AI Automation Tool Comparison
Make vs Zapier vs n8n — which automation platform is right for your business? Filter by size, use case, and budget to find out.
| Platform | Free Tier | Starting Price | Integrations | Ease of Use | Hosting | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make.com | Free (1,000 ops/mo) | $10.59/mo | 1,500+ | Cloud | Visual workflows | |
| Zapier | Free (100 tasks/mo) | $29.99/mo | 7,000+ | Cloud | Simple integrations | |
| n8n | Free (self-hosted) | $24/mo (cloud) | 400+ | Both | Privacy-focused | |
| Power Automate | No free tier | $15/user/mo | 1,000+ | Cloud | Microsoft ecosystem | |
| ActivePieces | Free (self-hosted) | $0 (open source) | 200+ | Both | Budget builds |
Make.com
Free Tier
Free (1,000 ops/mo)
Starting Price
$10.59/mo
Integrations
1,500+
Ease of Use
Hosting
Cloud
Best For
Visual workflows
Zapier
Free Tier
Free (100 tasks/mo)
Starting Price
$29.99/mo
Integrations
7,000+
Ease of Use
Hosting
Cloud
Best For
Simple integrations
n8n
Free Tier
Free (self-hosted)
Starting Price
$24/mo (cloud)
Integrations
400+
Ease of Use
Hosting
Both
Best For
Privacy-focused
Power Automate
Free Tier
No free tier
Starting Price
$15/user/mo
Integrations
1,000+
Ease of Use
Hosting
Cloud
Best For
Microsoft ecosystem
ActivePieces
Free Tier
Free (self-hosted)
Starting Price
$0 (open source)
Integrations
200+
Ease of Use
Hosting
Both
Best For
Budget builds
Our Recommendation
Not sure which to pick? Most of our clients use Make.com for its balance of power and ease of use. It handles complex multi-step workflows visually, scales well, and costs a fraction of Zapier at higher volumes. For privacy-conscious businesses, n8n is a fantastic self-hosted alternative.
Quick Decision Guide
Just Getting Started
Go with Zapier or Make.com free tiers. Easy to learn, quick to set up, and no code required.
Scaling Up
Move to Make.com paid plans. Better pricing per operation and more powerful multi-step scenarios.
Full Control
Self-host n8n or ActivePieces. Own your data, customise everything, and pay nothing for the platform.
Need Help Choosing or Setting Up?
We've built hundreds of automations across all these platforms. Book a free call and we'll recommend the best fit for your specific workflows and budget.