🔥 2026 Head-to-Head Comparison
Make vs n8n (2026): Cloud SaaS vs Self-Hosted Powerhouse
A comprehensive, unbiased technical shootout between Make (formerly Integromat) and n8n across features, pricing, and real-world developer workflows.
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Make (formerly Integromat)
Visual platform for designing, building, and automating powerful business workflows.
Price:
$9/mo
Try Make (formerly Integromat) Free ↗
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n8n
Fair-code, extendable workflow automation tool you can self-host or run in cloud.
Price:
$20/mo (Free Self-Hosted)
Try n8n Free ↗
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AlreadyDone Intelligence Verdict
Bottom Line & Recommendation
Choose Make for hassle-free cloud hosting and frictionless team collaboration; choose n8n if you want complete data sovereignty, custom JavaScript/Python execution, and unlimited zero-cost executions on your own VPS.
Feature-by-Feature Benchmark
Granular scores and technical notes across key operational criteria.
| Evaluation Metric | Make (formerly Integromat) | n8n | Analysis & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Privacy & Self-Hosting | n8n runs entirely on your own server or Docker container with zero third-party data retention. | ||
| AI Agent & LangChain Nodes | n8n features first-class AI Agent nodes, vector stores, and custom memory buffers out of the box. | ||
| Ease of Setup & Maintenance | Make is 100% managed cloud SaaS with instant sign-up, whereas self-hosted n8n requires VPS DevOps maintenance. | ||
| Cost at High Scale | n8n allows executing millions of workflows monthly on a $10/mo VPS with zero per-run fees. |
Which Tool Should You Choose?
Actionable decision guidance based on your team size and architecture.
Choose Make (formerly Integromat) if:
- ✓ Intuitive infinite visual canvas for designing multi-branch workflows
- ✓ Significantly more cost-effective per operation than Zapier (5x-10x cheaper)
- ✓ Deep data parsing, array aggregators, iterators, and error handlers built-in
- ✓ Native AI modules (OpenAI, Claude, custom HTTP webhooks)
Choose n8n if:
- ✓ 100% free and unlimited executions when self-hosted on a standard VPS
- ✓ Native LangChain and AI Agent nodes for creating complex RAG pipelines
- ✓ Write custom JavaScript or Python code directly inside any node
- ✓ Complete data sovereignty and GDPR compliance (data never leaves your server)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run n8n for free on my own VPS?
Yes! n8n's community edition is free to run via Docker on any Linux VPS with unlimited workflow executions.
Which tool handles AI workflows better?
n8n has deep native integrations for LangChain, autonomous sub-agents, memory stores, and vector databases.