Every day, we spend hours on routine tasks — rewriting data, sending emails, saving attachments, or updating spreadsheets. These repetitive activities often keep us from focusing on the work that truly drives the company forward — nurturing client relationships, developing strategy, or launching new projects.
The good news is that most of these tasks can now be automated. Modern tools connect your apps and workflows so that routine actions happen automatically, without any manual input. This saves time, reduces errors, and frees your team to focus on what really matters.
There’s no shortage of automation platforms on the market today, but three of them stand out as the most popular and widely adopted: Make (formerly Integromat), Zapier, and n8n. Each takes a slightly different approach, offering varying levels of flexibility, control, and cost.
In this article, we’ll explore how these tools differ, who they’re best suited for, and what to consider before choosing one for your business.
Before comparing them, it helps to understand what these tools really do.
Make, Zapier, and n8n connect the apps you already use — such as email, CRM systems, e-commerce platforms, or cloud storage — and allow them to share data automatically.
In practice, they work based on simple rules like “When this happens, do that.”
For example:
When someone submits a form on your website, create a new contact in your CRM.
When an order is created in your system, add a task to your project board.
When an invoice arrives by email, save it to the right folder and notify your accountant.
When a new order comes in, generate an invoice and send it to the customer.
Each tool has its own way of creating these rules — known as scenarios or workflows. They differ in how intuitive they are, how many customization options they provide, and how deeply you can tailor them to your specific needs.
In recent years, automation has evolved even further. Thanks to artificial intelligence, it’s no longer limited to rigid if–then rules.
The rise of AI-powered workflows allows systems to respond more intelligently to context — for instance, recognizing the content of an email, identifying the type of request, and automatically choosing the appropriate next step.
These smart workflows combine traditional automation with AI-driven decision-making, enabling businesses to handle tasks that once required human input.
Each automation platform has its own philosophy, level of openness, and approach to handling data.
Some tools are built for beginners who want to automate simple workflows quickly, while others give advanced users more control and flexibility to fine-tune every detail.
The following overview summarizes the key differences between the three most widely used platforms:
| Tool | Best for | Key Advantages | Possible Drawbacks | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make | Teams that want full visual control over their processes | Visual interface, advanced logic, excellent price-to-performance ratio | Managing very complex scenarios can take longer than in self-hosted tools | Free / from €9 per month |
| Zapier | Users who need to launch automations quickly without technical skills | Stability, vast integration library, easy to use | Higher price and limited conditional logic | Free / from $19.99 per month |
| n8n | Developers and teams who prefer a “visual-coding” approach | Open source, self-hosting options, full control of data and logic | Fewer ready-made integrations than Make or Zapier | Free (self-hosted) / cloud from €20 per month |
Ultimately, the main difference lies in how much control you want over your processes.
Originally developed in the Czech Republic, Make has grown into one of the world’s most widely used no-code automation platforms. Its core philosophy is that building automations should be visual, intuitive, and logical — every step appears as a node in a graphic workflow that can be easily connected to others.
Make is aimed at users who want full control over their processes without writing code. It connects hundreds of apps, supports conditional logic, branching workflows, and advanced data handling — all within a visual editor.
Grid View for complete process visibility – a unique visual interface that lets you see how data flows through all your workflows, making management and debugging far easier.
High throughput and stable performance – handles large volumes of operations without the rate-limit concerns common in some competing platforms.
Extensive integration library – connects with over 1,500 apps including Google, HubSpot, Slack, CRM systems, and e-commerce platforms.
Outstanding flexibility at an accessible price – one of the best price-to-value ratios on the market.
Managing large-scale workflows can be challenging, especially those with dozens of steps and conditions.
Steeper learning curve – basic automations are easy, but mastering advanced logic takes time.
Some integrations are still missing, though the gap with Zapier is narrowing quickly.
Usage based on operation count – each processed action counts as an operation, so you’ll need to learn how to estimate usage and optimize your workflows accordingly.
Make offers a free plan with a limited number of operations per month — ideal for testing or smaller projects.
Paid plans start at €9 per month, with pricing based on the number and complexity of your workflows.
Compared to its competitors, Make remains one of the most affordable options considering its depth and level of control.
We’re a certified Make partner and help companies unlock the full potential of automation.
If you’re considering how to integrate Make into your daily operations, we’ll review your needs and show you how this tool can save time and simplify your business processes.
Zapier is one of the oldest and most widely used no-code automation tools. It focuses on simplicity and quick setup, which makes it especially popular among small businesses, marketing teams, and freelancers who need to connect their tools and automate workflows in minutes.
The platform works on the principle of so-called “Zaps” — simple connections between applications that follow the rule: “When something happens here, do this there.” Zapier can handle both basic automations (for example, copying form submissions to a CRM) and more complex workflows, though with less flexibility than Make or n8n.
Zapier’s biggest strength lies in its massive integration library, which now includes over 8,000 applications — from everyday productivity tools to specialized SaaS platforms. As a result, it’s often the fastest way to launch automation without any IT involvement.
Simplicity and clarity – building an automation takes only a few minutes.
Extensive range of supported apps – the largest integration library on the market.
Reliable and stable performance – Zapier has proven stability even with large data volumes.
Ideal for non-technical users – the interface is intuitive and easy to navigate.
Comprehensive documentation and community – accessible tutorials and a vast knowledge base make it easy to get started.
Higher cost – advanced features and larger task volumes can become expensive quickly.
Limited logic options – compared to Make or n8n, it offers less control over conditions and data transformations.
Less visual approach – workflows become harder to manage as they grow in size and complexity.
Cloud dependency – Zapier cannot be self-hosted; all data runs on Zapier’s infrastructure.
Zapier offers a free plan with a limited number of Zaps and task runs.
Paid plans start at $19.99 per month, with pricing based on the number of tasks, execution speed, and access to premium integrations.
For teams looking to scale automation across their organization, Zapier also provides Team and Company plans with advanced user management and security features.
Zapier is an excellent choice if you want to get started with automation quickly and without unnecessary complexity. We’ve successfully implemented Zapier for companies across various industries and can help you design workflows that truly save time and energy.
n8n takes a different approach to automation compared to Make or Zapier. It’s an open-source platform that gives users full control over where and how their data flows. Instead of a closed cloud environment, you can install n8n on your own server or use the official cloud version managed by its creators.
This approach appeals not only to developers and IT teams but also to companies with high standards for security and data protection. Because n8n can be hosted within your own infrastructure, all data stays in your hands — a major selling point in markets such as Germany, where data sovereignty is often a decisive factor when choosing software.
n8n allows you to build traditional workflows from pre-made building blocks or extend them with custom logic, API calls, and modules. That makes it an exceptionally flexible solution for advanced users who want full control over both automation and infrastructure.
Open-source architecture – the code is public and can be customized to meet your organization’s needs.
Self-hosting option – keep all data entirely under your control, ideal for regulated industries or privacy-focused businesses.
Unlimited extensibility – add custom integrations, functions, and modules in JavaScript.
Flexible data handling – detailed logic, data transformations, and multi-layered conditions.
Modern UX/UI and easy setup – you can even generate a basic workflow by uploading a simple JSON file, for instance one created with AI — faster and easier than in many other tools.
AI-first and community-driven approach – designed with AI in mind, n8n has a strong community of developers, freelancers, and small teams who continuously contribute new nodes and extensions.
More technical setup – installation and management require some knowledge of servers and APIs.
Maintenance required for self-hosting – updates, security, and performance must be handled internally.
Smaller native integration library – compared to Zapier or Make, though it’s growing quickly.
No free tier for the cloud version – self-hosting is free, but the official n8n Cloud can be more expensive than some competing tools.
The core version of n8n is completely free when you host it yourself.
The creators also offer n8n Cloud, a managed service that handles hosting, updates, and support. Pricing starts at around €20 per month, depending on workflow volume and support level.
For businesses seeking both flexibility and control over their data, n8n represents the perfect balance between open-source freedom and commercial reliability.
n8n is a powerful and highly flexible platform that gives you full control over both data and process logic. Because of its technical depth, implementation can be more complex — especially when self-hosting or connecting multiple systems.
At FORECOM, our team of experienced developers and IT specialists work with n8n daily. We’ll help you design the right architecture, configure it properly, and ensure your setup runs smoothly and reliably.
Make, Zapier, and n8n share the same goal: to eliminate repetitive tasks and help your apps work together automatically. But each achieves that goal in a different way.
Zapier is ideal if you want to get started quickly without technical knowledge.
Make offers deeper customization and more advanced workflow logic.
n8n is the go-to choice when you need full control over your data and prefer to host everything yourself.
Your choice depends on your goals, technical skills, and security requirements. All three tools can be great options — the key is to pick the one that best fits your way of working.
We’ll help you map out your processes, design the right automations, and select the platform that best fits your needs.
Take advantage of our free introductory consultation — together, we’ll find the best way to make automation work for your business.
If you’re just starting out, Zapier is the easiest way to begin. It offers an intuitive interface, thousands of integrations, and minimal setup. You can have your first automation running in minutes.
Make is more flexible, allowing you to build complex workflows with conditions, branching, and detailed logic. Zapier, on the other hand, focuses on simplicity and speed — perfect for users who want results without deep configuration.
In short: Zapier = simplicity; Make = control and customization.
Not really. n8n is powerful but does require some technical knowledge, especially if you plan to self-host. For non-technical users, Make or Zapier might be a better fit. However, if you have a technical team, n8n offers unmatched flexibility and control.
Yes. In fact, many teams use Zapier for simple tasks and Make or n8n for more complex automations. Just make sure you keep track of which platform runs which process to avoid overlap or duplication.
A good rule of thumb: if you’re doing a task repeatedly and it takes several minutes a day, it’s likely worth automating.
When a process repeats often and has clearly defined steps, automation almost always pays off — both in time and cost savings.