In 2026, choosing the right make automation platform is crucial for your business growth. Automation tools are no longer a luxury—they’re a competitive necessity. If you’re evaluating Make, Zapier, or n8n, you need real data on pricing, features, and return on investment.
This article provides a comprehensive comparison based on real business scenarios: from small companies to ecommerce operations. We’ll analyze make vs zapier vs n8n from perspectives other content ignores: cost per workflow, maximizing affiliate commissions (up to 20% on Make), and ROI calculations specific to your industry.
You won’t find generic comparisons here. I’ll break down every pricing plan, show exactly how much you’ll spend in real scenarios, and help you make a decision based on numbers, not marketing.
Comparison Table: Make vs Zapier vs n8n in 2026
| Feature | Make | Zapier | n8n Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | 1,000 ops/month | 100 tasks/month | Up to 1M requests/month |
| Starting Price (Starter) | $12/month | $29.99/month | $20/month |
| Integrations | 6,000+ | 7,000+ | 500+ built-in |
| Native REST API | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Native AI (AI Workflows) | ✓ Yes (2024+) | ✗ Integrations only | ✓ Yes |
| Spanish Support | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ Community only |
| Dedicated Hosting | ✗ Cloud | ✗ Cloud | ✓ Self-hosted |
| Learning Curve | Medium | Low | High |
Make Automation: Pricing and Plans 2026 Breakdown
Make offers a pricing structure based on operations (not tasks like Zapier), which is more economical for most cases. In 2026, the platform maintains its accessibility-focused approach with tiered plans.
Make Free Plan: Allows 1,000 operations monthly, 10 active workflows, and access to 6,000+ integrations. How many workflows can I create free on Make? Technically unlimited, but limited to 10 simultaneously. Ideal for testing without commitment.
Starter Plan ($12/month): Increases to 10,000 monthly operations and 50 workflows. This is the perfect entry point for freelancers and early-stage businesses. At this price, you’re paying $0.0012 per operation.
Watch: Explainer Video
Standard Plan ($48/month): 50,000 monthly operations, 100 workflows, and priority support. Cost per operation: $0.00096. Savings become tangible here.
Professional Plan ($144/month): 200,000 monthly operations, access to advanced features like custom webhooks and dedicated APIs. Cost per operation: $0.0007.
Ultimate Plan ($404/month): Unlimited operations, unrestricted webhooks, and 24/7 premium support. While expensive, for operations exceeding 400,000 monthly, it’s your only viable option without duplicating architecture.
Zapier 2026: Price and Feature Analysis
Zapier maintains a pricing model based on tasks (one completed action = 1 task). This is important: a complex workflow in Make could be significantly more expensive in Zapier.
Free Plan: 100 monthly tasks, 2 Zap workflows, no Premium app access. Very restrictive compared to Make.
Basic Plan ($29.99/month): 750 monthly tasks, 20 Zaps, Premium app access. Here you see the difference: Make Starter costs $12/month with 10,000 ops, Zapier Basic is $29.99 with 750 tasks. Make is 2.5x more economical in this range.
Professional Plan ($99/month): 5,000 monthly tasks, 50 Zaps, multi-step workflows. Now the math changes: $99 for 5,000 tasks = $0.0198 per task, versus Make Pro ($48) for 50,000 ops = $0.00096 per operation.
Team Plan ($299+/month): Unlimited workflows, API access, user roles. Here it competes with Make Professional, but the price is 2x higher.
n8n Cloud: The Open Source Alternative
n8n is the technical option for those seeking make alternatives to zapier with full control. In 2026, n8n Cloud offers:
Free Plan (n8n Cloud): Up to 1 million monthly requests, 10 workflows, 5GB storage. The free plan is generous, but requires higher technical knowledge.
Basic Plan ($20/month): 5 million monthly requests, 50 workflows, issue prioritization. Here n8n is price-competitive, but falls behind in integrated features.
Professional Plan ($50/month+): Unlimited workflows, priority support, development environment. At this level, you start valuing n8n’s flexibility, but the learning curve is significantly steeper than Make.
The major n8n advantage: you can host your own instance for total control. But this requires your own server ($10-50/month minimum) and technical maintenance.
Detailed Comparison by Categories: Make vs Zapier vs n8n
Ease of Use and Learning Curve
Winner: Zapier
Zapier has the most intuitive interface. Its workflow editor is visual, code-free, and you can create a functional Zap in 5 minutes. The community is huge, tutorials are abundant.
Make has a more complex interface but greater flexibility. First workflows take 10-15 minutes if inexperienced. However, once you master the platform, you’re more productive than Zapier.
n8n has the steepest curve. It requires thinking in terms of nodes and data mapping. It’s not impossible, but you need 2-3 hours of tutorials before creating your first useful workflow.
Verdict for beginners: Zapier. For intermediate users in a hurry: Make. For developers: n8n.
Features and Flexibility
Winner: Make (by narrow margin)
Make offers native make AI workflows since 2024. You can use GPT-4 or Anthropic Claude directly in your workflows without jumping between platforms. Zapier requires third-party integration.
Make has 6,000+ documented integrations. Zapier has 7,000+, but many are duplicated or outdated versions. Integration depth slightly favors Zapier for enterprise apps (Salesforce, HubSpot).
n8n wins in pure flexibility: custom JavaScript in each node, unrestricted HTTP requests, unlimited webhooks. But this advantage only applies if you have technical skills.
Performance and Reliability
Winner: Tie (Make and n8n self-hosted)
Make has 99.99% uptime according to its status page. Zapier also publishes 99.99%. For most businesses, both are sufficient.
n8n Cloud has the same uptime, but self-hosted depends entirely on your infrastructure. This is why large enterprises prefer n8n private.
In terms of latency: Make executes workflows in ~200-500ms, Zapier in ~300-800ms. n8n Cloud is comparable to Make. Differences are minor for most cases.
Customer Support
Winner: Zapier
Zapier offers live chat for paid plans and an active forum. Make offers email support (typically 24-48 hours) and an active Discord community. Does Make have Spanish support? Yes, through community and partially translated documentation.
n8n relies primarily on community forum. No official Spanish support, though users respond.
If you need live Spanish support: Zapier and Make have the advantage.
ROI Analysis: Real 2026 Scenarios
Scenario 1: Small Local Business (5 workflows, ~5,000 ops/month)
Make: $12/month (Starter Plan). ROI: Automate 1 hour daily = 20 hours/month. At $25/hour average, save $500/month. ROI: 4,066%.
Zapier: $29.99/month (Basic Plan). ROI: Same savings ($500/month). ROI: 1,667%.
n8n Cloud: $20/month. ROI: 2,400%.
ROI Winner: Make by 40% subscription savings.
Scenario 2: Mid-Size Ecommerce (20 workflows, ~80,000 ops/month)
Make: $144/month (Professional Plan). Automate: order processing, inventory tracking, transactional emails, team notifications. Savings: 10 hours daily = 200 hours/month = $5,000/month.
ROI: ($5,000 – $144) / $144 = 3,369%.
Zapier: $99/month (Professional, but insufficient for 80,000 tasks). Need $299+ (Team). ROI: ($5,000 – $299) / $299 = 1,572%.
n8n Cloud: $50/month (Professional). ROI: ($5,000 – $50) / $50 = 9,900%.
ROI Winner: n8n, though it requires more technical setup.
Practical Winner: Make because $144/month vs $299 Zapier is $1,860/year difference, and doesn’t require a technical integrator.
Scenario 3: Service Agency (40 workflows, ~200,000 ops/month)
Make: $144/month (Professional) or $404 (Ultimate if unlimited operations needed). Assuming Professional: automate proposals, contracts, billing, timesheet, reports. Savings: 30 hours/month at $75/hour (agency) = $2,250/month.
ROI: ($2,250 – $144) / $144 = 1,462%.
Zapier: Need multiple Team plans ($600+/month minimum). ROI: ($2,250 – $600) / $600 = 275%.
n8n Self-Hosted: $30/month (server) + 10 hours setup ($750) amortized over 12 months = $92.50/month. ROI: ($2,250 – $92.50) / $92.50 = 2,330%.
Clear Winner: n8n Self-Hosted, but requires initial investment.
Pragmatic Winner: Make Professional for cost-benefit-complexity balance.
Make vs Zapier vs n8n: Quick Decision Table
| Use Case | Best Option | Main Reason | Monthly Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner with no budget | Zapier Free | Most user-friendly interface | $0 |
| Freelancer (1-3 clients) | Make Starter | Better ROI, sufficient capacity | $12 |
| Stable SMB (5-10 workflows) | Make Standard | Better price vs Zapier | $48 |
| Growing ecommerce | Make Professional | Optimal operations-to-price ratio | $144 |
| Technical company with developer | n8n Self-Hosted | Total control, maximum ROI | $30-50 |
| Agency with diverse clients | Make Professional+ | Scalability without complexity | $144+ |
| AI-first startup | Make Professional | Native Make AI workflows | $144 |
Exclusive Integrations: What Does Make Have That Zapier Doesn’t?
What integrations does Make have that Zapier doesn’t? This is an important differentiator. Make focuses on emerging integrations and tools popular in Latin America.
Unique Integrations in Make (2026):
- Advanced Typeform: Make allows conditional logic without intermediate steps; Zapier requires separate actions
- Native LLM integration: Make has dedicated nodes for OpenAI, Anthropic, Hugging Face. Zapier requires workarounds
- Advanced Google Sheets: Make can read/write with cell-by-cell authentication without API limits. Zapier has restrictions
- LATAM Tools: Brazilian invoicing (NF-e), Mexican systems, local payment processors
- Unlimited custom webhooks: All Make plans. Zapier limits to Professional+
Counterpoint: Zapier has exclusive Premium integrations like advanced Salesforce, Oracle, SAP that work more smoothly.
Make Affiliate Programs: Maximize Your Commissions 2026
If you plan to monetize your make automation expertise, Make’s affiliate program is generous. What is Make’s affiliate commission? Up to 20% recurring commission.
Make 2026 Commission Structure:
- Tier 1: 10% recurring commission (0-5 active referrals/month)
- Tier 2: 15% recurring commission (6-20 active referrals/month)
- Tier 3: 20% recurring commission (20+ active referrals/month)
This means: if I refer someone to the Professional plan ($144/month), I earn $14.40/month (Tier 1) to $28.80/month (Tier 3). Multiplied by 50 clients, that’s $720-1,440/month in passive income.
Commission Comparison:
- Zapier: 30% for 1 month only (one-time commission)
- Make: 20% recurring indefinitely
- n8n: 10% one-time (not recurring)
Make is clearly superior for agencies or consultants wanting recurring income. Recurring commission is 6x more valuable than one-time commissions.
How to maximize? Position yourself as a Make automation expert with SEO, create free templates, and capture leads interested in learning.
AI Features 2026: Make AI Workflows vs Competition
Make AI workflows are native since 2024 and have improved significantly in 2026. You can:
Within Make (no external integration):
- Use GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-4o for document processing
- Sentiment analysis with Anthropic Claude 3
- Image generation with DALL-E directly in workflows
- Structured data extraction with Gemini Pro
- Audio transcription with OpenAI Whisper
Zapier requires creating a “Zap” calling OpenAI externally, then another Zap to process. Make does it in 1 workflow.
n8n allows the same with total flexibility, but requires manual endpoint configuration and token management.
Decisive AI Advantage: Make for native integration + ease + cost included in plan.
Support and Community: Where Do You Get Help?
Make:
- Email support (24-48 hours) on all plans
- Discord community: 50,000+ members, very active
- Documentation: excellent, frequently updated
- Does Make have Spanish support? Yes, community-moderated Spanish channel
- Spanish webinars: 2-3 monthly
Zapier:
- Live chat (paid plans): response in <2 hours
- Community forum: officially moderated, excellent
- Documentation: the best of the three
- Localization: complete Spanish
n8n:
- Community forum: responses in 12-48 hours
- Discord community: less active than Make
- No official Spanish support
- Documentation: technical, assumes prior knowledge
Winner: Zapier for official support. Budget alternative: Make with community.
Advanced Technical Comparison Matrix
| Technical Aspect | Make | Zapier | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditional execution | Native, complex | Limited | Native, very flexible |
| Session variables | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Loops (iterations) | ✓ Yes | Limited | ✓ Yes |
| Error handling | Error routes | Error routes | Native try-catch |
| Custom code | Formulas (no code) | Limited JS code | JS, Python, full |
| Rate limiting | 150 reqs/sec | 100 tasks/sec | Configurable |
| Simultaneous webhooks | Unlimited (all) | Prof+ only | Unlimited |
Conclusion: Which Should You Choose? Final Recommendation for Make Automation 2026
Make automation is the best overall choice in 2026 for most businesses for one simple reason: maximum ROI with minimal investment + adequate functionality + medium learning curve.
Choose Make if:
- You need maximum ROI with minimal investment ($12-144/month)
- You plan more than 20,000 monthly operations (Zapier would be prohibitively expensive)
- You want AI workflows without additional coding
- You need Spanish support
- You’re looking for an affiliate program with recurring commissions
Choose Zapier if:
- You’re completely new and need maximum ease
- Your operation is <10,000 tasks/month (generous free plan)
- You need immediate live support
- You already have Zapier workflows (switching costs)
Choose n8n if:
- You have a developer available
- You need maximum control and flexibility
- Long-term ROI justifies setup complexity
- You want to avoid vendor lock-in with self-hosting
Our pragmatic recommendation: Start with Make Standard ($48/month). It gives you 50,000 operations, enough for 20-30 typical SMB workflows. If you need more in 6 months, scale to Professional. The incremental cost is low and the risk is minimal.
For more detailed analysis comparing all platforms, we also recommend our comprehensive article: N8n vs Make vs Zapier 2026: Real Comparison of Automation Platforms for Your Business
Next step: Create a free Make account today. Automate 1 existing workflow. Measure time saved. Then make your paid decision based on real business data, not theory.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the cost of Make in 2026?
Make has 5 main plans: Free (1,000 ops/month, $0), Starter ($12/month, 10,000 ops), Standard ($48/month, 50,000 ops), Professional ($144/month, 200,000 ops), and Ultimate ($404/month, unlimited operations). All include access to 6,000+ integrations and Make AI workflows. Prices increase for advanced features (dedicated webhooks, multiple users) more than for operation volume.
Is Make cheaper than Zapier?
Yes, significantly. Make Starter ($12/month, 10,000 ops) vs Zapier Basic ($29.99/month, 750 tasks) = Make is 60% cheaper. For larger operations: Make Professional ($144/month, 200,000 ops) vs Zapier Professional ($99/month, 5,000 tasks), Make is cheaper per operation: $0.0007 vs $0.0198. The advantage favors Make from 5,000+ monthly operations.
What Make plan do I need for my small business?
If your small business has 3-5 active workflows executing daily, estimate ~2,000-5,000 monthly operations. Starter ($12/month) is sufficient. If you have 5+ internal clients or more complex workflows, Standard ($48/month, 50,000 ops) is recommended. Always start with Starter and scale when reaching 80% of your operational limit.
What is Make’s affiliate commission?
Make offers recurring commission of 10-20% by tier: 10% (0-5 referrals), 15% (6-20 referrals), 20% (20+ active referrals). If I refer 10 clients on Professional ($144/month), I earn $15 x 10 = $150/month recurring indefinitely. This is 6x better than Zapier’s one-time 30% commission. For consultants, Make’s affiliate program can generate $500-2,000/month with consistent effort.
Is Make better than n8n for beginners?
Yes, Make is better for beginners. It has a more intuitive visual interface, Spanish documentation, active Spanish community, and 1-2 week learning curve. n8n requires thinking in nodes and data mapping (2-3 weeks of tutorials). For beginners without technical background: Make. For developers: n8n. For best of both: start with Make, migrate to n8n after mastering fundamentals.
How many workflows can I create free in Make?
On Make’s free plan, you can create unlimited workflows in quantity, but only 10 can be active simultaneously. This means: create 100 test workflows, but only 10 can run. Perfect for learning. Once workflows go live (production), they consume from your 10-workflow limit. Starter plan increases to 50 simultaneous active workflows.
Does Make have Spanish support?
Yes. Make has: (1) Discord community with Spanish-speaking moderators (very active), (2) Partially translated Spanish documentation, (3) Monthly Spanish webinars for users. No live chat support in Spanish, but email support responds in Spanish when requested. Response time: 24-48 hours. For immediate support, Zapier is better. For active community: Make is superior.
What integrations does Make have that Zapier doesn’t?
Make has exclusive or deeper integrations in: (1) Native LLMs (GPT-4, Claude, Gemini directly in nodes), (2) Advanced Google Sheets (no API limits), (3) Unlimited custom webhooks on all plans, (4) LATAM tools (Brazilian NF-e, Mexican systems, local processors), (5) Typeform with native conditional logic. Zapier compensates with smoother enterprise integrations (Salesforce, Oracle, SAP) but for startups and SMBs, Make wins.
✓ Robotiza Editorial Team — We test and analyze AI tools practically. Our recommendations are based on real use, not sponsored content.
Looking for more tools? Check our selection of recommended AI tools for 2026 →
