Make.com vs n8n 2026: Cloud vs Self-Hosted Automation Compared
n8n is the open-source challenger to Make.com. We compare both on power, pricing, privacy, and who each one is really built for.
Alex Morgan
June 1, 2026 · 9 min read
📚 Part of the Complete Make.com Guide 2026
Make.com vs n8n: Quick Summary
Make.com is a fully managed cloud platform — sign up and automate in minutes with no infrastructure to manage. n8n is open-source and self-hostable — free if you run it yourself, but requires technical setup. For most people and businesses, Make.com is the better choice. For developers who prioritise data privacy and want unlimited workflows at zero cost, n8n is compelling.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Make.com | n8n | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Cloud (managed) | Self-hosted or cloud | Depends on need |
| Free option | 1,000 ops/month free | Self-host = unlimited free | n8n (if technical) |
| Paid cloud pricing | From $10.59/mo | From $20/mo | Make.com |
| Integrations | 1,500+ native | 400+ native + any via HTTP | Make.com |
| Visual builder | Excellent canvas UI | Good node-based editor | Make.com |
| Code support | Limited (functions) | Full JavaScript execution | n8n |
| Data privacy | Your data on Make servers | Self-hosted = your servers | n8n |
| Setup time | Minutes | Hours (self-hosted) | Make.com |
| Community | Large, active forums | Strong developer community | Tie |
When n8n Is the Better Choice
Data privacy requirements: If your workflows handle sensitive data (medical records, financial data, GDPR-sensitive information), self-hosting n8n means your data never leaves your servers.
Unlimited automation for free: n8n's self-hosted version is completely free with no execution limits. For developers and teams with the infrastructure to run it, this is exceptional value.
You need code: n8n allows full JavaScript execution within workflows, making it far more flexible for complex data transformations that require actual programming logic.
When Make.com Is the Better Choice
You're not technical: Make.com requires zero infrastructure knowledge. Create an account and you're automating in minutes. n8n's self-hosted setup requires Docker knowledge, server management, and ongoing maintenance.
You need broad integrations: Make.com's 1,500+ native integrations cover far more apps than n8n's 400+. If your stack includes niche SaaS tools, Make.com is more likely to have a native connector.
You want reliability without ops: Make.com handles uptime, scaling, updates, and error recovery. Self-hosted n8n puts that responsibility on you.
The Verdict
For the vast majority of businesses, Make.com is the practical choice: easier, faster, and with better integrations at a low monthly cost. n8n is excellent for developers and organisations with specific data privacy needs who have the technical capacity to manage their own infrastructure.