. The value is in the speed to implementation and ease of use for your team.
• n8n: The value is in control, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness at scale. The free, self-hosted version offers unparalleled power with no licensing fees.

Winner for Pricing/Value: n8n, especially for high-volume or budget-conscious users.

4. Hosting and Data Sovereignty

This is a critical, non-negotiable point for many organizations.

• Make.com: Is a fully cloud-based platform. They manage all the infrastructure, security, and maintenance. This is incredibly convenient, but it means your workflow data is processed on their servers, primarily located in the EU.
• n8n: Offers you the choice. You can use their managed Cloud platform or you can self-host. By self-hosting on your own infrastructure—whether on-premise or in a private cloud like Elementor Hosting’s secure environments—you retain 100% control over your data. It never has to leave your network, ensuring compliance with the strictest data privacy laws.

Winner for Hosting & Data Control: n8n, by a wide margin.

5. Features and Customization

Both platforms are feature-rich, but their strengths lie in different areas.

• App Integrations: Make.com generally has a larger number of pre-built app integrations right out of the box. However, n8n’s community is constantly adding new nodes, and any public API can be integrated using its HTTP Request node or by building a custom node.
• Custom Logic: Make allows for some conditional logic using filters and functions, but it’s all done through the UI. n8n’s Code Node is its ace in the hole. The ability to drop into JavaScript at any point gives it a ceiling of complexity that is virtually unlimited. As workflow automation expert Itamar Haim often says, “The best automation tool isn’t the one with the most features, but the one that best fits the user’s technical comfort level and the project’s specific needs for control and scalability.”
• Extensibility: n8n is built to be extended. You can create your own custom nodes and share them with the community, effectively building your own proprietary integrations. Make is a closed system; what you see is what you get, although they do offer an API for programmatic access.

Winner for Flexibility & Customization: n8n

Real-World Scenarios: Which Tool Should You Choose?

Let’s apply this comparison to some practical examples.

Scenario 1: The Digital Marketing Agency

• Need: An agency needs to automate client onboarding. When a new client signs a contract via DocuSign, they want to automatically create a new client folder in Google Drive, set up a project in Asana, create a private Slack channel, and send a welcome email.
• Choice: Make.com.
• Reasoning: This is a classic business process automation workflow. The tasks are linear, involve popular SaaS apps, and need to be easily managed and understood by non-technical project managers. Make’s visual interface is perfect for building, monitoring, and tweaking this kind of workflow.

Scenario 2: The E-commerce Company with Custom Needs

• Need: An online store running on a custom platform needs to sync its order data with an internal inventory management system that has a unique, non-standard API. The process involves complex logic to calculate shipping costs based on warehouse location and product weight. The company also has a strict data privacy policy.
• Choice: n8n (Self-Hosted).
• Reasoning: The need for custom API integration and complex data transformation logic makes n8n’s HTTP Request node and Code Node the ideal tools. The requirement for data privacy makes self-hosting a necessity. This is a task that would be difficult or impossible to achieve in Make without a dedicated developer building a middle-man API.

Scenario 3: The Tech Startup Building Internal Tools

• Need: A startup wants to build a “GitHub pull request summarizer.” When a developer opens a new PR, the workflow should use an AI service like Elementor AI to summarize the code changes, post the summary in a specific developer Slack channel, and log the PR details in a Notion database.
• Choice: n8n.
• Reasoning: This workflow requires a high degree of customization and integration with developer-centric tools. The ability to use the Code Node to parse the GitHub webhook payload, format the prompt for the AI, and handle the API responses gives n8n the advantage. Developers will also appreciate being able to manage the workflow’s JSON file in their Git repository.

The Elementor Connection: Automating Your Website Forms

A primary driver for automation for many businesses is capturing leads and data from their website. Both Make and n8n integrate flawlessly with forms built using Elementor Pro’s Form Builder, thanks to a feature called webhooks.

A webhook is a simple mechanism that allows one application to send real-time data to another. Here’s how you can connect your Elementor form to either platform:

1. Create a Webhook Trigger: In either Make or n8n, start a new workflow and select the “Webhook” trigger. This will generate a unique URL. Copy it.
2. Configure Your Elementor Form: In the Elementor editor, go to your form widget’s settings. Under “Actions After Submit,” add “Webhook.”
3. Paste the URL: A new “Webhook” tab will appear. Paste the unique URL you copied from your automation platform into the field provided.
4. Map Your Fields: Save your Elementor page and submit the form once with sample data. Your automation platform will “catch” this data, allowing you to see all your form fields (like Name, Email, Message).
5. Build Your Workflow: Now you can add subsequent modules/nodes to your workflow, using the data captured from the form to create a new contact, send a notification, or anything else you can imagine.

This seamless integration transforms your website from a static brochure into a dynamic, integrated part of your business operations. Whether you’re building a simple contact form or a complex multi-step quote request, connecting it to an automation platform opens up a world of possibilities.

Conclusion: Simplicity vs. Sovereignty

The choice between Make.com and n8n is not about which platform is “better,” but which platform is better for you. It’s a classic tradeoff between usability and control, simplicity and sovereignty.

Choose Make.com if:

• You and your team are non-technical and prioritize ease of use.
• You need to get automations up and running as quickly as possible.
• Your workflows primarily involve popular, well-supported SaaS applications.
• You value a polished, fully managed experience and don’t have strict data hosting requirements.

Choose n8n if:

• You are a developer or have access to development resources.
• You need to perform complex data manipulations or integrate with custom APIs.
• Data privacy and control are paramount, and you need the ability to self-host.
• You value the flexibility and transparency of open-source software and want a solution that is cost-effective at scale.

The best way to make a final decision is to try both. Make offers a generous free plan, and you can spin up a self-hosted instance of n8n on a cheap server in under an hour. Build a simple test workflow in each. The experience will quickly reveal which platform aligns better with your skills, your needs, and your company’s philosophy. In the end, the right tool will feel less like a piece of software and more like a natural extension of your team.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is n8n really free? What’s the catch? Yes, the self-hosted version of n8n is truly free to use under its “fair-code” license. The “catch” is that you are responsible for setting up and maintaining the server it runs on. This includes server costs (which can be as low as $5-$10/month for small instances), security updates, and troubleshooting. The value proposition is that you get an incredibly powerful tool with no software licensing fees.

2. Which platform has better support for AI integrations? Both platforms have excellent support for major AI services like OpenAI (for ChatGPT), Anthropic (for Claude), and others. You can easily integrate them to do things like summarize text, generate content, or classify data. However, n8n’s Code Node gives it a slight edge for more experimental or custom AI tasks, as you can interact with any AI model that has an API using custom code. For instance, you could build a workflow that leverages Elementor’s AI Site Planner for initial project briefs.

3. How does error handling differ between Make and n8n? Make’s error handling is very visual. You can add “error handler” routes to a module that will execute if that module fails. It also has features for automatically retrying failed operations. n8n’s error handling is more programmatic. You can create entirely separate “error workflows” that are triggered by a failure in a main workflow, allowing for more complex and robust error-recovery logic.

4. Can I migrate my workflows from Make to n8n? There is no direct, one-click migration tool to move scenarios from Make to n8n. The underlying architecture and module definitions are completely different. You would need to manually recreate your workflows in n8n. However, the process of recreating them can be a good opportunity to rethink and optimize your automation logic.

5. Which platform is better for team collaboration? Both platforms offer features for teams on their paid plans. Make allows for multiple users, roles, and permissions to control who can create or edit scenarios. n8n also has user management features, and its ability to integrate with Git for version control is a major advantage for developer teams who want to collaborate on workflows using best practices.

6. What are the performance limitations of each platform? For Make, performance is tied to your subscription plan, which dictates how many operations you can run and how frequently your scenarios can execute (e.g., down to 1-minute intervals on higher plans). For a self-hosted n8n instance, the performance is limited only by the resources of your server. If you need to process a huge volume of data, you can simply scale up your server’s CPU and RAM. This gives n8n a significant advantage for high-performance use cases.

7. How secure are these platforms? Make.com invests heavily in security as a managed SaaS provider, with certifications like SOC 2 Type II. Your data is encrypted in transit and at rest. However, your data is still on their platform. The ultimate security comes from n8n’s self-hosting model. By hosting it within your own network and behind your own firewall, you control every aspect of its security, ensuring it meets your company’s specific policies.

8. What does “fair-code” mean for n8n? “Fair-code” is a licensing model that is similar to open-source but with one key restriction: you cannot offer a commercial, hosted version of n8n that directly competes with n8n’s own Cloud service. For almost all users, this has no impact. You are completely free to use it internally, build on it, and even manage it for clients, as long as you are not selling it as a direct alternative to n8n Cloud.

9. Can I connect to any REST API with these tools? Yes, both platforms have generic “HTTP Request” modules/nodes that allow you to connect to virtually any service that has a REST API, even if a dedicated integration doesn’t exist. You can set the request method (GET, POST, etc.), headers, and body content to communicate with the API. This makes both tools incredibly versatile.

10. Is there a big community around these platforms? Yes, both have active and helpful communities. Make has a large community forum where users share solutions and ask for help. n8n has a very passionate open-source community on platforms like Discourse and Discord, where you can often get help directly from the n8n team and expert community members. n8n’s community is particularly valuable for getting help with technical issues and custom code.