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n8n vs Zapier vs Make Pricing 2026: Which Costs Less for Your Workflow
You're probably here because you have a workflow running somewhere, and it's starting to feel expensive. Or you're about to build one and you want to get the math right before you commit.
Here's the short version: n8n charges per workflow execution, regardless of how many steps are inside. Zapier and Make both charge per step. That one structural difference makes n8n cheaper as your workflows get more complex, and more expensive than Make's free tier when your workflows are simple.
The pricing data below was pulled directly from each vendor's pricing page on 2026-05-27. All three platforms reprice periodically, so the exact numbers may shift. The structural billing logic doesn't.
The core pricing difference
This is the part most comparison articles skip. Understanding it makes everything else obvious.
Zapier charges per task
Each action step in a Zap counts as one task. A trigger does not count. A two-step Zap (one trigger, one action) uses one task per run. A five-step Zap (one trigger, four actions) uses four tasks per run. The math compounds fast at volume.
Zapier's built-in tools (Filter, Formatter, Paths, Tables, and Delay) do not count as tasks. But your actual app actions do, every time.
Make charges per credit
Make previously called these "operations" and now labels them "credits" as of 2026. Same billing logic: each module action in a scenario counts as one credit. A two-module scenario uses two credits per run. A ten-module scenario uses ten.
Note that some actions cost more than one credit (the Make Code App charges 2 credits per second of execution time). For typical scenarios involving standard app integrations, one module action equals one credit.
n8n charges per execution
An execution is one complete run of your workflow. Ten steps or two steps, scheduled or webhook-triggered, it's still one execution. The only thing that changes your bill is how many times the workflow runs, not how complex it is.
n8n calls this out explicitly on their pricing page: "Pay for full executions, not for each step. Unlike other tools that charge per step or user, n8n lets you build freely and only pay when a workflow runs from start to finish."
Why the step count is the number that matters
Run a 10-step workflow 1,000 times a month:
- Zapier: 10,000 tasks consumed
- Make: 10,000 credits consumed
- n8n: 1,000 executions consumed
Run a 2-step workflow 1,000 times a month:
- Zapier: 1,000 tasks consumed (trigger is free)
- Make: 2,000 credits consumed
- n8n: 1,000 executions consumed
For simple two-step automations, Make's credit structure costs more than Zapier's task structure because Make counts both the trigger module and the action module (varies by scenario setup). But n8n's execution count stays flat at 1,000 either way. The crossover point where n8n gets cheaper sits around 4-5 steps per workflow at any real monthly volume.
Current plan prices (May 2026)
Prices verified from each vendor's pricing page on 2026-05-27: n8n pricing, Make pricing, Zapier pricing. n8n prices are in EUR; USD approximations are at typical exchange rates.
| Plan tier | n8n | Make | Zapier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Self-hosted community edition (unlimited, free) | 1,000 credits/mo | 100 tasks/mo |
| Entry paid | EUR 20/mo (~$21) / 2,500 executions | $12/mo / 10,000 credits | $19.99/mo / 750 tasks (annual) |
| Mid tier | EUR 50/mo (~$54) / 10,000 executions | $21/mo / 10,000 credits | varies by task tier |
| Team/Scale | EUR 667/mo (~$718) / 40,000 executions | $38/mo / 10,000 credits | $69/mo / 25 users (annual) |
A few clarifications on the table:
Per n8n's pricing page: the Starter plan at EUR 20/mo gives 2,500 executions, while the Pro plan at EUR 50/mo gives 10,000. Both are billed annually. Monthly billing is available at higher rates.
Per Make's pricing page: Core ($12/mo), Pro ($21/mo), and Teams ($38/mo) all start at 10,000 credits per month. The difference between tiers is execution priority (Pro gets high-priority), team collaboration features, and analytics. Credits scale up from there on a sliding pricing model.
Per Zapier's pricing page: the Professional plan starts at $19.99/mo (annual) for 750 tasks/mo. You can increase your task tier; the monthly price rises with each tier. The Team plan adds collaboration features, 25 users, and SAML SSO starting at $69/mo (annual). Zapier does not expose a simple per-tier task count at higher plan levels the way n8n and Make do.
Worked cost examples
Three workflow scenarios. All numbers use the same assumption: 1,000 runs per month.
Scenario 1: simple 2-step workflow, 1,000 runs/month
A form submission creates a spreadsheet record.
Zapier: 1,000 tasks consumed. The Professional plan's 750-task entry tier falls short. You'd need to step up to a higher task tier.
Make: Roughly 2,000 credits consumed (trigger module + action module). Make Core at $12/mo covers 10,000 credits. Well inside the plan.
n8n: 1,000 executions. The Starter plan (EUR 20/mo) allows 2,500. Comfortable.
Verdict: Make wins. The free plan covers 1,000 credits/mo at zero cost. n8n Starter at ~$21/mo is close but slightly more. Zapier's 100-task free tier doesn't move the needle here.
Scenario 2: medium 5-step workflow, 1,000 runs/month
A CRM record is created, enriched with two lookups, a Slack notification fires, and a spreadsheet log is written.
Zapier: 4 action steps per run = 4,000 tasks at 1,000 runs. Well past the 750-task entry tier. The 5,000-task tier costs meaningfully more than the $19.99/mo starting price.
Make: 5 modules per run = 5,000 credits at 1,000 runs. Make Core's 10,000-credit plan handles it.
n8n: Still 1,000 executions. Still the Starter plan at EUR 20/mo. No change.
Verdict: n8n and Make are neck-and-neck here, both at $12-21/mo. Zapier's cost jumps noticeably.
Scenario 3: complex 10-step workflow with loops, 1,000 runs/month
An order triggers inventory checks across two systems, applies conditional logic, updates three records, sends a notification, and writes an audit log. Loops multiply the step count further.
Zapier: 9 action steps per run = 9,000 tasks at 1,000 runs. Looping can push past 10,000. This is well past any affordable Zapier tier.
Make: 10 modules per run = 10,000 credits. Make Core's ceiling hit exactly. You'd need a higher credit tier or Pro at $21/mo.
n8n: 1,000 executions. Same plan, same price. Complexity doesn't touch the bill.
Verdict: n8n wins here. Predictable cost regardless of internal complexity. Zapier is expensive; Make requires a tier upgrade.
Which platform wins by persona
You're a solo founder automating fewer than 2,000 simple workflows/month
If your automations are 2-3 steps and you run fewer than 1,000 executions per month, Make's free plan covers 1,000 credits at zero cost. For light usage, that's genuinely enough.
Once you need more headroom, Make Core at $12/mo gives 10,000 credits. For simple workflows, that covers a lot of volume without a major monthly commitment.
Zapier's free tier at 100 tasks/month is tight for most real use cases. n8n Starter at EUR 20/mo (~$21) works, but it's more expensive than Make Core for the same simple-workflow volume.
Verdict: Make, starting with the free plan.
You run a 5-10 person ops team with complex multi-step workflows
This is where n8n's execution model changes the math. At 10+ steps per workflow and moderate monthly volume, Make's credit count starts adding up and Zapier becomes expensive.
Per n8n's pricing page, the Pro plan at EUR 50/mo (~$54) gives 10,000 executions, unlimited users, and 20 concurrent executions. For a team running sophisticated automation sequences, the flat per-execution cost is predictable in a way that per-step billing isn't.
Make Pro at $21/mo is competitive for teams whose scenarios stay below 10,000 credits/month. Once you're running complex multi-step scenarios at volume, you'll be buying additional credits regularly.
Verdict: n8n Pro for complex multi-step workflows. Make Pro if your scenarios are simpler and you want a lower base price.
Your company runs SAP or needs enterprise data sovereignty
n8n. On May 12, 2026, SAP invested in n8n at a $5.2B valuation and announced that n8n is being embedded natively inside SAP Joule Studio (per the n8n SAP announcement). No other automation tool in this comparison has that integration.
For companies running SAP's ERP stack, having n8n operate within Joule Studio means workflows can touch SAP data without the data leaving the SAP environment. That addresses the compliance and data sovereignty concerns that block most automation tools from running on mission-critical SAP processes.
At 1,400+ enterprise customers and 1.7 million monthly active builders, n8n isn't a startup bet anymore.
Verdict: n8n, specifically because of the SAP partnership for SAP shops. For general enterprise use with data sovereignty requirements, n8n's self-hosted option also gives full control.
You want zero license cost and have a developer on staff
n8n's community edition is free and self-hosted. No execution limits. No plan tiers. You run it on your own infrastructure.
The practical cost is hosting. A $30/mo Cloudways instance (per Cloudways pricing) handles a production n8n deployment for most small-team workloads. Total cost: $30/mo in hosting plus your time to manage it.
Neither Make nor Zapier offer a self-hosted option. Both are SaaS-only.
Verdict: n8n self-hosted on Cloudways for technical teams who want zero per-execution cost.
What the SAP investment means for buyers evaluating n8n
On May 12, 2026, SAP announced a strategic investment in n8n at a $5.2 billion valuation, more than double its valuation from less than a year prior, per the n8n SAP blog post. The investment came alongside the Joule Studio embedding, which puts n8n natively inside SAP's AI workflow environment.
For non-SAP buyers, the investment is a credibility signal. With 1.7 million monthly active builders and 1,400+ enterprise customers, n8n isn't a platform risk bet. The valuation jump confirms what technical teams building on n8n have argued for a while: execution-based pricing plus developer-friendly tooling is a strong combination at scale.
FAQ
Is n8n free to use?
Yes. n8n's community edition is completely free and self-hosted. You download it from GitHub and run it on your own server. There are no execution limits and no paid tier requirements. The paid cloud plans (Starter, Pro, Business) exist for teams who want managed hosting with SLAs.
How does Make count credits vs. Zapier tasks?
Make counts each module action as one credit. A 5-module scenario uses 5 credits per run. Zapier counts each successful action step as one task; the trigger is free. The net effect is similar at low step counts, but Zapier's free trigger gives it a small edge on 2-step scenarios. Make typically counts both the trigger module and the action module.
Can I self-host Zapier or Make?
No. Both are SaaS-only products. n8n is the only tool in this comparison with a free, self-hosted community edition.
Which is easiest to learn for non-technical users?
Make's visual canvas is widely cited as the most intuitive. Zapier has the largest app library (9,000+ integrations) and a simpler two-panel builder. n8n has a steeper curve, especially for self-hosted setup, but the workflow editor is powerful once you're past initial configuration.
Does n8n have a free trial for cloud plans?
Yes. Starter and Pro cloud plans offer a free trial with no credit card required. The Business plan trial requires a card and runs 14 days.
Which one to pick
Simple workflows, low volume, want a free option: start with Make's free plan. 1,000 credits/mo costs nothing. Scale to Core ($12/mo) when you need more room.
Complex workflows, 5+ steps, ops team: n8n Pro at EUR 50/mo (~$54). The execution-based billing stays predictable no matter how many steps you add. Unlimited users on any plan is a bonus.
SAP environment or enterprise data sovereignty requirements: n8n. The Joule Studio integration is real and relevant.
Technical team, want zero license cost: n8n community edition self-hosted on Cloudways for $30/mo in hosting. No per-execution charges ever.
Zapier is the right call if you need its breadth of integrations (9,000+ apps, compared to n8n's strong but smaller library) or if your team is already deeply embedded in the Zapier ecosystem and the switching cost outweighs the price difference. Link to Zapier's current pricing to check the task tiers that match your volume.
The execution-based vs. step-based billing difference is real money at scale. Run the numbers for your specific workflow step count and monthly volume before committing.