Make vs n8n: True Cost of AI Workflow Automation in 2026
AI automation is no longer just for enterprise. In 2026, tools like Make (formerly Integromat) and n8n let any business connect their AI tools into automated workflows without writing code. But they have very different pricing models, and choosing wrong can cost you significantly more than necessary.
What do these tools actually do?
Both Make and n8n are visual automation platforms (no-code / low-code) that connect apps and services into automatic workflows. AI use case examples:
- Receive a form submission → generate an image with Midjourney → post it to Instagram
- Publish a blog post → generate audio with ElevenLabs → automatically upload the podcast
- Monitor social mentions → analyze sentiment with GPT → notify via Slack
- Receive an order → generate product description with Claude → update WooCommerce
Key difference: Make is cloud-only (runs on their servers) and n8n can be self-hosted (on your own server).
Pricing comparison
Make
Make charges per "operation" — each step in a workflow counts as one operation. A 5-step workflow that runs 100 times/month consumes 500 operations.
| Plan | Price/month | Operations/month | Active scenarios |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1,000 | 2 |
| Core | $9 | 10,000 | Unlimited |
| Pro | $16 | 10,000 + faster | Unlimited |
| Teams | $29 | 10,000 | Unlimited + collaboration |
Additional operations: ~$1 per 10,000 extra ops.
Cost per 1,000 operations on Core plan: $0.90
n8n Cloud
n8n Cloud charges per workflow execution, not per individual step.
| Plan | Price/month | Executions/month |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $20 | 2,500 |
| Pro | $50 | 10,000 |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited |
Cost per 1,000 executions on Starter: $8.00
n8n Self-Hosted (the most affordable option)
n8n is open source. If you have your own server (or a $5-$10/month VPS on DigitalOcean, Hetzner, or similar), you can run n8n with unlimited executions.
Real cost of n8n self-hosted: $0 in software + server cost (~$5-$15/month for basic usage).
Cost by volume
For 10,000 operations/executions per month:
| Option | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Make Pro | $16 |
| n8n Cloud Pro | $50 |
| n8n Self-Hosted | ~$10 (VPS server) |
For 100,000 operations/month:
| Option | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Make (with extra ops) | ~$25 |
| n8n Cloud Pro | ~$200+ |
| n8n Self-Hosted | ~$20 (more powerful server) |
At high volume, Make is cheaper in the cloud than n8n Cloud. And n8n self-hosted beats both on price if you have the technical capability.
AI tool integrations
Both platforms have native integrations with the major AI tools:
| Tool | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI / ChatGPT | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Anthropic / Claude | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| ElevenLabs | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Midjourney | ⚠️ Via API | ⚠️ Via API |
| Stable Diffusion | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Google AI (Gemini) | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
Which one for which profile?
Make is better if: - You don't have technical skills to manage a server - Your operation volume is low to medium (up to ~50,000/month) - You need to get started quickly without configuration - Technical support and reliability are priorities
n8n Self-Hosted is better if: - You have technical skills to manage a server (or access to someone who does) - Your operation volume is high - You have data privacy requirements (everything on your infrastructure) - You want the lowest long-term cost
Recommendation for getting started
- Start with Make's free plan — sufficient to validate your workflows and understand the possibilities
- If the volume justifies it, move to Make Core ($9/month) for regular production
- If your volume grows significantly or your workflows become complex, evaluate n8n self-hosted
👉 Calculate your automation stack cost at AI Price Lab
Want to know what the rest of your AI stack costs? Read our real AI tool pricing guide for the complete picture.