n8n
n8n is a fair-code workflow automation platform that lets developers and technical teams build complex automations and AI agents, either self-hosted for free or on n8n Cloud. With 500+ native integrations and MCP support, it is the leading open-source alternative to Zapier and Make.
Make.com
Make.com (formerly Integromat) is a visual workflow automation platform connecting 3,000+ apps through a drag-and-drop canvas builder. It handles complex multi-branch automations and AI agents without code, starting at $9/mo on the Core plan.
What each tool does best
Each tool's own feature breakdown, pulled from their dedicated review pages.
n8n
Node-Based Visual Canvas
Build automation workflows by connecting nodes on a drag-and-drop canvas. Nodes can be chained sequentially or branched with conditional logic, loops, merge nodes, and sub-workflow calls. The canvas supports workflows with dozens of nodes and complex branching patterns, though readability degrades at very high node counts.
JavaScript and Python Code Nodes
Embed full JavaScript or Python code directly inside a workflow node. This handles data transformations, custom business logic, API request construction, or any operation that existing integration nodes do not cover. Code nodes run synchronously and have access to all items passing through the workflow.
AI Agent Nodes with Memory and Multi-Agent Orchestration
The AI Agent node creates an autonomous loop that selects tools, executes them, evaluates results, and iterates until the goal is met. Memory nodes maintain session context. Planning agents decompose goals into sub-tasks. Multiple specialized agents (research, writing, QA) can be coordinated in a multi-agent system, all built visually.
Native MCP Client and Server Nodes
MCP Client Tool nodes let n8n AI agents call external MCP servers. MCP Server Trigger nodes expose n8n workflows as tools callable by external AI agents (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Lovable). This bidirectional MCP integration, launched April 2025, makes n8n a first-class citizen in the MCP ecosystem.
500+ Native Integration Nodes
Native nodes for Salesforce, HubSpot, Airtable, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Google Workspace, Slack, GitHub, Stripe, Shopify, and hundreds more. Each node handles authentication, rate limiting, and pagination. Custom integrations are handled through the HTTP Request node, which supports any REST API.
Self-Hosted Community Edition
Deploy via Docker, Docker Compose, or direct Node.js install. Compatible with PostgreSQL or SQLite as the backend database. No execution limits, no user limits, no workflow limits. Fair-code license permits commercial internal use. Requires maintaining updates and a server environment.
Webhooks and Real-Time Triggers
Webhook nodes receive real-time POST or GET requests from external services. Scheduled triggers run workflows on cron schedules. Email triggers, form submission triggers, and app-specific event triggers are available for most major platforms.
Execution History and Debugging
Every workflow run is logged with step-by-step input/output data for each node. Failed executions show the exact node, error message, and data state at failure. Real-time execution view shows data flowing through nodes as the workflow runs, which makes debugging significantly faster than log-only approaches.
Make.com
Visual Scenario Builder
Infinite canvas drag-and-drop interface for building automation flows. Each module represents one app action. Connections between modules show data flow direction. Clicking any module after a test run reveals the exact data that passed through it, making debugging visual rather than log-based.
3,000+ App Integrations
Pre-built module connectors for major SaaS tools including Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, HubSpot, Salesforce, Shopify, Stripe, Airtable, Notion, and hundreds more. An HTTP module provides direct REST API access for services without native connectors.
Make AI Agents (February 2026)
In-canvas AI agents that reason, make decisions, and use tools across integrated apps without deterministic rule-setting. The Reasoning Panel shows real-time agent decision-making during execution. Supports multi-modal inputs including PDFs, images, and CSV files. Pre-built agent templates available in the Library of Agents.
Maia AI Assistant
Natural language scenario builder. Describe your automation goal in plain text and Maia generates a starting scenario structure with suggested modules and connections for you to refine.
Routers, Iterators, and Aggregators
Advanced data transformation and conditional logic modules. Routers fan one path into multiple conditional branches. Iterators unpack array data so each item processes individually. Aggregators reassemble processed items back into collections. These three module types enable complex data manipulation without code.
Webhooks and Scheduling
Scenarios trigger via incoming webhook, scheduled interval (1-minute minimum on paid plans), or app events. Custom webhook endpoints generated per scenario. Webhook responses configurable for synchronous or asynchronous patterns.
Error Handling Paths
Dedicated error route configuration per module. When a module fails, the scenario can follow a separate error path rather than stopping entirely. Error types: resume, rollback, ignore, break, or commit.
Execution Logs and Credit History
30-day execution log retention on Core and above (60 days on Enterprise). Full-text log search on Pro and above. Credit usage history by scenario (added November 2025) for tracking AI agent and automation costs across the account.
Team Collaboration
Team roles and permissions (Teams plan and above). Shared scenario templates in a team library. Organizations with multiple teams can segment access by project or client.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | n8n | Make.com |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosting | ||
| Visual builder | ||
| Free tier | ||
| Native AI and LLM nodes | ||
| Custom code steps | ||
| No-code friendly | ||
| Open source | ||
| Large app integration library |
n8n
Pros
- Open source and self-hostable, so you control your data and costs
- Powerful AI and LLM nodes for building agentic workflows
- Predictable pricing with unlimited workflows when self-hosted
- Drop into code whenever the visual builder is not enough
Cons
- Steeper learning curve than fully visual tools
- Fewer native app integrations than Make
- Self-hosting means you handle updates and maintenance
Make.com
Pros
- Visual drag and drop builder that is easy to learn
- Huge library of native app integrations
- Generous operations based pricing on lower tiers
- Great for non-technical users and fast prototyping
Cons
- Cloud only, with no official self-hosting option
- Costs can climb quickly at high operation volumes
- Less flexible than n8n for custom code and logic
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Collections featuring these tools
Curated lists that include n8n or Make.com.