Power Automate vs Make.com vs n8n: Microsoft’s Tool Compared

Three Automation Platforms, Three Different Philosophies

Choosing an automation platform is one of those decisions that feels simple until you actually start comparing options. Power Automate, Make.com (formerly Integromat), and n8n are all capable workflow automation tools, but they take fundamentally different approaches.

For Australian businesses trying to decide, the right choice depends on your existing tool ecosystem, technical capabilities, budget, and what you’re actually trying to automate. This guide compares all three across the dimensions that matter most, building on our earlier Make.com vs Zapier vs n8n comparison.

Platform Overview

Power Automate

Microsoft Power Automate (previously Microsoft Flow) is Microsoft’s workflow automation platform, deeply integrated with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It’s designed primarily for businesses already using Microsoft products — Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Dynamics 365, Excel, and the broader Azure platform.

Power Automate comes in two flavours: cloud flows (similar to Make.com and n8n) and desktop flows (robotic process automation, or RPA, which can automate legacy desktop applications). This RPA capability is unique among the three platforms and can be a game-changer for businesses stuck with older software that doesn’t have APIs.

Make.com

Make.com is a visual workflow automation platform with over 1,500 app integrations. It’s known for its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, powerful data transformation capabilities, and excellent cross-platform integration support. Make.com is platform-agnostic and works equally well regardless of what tools you use.

n8n

n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that can be self-hosted or used as a cloud service. It appeals to technical teams who want complete control over their automation infrastructure, including the ability to write custom code, access raw API calls, and host everything on their own servers for maximum data sovereignty. We cover n8n automation in detail separately.

Pricing Comparison

Power Automate Pricing

Power Automate has a complicated pricing structure. The basic plan is included with many Microsoft 365 subscriptions (Business Basic and above), which gives you standard connectors and 6,000 API requests per day. Premium connectors (like Salesforce, SAP, or custom connectors) require a standalone license at approximately $22 AUD per user/month. The Process plan (which includes RPA) is around $240 AUD per bot/month.

The “included with Microsoft 365” aspect makes Power Automate appear free for many businesses, but there are catches: premium connectors cost extra, high-volume automations hit API limits, and the per-user pricing model can get expensive for teams.

Make.com Pricing

Make.com charges based on operations (actions executed in workflows) rather than per user. The free plan includes 1,000 operations/month. Paid plans start at approximately $13 AUD/month for 10,000 operations. There’s no distinction between “standard” and “premium” connectors — all 1,500+ integrations are available on all plans. This transparent, usage-based model makes costs predictable and scalable.

n8n Pricing

n8n’s cloud offering starts at approximately $28 AUD/month for 2,500 executions. The self-hosted community edition is free forever, though you need to provide your own server hosting (typically $10-50 AUD/month for a VPS). For businesses that want n8n’s flexibility without infrastructure management, the cloud option is simpler. For those who need data sovereignty or have high volumes, self-hosting is more cost-effective.

Cost Verdict

If you already have Microsoft 365: Power Automate’s basic capabilities are effectively free. But as your needs grow, the per-user and premium connector costs add up quickly. Make.com offers the most predictable pricing for cross-platform automation. n8n self-hosted is cheapest at high volumes, while n8n Cloud is moderately priced.

Microsoft Ecosystem Integration

This is where Power Automate has an undeniable advantage. If your business runs on Microsoft 365, the depth of integration is unmatched.

Power Automate can trigger workflows from Outlook emails, Teams messages, SharePoint document uploads, Excel changes, Forms submissions, and Dynamics 365 events with native, first-party connectors. It can also interact with Azure services, Power BI, and the entire Microsoft data platform. These integrations are deeper and more reliable than third-party connections because they’re built by the same team that builds the products.

Make.com and n8n both have Microsoft 365 integrations, but they’re third-party implementations using Microsoft’s APIs. They work well for common tasks (sending emails, creating calendar events, managing files) but lack the depth of Power Automate’s native integration. Complex SharePoint workflows, advanced Teams automation, or Dynamics 365 data manipulation are significantly easier in Power Automate.

Cross-Platform Capabilities

Here, the tables turn. Make.com and n8n both excel at connecting diverse tool stacks, while Power Automate’s strengths are more Microsoft-centric.

Make.com offers 1,500+ pre-built integrations covering everything from CRMs (HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive) to e-commerce (Shopify, WooCommerce) to Australian-specific tools (Xero, MYOB, Deputy). The visual workflow builder makes it easy to create complex, multi-step automations that span multiple platforms.

n8n provides 400+ built-in integrations plus the ability to connect to any API via HTTP requests and write custom JavaScript/Python code within workflows. For teams with API experience, n8n can connect to literally anything.

Power Automate has 600+ connectors, but many of the “premium” connectors require additional licensing. Its strength is depth within the Microsoft ecosystem rather than breadth across third-party tools. For a comprehensive comparison, check out our automation tool comparison resource.

Ease of Use

Power Automate

Power Automate’s interface is functional but can feel cluttered, especially for complex workflows. The distinction between standard and premium connectors creates confusion. Template availability is good for common Microsoft-centric tasks but limited for cross-platform scenarios. The learning curve is moderate — easier if you’re already familiar with Microsoft’s ecosystem.

Make.com

Make.com has the best visual interface of the three. Workflows are displayed as clear, visual maps with intuitive drag-and-drop connections. Data mapping is visual and straightforward. Error handling is clear and easy to configure. Most non-technical users can build basic workflows within a few hours, and the interface scales well to complex, multi-branch scenarios.

n8n

n8n’s interface is similar to Make.com but with more technical options exposed. It’s powerful but can be overwhelming for non-technical users. The ability to add custom code is a huge advantage for developers but adds complexity for everyone else. Self-hosting adds another layer of technical management. n8n is best suited for teams with some technical capability.

Australian Tool Support

For Australian businesses, local tool support matters. You need your automation platform to work with Aussie-specific tools like Xero, MYOB, ServiceM8, Deputy, Employment Hero, and local payment gateways.

Make.com has the strongest Australian tool support, with native integrations for Xero, MYOB, and many other locally popular platforms. n8n supports these through its HTTP request node and community-built integrations. Power Automate supports Xero via a premium connector (additional cost) and has limited native support for other Australian-specific tools.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Power Automate if:

• Your business is deeply embedded in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem
• You need to automate desktop applications (RPA)
• Your IT team manages Microsoft infrastructure
• Most of your automation is within Microsoft products

Choose Make.com if:

• You use a diverse mix of tools (not just Microsoft)
• You want the most intuitive visual builder
• Predictable, usage-based pricing is important
• You need strong Australian tool integrations
• Your team is non-technical but wants powerful automation

Choose n8n if:

• You have developers or technical staff on your team
• Data sovereignty and self-hosting are priorities
• You need custom code within your workflows
• You want maximum flexibility and control
• You’re running high-volume automations where self-hosting saves costs

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use more than one platform?

Yes, and many businesses do. A common pattern is using Power Automate for Microsoft-internal workflows and Make.com for cross-platform integrations. The platforms can even trigger each other via webhooks.

Is Power Automate really free with Microsoft 365?

Basic capabilities with standard connectors are included. But premium connectors, high API volumes, RPA features, and advanced capabilities require additional licensing. Read the fine print carefully before assuming it’s free for your needs.

Which is best for AI integration?

Make.com and n8n both have strong AI integration capabilities (OpenAI, Anthropic, and other AI APIs). Power Automate connects to Azure AI services natively and to other AI tools via HTTP connectors. For the most flexible AI integration, Make.com and n8n have the edge.

How do they compare for reliability?

All three are reliable for most use cases. Power Automate benefits from Microsoft’s infrastructure. Make.com has a strong uptime record and transparent status page. n8n Cloud is reliable; self-hosted n8n reliability depends on your hosting setup. For mission-critical automation, all three offer error handling and retry logic.

Can I migrate between platforms?

Migration between platforms requires rebuilding workflows, as they use different formats and logic structures. There’s no one-click migration tool. Plan to invest time in rebuilding and testing if you switch. This is why choosing the right platform upfront matters.

Which has the best community and support?

Power Automate benefits from Microsoft’s extensive documentation and large user community, plus paid support through Microsoft. Make.com has excellent documentation, an active community forum, and responsive support. n8n has a passionate open-source community and growing documentation, with enterprise support available for paid plans.