Best No-Code Automation Tools in 2026: Zapier vs Make vs n8n
If you want to automate workflows without writing code, Make (formerly Integromat) is the best choice for most solopreneurs and small teams in 2026 — it delivers the strongest balance of power, pricing, and ease of use. n8n is the better pick if you need complete customization and don’t mind a steeper learning curve. Zapier remains the industry leader in app integrations but comes at a premium price. This guide breaks down each platform’s strengths, pricing, and ideal use cases so you can pick the right tool for your automation needs.
Below is a detailed breakdown of each tool, including pricing, features, and which use cases each one handles best.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $19.99/mo | $9/mo | €0/mo (self-hosted) |
| Free Plan | 100 tasks/mo | 1,000 ops/mo | Unlimited |
| App Integrations | 5,000+ | 1,000+ | 300+ |
| Visual Workflow Builder | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Self-Hosted Option | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Best For | Largest app ecosystem | Best value | Developer control |
| Code Execution | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ JavaScript |
| Trial Period | 14-day paid trial | 30-day paid trial | Always-free tier |
Pricing Comparison
Zapier — Premium Pricing, Premium Ecosystem
Zapier’s pricing starts at $19.99/month for the Starter plan (750 tasks). The Professional plan runs $49.99/month with 2,500 tasks and premium features.
- Starter: $19.99/mo — 750 tasks, 5-step zaps
- Professional: $49.99/mo — 2,500 tasks, premium apps
- Team: $599.99/mo — unlimited zaps, 10K tasks
Zapier’s pricing scales aggressively with task volume. For heavy automation users, costs can exceed $1,000/month. [verify pricing]
Make — Best Value for Money
Make offers significantly more generous limits at lower price points:
- Free: 1,000 operations/month
- Basic: $9/mo — 10K operations
- Pro: $29/mo — 50K operations
- Team: $299/mo — 250K operations
Make’s operation-based pricing is more predictable than Zapier’s task-based model, especially for workflows that process multiple data items in parallel. [verify pricing]
n8n — Free Self-Hosted Option
n8n’s cloud pricing:
- Free: 100 active workflows, 1K executions/month
- Pro: €20/mo — unlimited workflows, 10K executions
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
The standout feature: n8n is free forever if you self-host it on a $5/month VPS. This makes it the most cost-effective option for technical users who can manage their own infrastructure. [verify pricing]
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Ease of Use
Make wins here. Its visual canvas is intuitive yet powerful. You can build complex workflows by connecting modules visually, with clear data flow lines showing exactly how information moves between apps.
Zapier’s “Zap” builder is simpler but becomes limiting for complex logic. The linear step-by-step format doesn’t handle branching workflows well.
n8n has a steeper learning curve but offers the most flexibility. Its expression builder requires some technical knowledge, but it supports JavaScript natively.
Integrations
Zapier wins here by sheer volume. With 5,000+ app integrations, Zapier connects to nearly anything — including niche tools that Make and n8n don’t support.
- Zapier: 5,000+ apps
- Make: 1,000+ apps
- n8n: 300+ built-in nodes
If your specific tools only work with Zapier, the premium may be worth it. However, Make and n8n both support webhooks, which can connect to almost any app that has an API.
Customization & Control
n8n wins decisively. You can:
- Write custom JavaScript code in workflows
- Self-host for complete data control
- Build entirely custom nodes
- Trigger workflows via webhooks, cron, queue systems
Make offers good customization through routers, filters, and iterators, but you’re limited to what the visual builder supports.
Zapier is the most constrained — it’s designed for simplicity, not customization.
Execution Speed & Reliability
All three are reliable for production use. Make and n8n both offer real-time execution. Zapier’s centralized infrastructure can sometimes experience latency during peak periods.
n8n’s self-hosted option gives you complete control over performance and uptime.
All three provide:
- Automatic retry on failure (configurable)
- Execution logging and history
- Webhook-based real-time triggers
- Scheduled (cron) workflow execution
Real-World Use Cases
E-commerce Order Processing
Make excels here. A typical order automation flows: Shopify order → Create Google Sheets row → Send Slack notification → Add to Mailchimp audience. Make handles parallel processing efficiently, so when 50 orders come in at once, your workflow processes them without hitting limits.
Zapier handles this equally well but costs more at scale. n8n requires webhook setup but runs free with self-hosting.
SaaS Lead Routing
For routing leads from Typeform or landing pages to CRM tools:
- Zapier: Instant connection to Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive with pre-built templates
- Make: Visual routing lets you segment leads by score before routing
- n8n: Custom logic with A/B split testing built-in
Data Sync Between Tools
Keeping Google Sheets, Airtable, and databases in sync:
- n8n is the clear winner for complex multi-way sync with conflict resolution
- Make handles it well with its data store module
- Zapier charges per-task, so heavy sync jobs get expensive
Pricing Scenarios
Solopreneur (100-500 tasks/month)
- Make Free: 1,000 ops/mo — covers most needs
- Zapier Free: 100 tasks/mo — restrictive
- n8n Cloud Free: 1,000 executions/mo — adequate starter
Small Team (2,000-5,000 tasks/month)
- Make Basic ($9/mo): 10,000 operations
- Zapier Professional ($49.99/mo): 2,500 tasks — may need Team plan
- n8n Pro (€20/mo): 10,000 executions
Scaling (10,000+ tasks/month)
- Make Pro ($29/mo): 50,000 operations
- Zapier Professional ($49.99/mo): 2,500 tasks — need Team at $599/mo
- n8n self-hosted: Free at any scale with a $5-10 VPS
Who Should Pick What
Choose Zapier if:
- You need to connect to rare or niche apps only Zapier supports
- You prioritize ecosystem size over cost
- Your team has no technical expertise and needs the simplest interface
- You’re enterprise-focused and need advanced security/compliance features
Choose Make if:
- You want the best value for money
- You need visual workflow building that’s powerful yet accessible
- You process moderate volumes of automation (under 100K operations/month)
- You want a clean UI without coding requirements
Choose n8n if:
- You want to self-host and save money long-term
- You need custom code execution in workflows
- You have technical skills and want maximum control
- Data privacy is paramount (self-hosting keeps data on your servers)
Verdict
For most solopreneurs and small businesses, Make delivers the best overall value — generous free tier, affordable paid plans, powerful visual builder, and sufficient integrations for 90% of use cases.
For technical users or teams with specific compliance needs, n8n’s self-hosted option is unbeatable — free forever with complete control.
Zapier remains the safe choice when you need specific integrations that only exist in its ecosystem. If a critical business tool only connects via Zapier, the premium pricing is justified.
Bottom Line
If you’re starting fresh: Start with Make’s free tier. You’ll hit zero friction getting your first automation running in under 15 minutes. Only migrate to n8n if you outgrow Make’s capabilities or need self-hosted deployment.
If you’re already on Zapier and spending over $50/month: Audit your actual task usage. Most users on Zapier Professional could switch to Make Pro at $29/month and same functionality with better visual debugging.
FAQ
Which is the cheapest no-code automation tool?
n8n is free if you self-host it. Make has the best free tier (1,000 operations/month) among cloud options. Zapier’s free tier is limited to 100 tasks/month.
Can I switch from Zapier to Make?
Yes. Both tools support similar concepts (triggers, actions, filters). Make has a built-in migration tool, though complex Zaps may need manual recreation.
Do I need coding skills for these tools?
No. All three offer visual builders. n8n requires more technical knowledge if you want to use custom JavaScript, but basic workflows need no code.
Which tool has the best mobile app?
Make has the best mobile experience for monitoring and managing workflows. Zapier’s mobile app is more limited. n8n’s mobile support is minimal.
What’s the difference between tasks and operations?
Zapier charges per-task (each step in a Zap counts as a task). Make charges per-operation (each module execution is an operation). Since Make workflows often run multiple operations per task, Make’s pricing tends to be more generous at equivalent functionality levels.
Can I use these tools for B2B client work?
Yes. All three are used by agencies delivering automation services to clients. Make and n8n offer team workspaces. Zapier has dedicated Agency pricing. n8n is popular among consultants because the self-hosted option means no per-user licensing costs.
How do I debug a broken automation?
Make provides the best visual debugging — you can run any module in isolation and see exactly what data passes through. Zapier offers a task history with input/output payloads. n8n has execution history with full error tracing but requires navigating to the workflow editor.