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🤖 Quick Verdict
✅ Switch to n8n if…
n8n is the right move if privacy matters, your usage volume is high, or you want to eliminate monthly AI subscription costs entirely.
⚠️ Stay with Make.com if…
Stay with Make.com if you need Make.com's specific enterprise features, SLA support, or the most polished managed experience.
Setup difficulty for n8n
Easy
●●○○
n8n takes about ~15 mins to install. Good documentation available.
Overview
Make.com and n8n are two automation tools that help users streamline workflows and integrate various applications. Both tools cater to businesses and individuals seeking to optimize their processes, but those prioritizing cost savings, data privacy, and local processing may benefit from switching. By choosing the right tool, users can enhance their productivity and reduce costs.Key Differences
- Cost: n8n offers a free self-hosted option, while Make.com has a monthly subscription fee.
- Privacy/Data: n8n allows for local processing and self-hosting, ensuring data privacy, whereas Make.com sends data to vendor servers.
- Setup Difficulty: Make.com is generally easier to set up, with a more user-friendly interface, while n8n requires more technical expertise.
- Quality Parity: Both tools offer high-quality automation features, but n8n's open-source nature allows for community-driven development and customization.
- Ecosystem: Make.com has a more established ecosystem with a wider range of pre-built integrations, while n8n's ecosystem is growing rapidly.
Pricing Comparison
| Aspect | Make.com | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Base Cost | $9–$29/month | Free (self-hosted) / $24/month (cloud) |
| License | Proprietary | Sustainable Use License |
| Data privacy | Sent to vendor servers | Local / self-hosted |
| Cost at 10 users/month | $29/month (assuming the highest tier) | $0 (self-hosted) / $24/month (cloud) |
| Cost at 100 users/month | $290/month (assuming the highest tier and 10x scaling) | $0 (self-hosted) / $240/month (cloud) |
Pros and Cons
Make.com:- Easy to use and set up
- Wide range of pre-built integrations
- Good customer support
- Limited control over data processing
- Free self-hosted option
- High level of customization and control
- Local processing and data privacy
- Steeper learning curve
When to Choose Each
Make.com is ideal for users who prioritize ease of use, a wide range of pre-built integrations, and good customer support. It is suitable for businesses or individuals who are willing to pay a monthly subscription fee and do not require full control over their data processing. n8n is ideal for users who value data privacy, customization, and cost savings. It is suitable for businesses or individuals with technical expertise, seeking a high degree of control over their automation workflows and data processing.Migration / Getting Started
To switch from Make.com to n8n, follow these steps:- Export your existing workflows from Make.com and prepare them for migration.
- Set up an n8n instance, either self-hosted or in the cloud, and configure the necessary integrations.
- Recreate your workflows in n8n, taking advantage of its customization options and local processing capabilities.
⭐ n8n on GitHub
Open-source project · ~47k stars · actively maintained by the community.
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