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n8n, Zapier or Make: which one should a small business choose?

Choose by how the tool counts usage, not only by the entry price. n8n charges per execution (one full run of a workflow, however many steps), Zapier per task (each successful action), and Make per credit (most module actions use one). Short, simple automations cost little on any of them; long workflows that run often are usually cheapest where a whole run counts once.

Beyond cost, the question is who will maintain it. Zapier and Make are built for people who do not write code. n8n also lets a developer add code steps and can be self-hosted, which suits someone comfortable owning the setup.

Updated Sep 28, 2026

How it works

  1. List the workflows and how often they run

    For each one, write the trigger, the number of steps, and how many times a month it will run. That is the only way to compare three different units.

  2. Translate that into each unit

    Example from the vendors' own definitions: a five-step workflow (one trigger, four actions) that runs 500 times a month is 500 n8n executions, about 2,000 Zapier tasks (triggers do not use tasks), and about 2,500 Make credits if every module counts one.

  3. Check the apps you need

    All three connect to the common tools. Check the specific app and the exact action (create, update, search) you need before choosing.

  4. Decide who owns the accounts

    The business should own the automation account, the app connections and the credentials, not the person who builds it.

  5. Plan for failures

    Whatever the tool, decide who gets told when a run fails and how a missed record is recovered. A silent failure is the expensive kind.

What it costs to run

Entry prices from each official pricing page, in US dollars, each with the date we read it. Each unit is defined differently, so compare them with your own run counts; prices change with the usage tier and billing period.

ItemList priceSource
n8n Cloud StarterUS$20 a month billed annually, 2,500 workflow executions; each execution is a full run, with unlimited stepsn8n, n8n Plans and PricingRead on Sep 28, 2026
n8n Cloud ProUS$50 a month billed annually, 10,000 workflow executionsn8n, n8n Plans and PricingRead on Sep 28, 2026
n8n Community EditionSelf-hosted version published on GitHub; you run and pay for the servern8n, n8n Plans and PricingRead on Sep 28, 2026
Zapier FreeUS$0, 100 tasks a month, two-step Zaps onlyZapier, Plans & PricingRead on Sep 28, 2026
Zapier ProfessionalFrom US$19.99 a month; a task is each successful action, and triggers and polling do not use tasks. Paying yearly saves 33%, per the pageZapier, Plans & PricingRead on Sep 28, 2026
Make FreeUS$0, 1,000 credits a month, 2 active scenarios, runs at most every 15 minutesMake, Pricing & Subscription PackagesRead on Sep 28, 2026
Make CoreUS$9 a month for 10,000 credits; most module actions use 1 creditMake, Pricing & Subscription PackagesRead on Sep 28, 2026

Third-party list prices, read on the date shown. They are not Betterlane prices.

What we learned building it

From Betterlane's own lead handling: three n8n workflows running on n8n Cloud since 25 Sep 2026. Not a client system.

Keep a fallback outside the automation tool
If n8n does not accept a new lead (down, trial lapsed, not configured), our own admin site sends its own alert, so a lead is still announced.
Keep secrets out of the workflow files
The three credentials are stored in n8n and stripped from the exported files. The files can be shared and versioned without exposing a key.
Let a timer close every open loop
The reminder and the approval steps wait with a time limit, so an unanswered lead still gets its reminder and an approval nobody gives expires after seven days.

When it is not worth it

  • If one tool you already pay for has a built-in connection that does the job, use it before adding a separate automation account.
  • If the workflow runs a few times a month, the free plans of Zapier or Make are usually enough, and switching tools will not save anything.
  • If nobody on the team will look at a failed run, any of the three will quietly stop working one day.

Questions

Is n8n free?

The self-hosted Community Edition is published on GitHub, but you pay for and maintain the server. n8n Cloud is a paid plan with a free trial.

Which is easiest for a non-technical owner?

Zapier and Make are designed for people who do not write code. n8n can be used without code too, but it rewards some technical comfort.

Can I move from Zapier or Make to n8n later?

Yes, but workflows are rebuilt, not imported. Start with an inventory of what runs, how often, and which ones matter.

Do these tools include the model that writes replies?

Each has its own AI features and allowances; a separate model provider bills by its own usage. Check both when a workflow drafts text.

Deciding whether to move?

Zapier or Make to n8n: is it worth moving?

Want help choosing and building the first workflow on the right tool?

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