n8n vs Make vs Zapier for AI automations: prices and which to pick

By Tried AI Tools · Published October 10, 2026 · Updated October 10, 2026

If you want the easiest setup, pick Zapier. If you run long workflows with many steps and want to keep costs down, pick Make. If you are comfortable with a bit of technical setup, want full control over AI agents or want to self-host for free, pick n8n. This guide is based on each vendor's pricing pages, help docs and public user reviews, checked on the date above. Prices change often, so check the billing toggle on each pricing page before you subscribe.

Price comparison

All three bill by usage, but they count it differently. That difference matters more than the headline price.

Notes on the figures:

• n8n lists prices in euros, billed yearly, on its pricing page. Third-party guides such as CloudZero list monthly billing at about €24, €60 and €800.
• Make's starting prices of $12, $21 and $38 are the figures shown for its pricing page and in Make's own 2026 blog post as of October 2026. Older guides list $9, $16 and $29 on yearly billing, so check the billing toggle before you subscribe. Prices rise as you choose more credits.
• Zapier's task allowances (750 on Professional and 2,000 on Team) come from Zapier's own pricing explainer. Higher task tiers cost more. Zapier's pricing page says extra tasks on yearly plans cost 1.25 times the plan's normal task rate.

How AI steps change the maths

This is where the three tools differ most for AI work.

n8n counts one execution per workflow run, no matter how many nodes it contains (n8n blog). A workflow that calls an AI model, loops over 20 records and writes to three apps is still one execution. You pay the AI provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others) separately, using your own API key.

Make charges one credit per module action. Its built-in AI features are charged by token usage, so they can use more credits than an ordinary step (Make help center). Extra credits cost 25% more than the credits in your plan, and unused credits expire at the end of the billing term.

Zapier charges tasks for each action. Since June 15, 2026, AI by Zapier steps are priced by model tier: Standard 1x, Advanced 3x and Premium 5x, with tool calls adding to the cost at the same rate (Zapier help). Zapier's own example is a Premium step with two tool calls costing 15 tasks. If a step reaches 75 tasks in one run, the Zap pauses and asks you to approve. Zapier does not charge a task when it simply checks for new data.

Budget tip: if your automation runs an AI step on every incoming email or form, multiply the AI step's cost by your monthly volume before choosing a plan. On Zapier, 500 emails a month through a 3x AI step uses 1,500 tasks on that step alone, which is already more than the 750-task Professional tier.

What each tool is like to use

• Zapier is generally seen as the easiest of the three to learn and lists the most app integrations. Its Copilot builds Zaps from a plain-English description; Copilot has a daily message limit on Free and is unlimited on paid plans, according to its pricing page.
• Make uses a visual canvas where you see data move between modules. It handles branching, loops and data reshaping well, and Core already includes unlimited active scenarios.
• n8n is also visual but closer to a developer tool. It has an AI Agent node, lets you write JavaScript or Python inside a workflow, and can run on your own server. The self-hosted Community Edition is free under the Sustainable Use License, which allows internal business and personal use but not selling a product whose value comes mainly from n8n. n8n says it does not call itself open source for that reason.

What users praise and complain about

Common themes in public reviews and community forums:

• Zapier: praised for reliability and ease of use; the main complaint is cost once task volume grows, especially with multi-step and AI-heavy Zaps.
• Make: praised for value and flexibility; complaints focus on a steeper learning curve and, since the move from operations to credits, harder-to-predict bills for AI features (Make community).
• n8n: praised for control, per-run pricing and self-hosting; complaints focus on the setup and maintenance work of self-hosting and the jump in price from Pro to Business.

Who should pick which

• Non-technical users who want something working today: Zapier. Start on Professional and watch your task usage in the first month.
• Small businesses running many multi-step workflows on a budget: Make. 10,000 credits a month goes further than 750 tasks for step-heavy work.
• Developers, agencies building internal tools, and anyone running AI agents at volume: n8n. Per-run billing keeps long AI workflows predictable.
• Teams with strict data rules: self-hosted n8n keeps workflow data on your own servers.
• Light personal use: all three have a free option. Zapier's 100 tasks or Make's 1,000 credits are enough to try a simple AI summary workflow.

Related guides

• Choosing the AI model behind your automation? See ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini and AI chatbot prices compared.
• Comparing ready-made AI agents instead of building one? See AI agents compared.
• Getting better results from the AI steps themselves: how to write better AI prompts.