Make vs Zapier vs n8n vs Power Automate — Comparison 2026
Make, Zapier, n8n and Power Automate — which automation tool should you choose? Pricing, features, and integrations compared.
Make vs Zapier vs n8n vs Power Automate — Which One to Choose?
The workflow automation tools market in 2026 is larger than ever. Four platforms dominate conversations in Polish SMEs: Make (formerly Integromat), Zapier, n8n, and Microsoft Power Automate. Each promises the same thing — “automate everything without coding.” But the devil is in the details: pricing, operation limits, integration availability, self-hosting capability, and AI support differ dramatically.
In this comparison — Make vs Zapier vs n8n vs Power Automate — we go beyond a simple “feature vs feature” table. We analyse real scenarios: how much you will pay per month, which processes each platform handles best, and when a hybrid solution is worth considering. If you are looking for the answer to “make vs zapier comparison” — you are in the right place.
What Are Workflow Automation Tools?
Workflow automation tools are platforms that allow you to create automated workflows without writing code — or with minimal developer involvement. Instead of manually copying data between systems, you define a scenario (in Make), a Zap (in Zapier), a workflow (in n8n), or a flow (in Power Automate) that executes automatically when a condition is met — the so-called trigger.
Typical use cases in Polish SMEs:
- CRM ↔ ERP synchronisation — a new lead in HubSpot creates a client card in the ERP system
- Automated invoices — a WooCommerce order generates an invoice and sends it to the customer
- Employee onboarding — a completed Typeform creates a Google Workspace account, a Notion card, and sends a welcome email
- Reporting — every Friday the system collects data from 4 sources and sends a consolidated report to Slack
Key differences between platforms: pricing model (operations vs tasks vs execution time), number of native integrations, self-hosting capability, support for advanced logic (branching, loops, error handling), and AI model integration.
Make (Integromat) — Pros and Cons
Make (formerly Integromat, rebranded in 2022) is a Czech platform that has gained enormous popularity in Europe thanks to its visual scenario editor and aggressive pricing. In 2026 Make offers over 1,800 native integrations and is one of the most frequently chosen tools by Polish agencies and software houses.
Make Pros
- Visual editor — the most intuitive interface of all four platforms. Scenarios resemble flowcharts, making debugging and documentation easier.
- Granular operations — you pay for actual operations (1 operation = 1 action in the scenario), not “tasks” as in Zapier. A complex scenario with 10 steps uses 10 operations, not 1 task — but cheaper per unit.
- Advanced logic — native support for routers (branching), iterators, aggregators, and error handlers. You can build scenario complexity unavailable in Zapier without additional steps.
- Data Store — a built-in mini-database lets you store state between scenario runs without an external system.
- Native webhook — any scenario can be triggered by a webhook at no extra cost.
- Pricing — Free plan: 1,000 operations/month. Core plan ($9/month): 10,000 operations. Significantly cheaper than Zapier at high volumes.
Make Cons
- Learning curve — the visual editor is powerful but requires understanding concepts (bundles, iterators, routers). For non-technical users, the start can be difficult.
- Execution time limit — a scenario cannot run for longer than 40 minutes (Pro plan). For long batch processes this is a constraint.
- No self-hosting — Make is SaaS only. Data is processed on Make servers (EU or US).
- AI support — OpenAI and Claude integration exists but is not as polished as native AI modules in Power Automate.
- Documentation in English only — no official Polish-language documentation, though the Polish-language community is active.
Zapier — Pros and Cons
Zapier is the oldest and most recognisable automation platform — present in the market since 2011. In 2026 it offers over 7,000 integrations (the most of all four platforms) and is the de facto standard against which other tools compare themselves.
Zapier Pros
- Largest integration base — 7,000+ apps. If a tool has an API, it probably has a connector in Zapier. Particularly important for niche systems (e.g. BaseLinker, Shoper, InPost for Polish markets).
- Simplicity — the “trigger → action” model is intuitive even for non-technical users. Creating simple automations takes minutes.
- Zapier Tables + Interfaces — in 2025–2026 Zapier added a built-in database and a form/portal builder, eliminating the need for external tools for simple workflows.
- AI Actions — native integration with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini allows building “intelligent” automations with minimal effort.
- Reliability — 99.9% SLA and mature infrastructure. Outages are rare.
- Zapier Central (2026) — a new AI agent that itself suggests and builds automations based on a natural language description.
Zapier Cons
- Price — the most expensive tool in the comparison. The Professional plan (from $49/month) gives only 2,000 tasks. At 50,000 tasks/month the cost is $299+. A “task” in Zapier = 1 step in a Zap, so a 5-step Zap run once uses 5 tasks.
- Limited logic — branching (Paths) and loops (Looping) exist but are less flexible than in Make. Complex scenarios require many nested Zaps.
- No self-hosting — SaaS only, data processed in the US (with EU data residency option on the Enterprise plan).
- Vendor lock-in — migrating from Zapier is difficult — no export of scenarios in a standard format.
- Throttling — on lower plans, Zaps run every 15 minutes (not in real time). Instant trigger available from the Professional plan.
n8n — Pros and Cons (Open-Source)
n8n (pronounced “n-eight-n”) is an open-source workflow automation platform with a self-hosting option. Founded in 2019 by Jan Oberhauser, it has gained enormous popularity among developers and data-conscious companies. In 2026 it is the fastest-growing platform in the segment.
n8n Pros
- Open-source + self-hosting — you can run n8n on your own server (Docker, Kubernetes). Full data control — crucial for companies in regulated industries (fintech, medtech, personal data).
- Free for self-hosting — the “fair-code” licence allows free use for companies with up to 3 users. Above that — an Enterprise licence is required.
- Advanced capabilities — native JavaScript/Python in nodes, HTTP requests, webhooks, error handling, sub-workflows. The most flexible platform for technical teams.
- AI Agent nodes — since 2025 n8n has offered native nodes for building AI agents (LangChain integration), making it a leader in the “AI-first automation” segment.
- Community nodes — 900+ native integrations + hundreds of community nodes. Writing your own node is straightforward.
- No operation limits — in self-hosting there is no execution limit. You pay for infrastructure (server), not per operation.
- Speed — workflows run instantly (webhook trigger < 100 ms).
n8n Cons
- Requires a technical team — self-hosting means managing a server, backups, and updates. A barrier for companies without DevOps capability.
- Fewer integrations than Zapier — ~900 native (vs 7,000 in Zapier). Niche systems often do not have a ready node.
- Less polished UX — the interface is functional but less refined than Make. The learning curve is steep for non-technical users.
- Support — in the community version you rely on the forum and GitHub Issues. Dedicated support only on the Enterprise plan (from €300/month in cloud).
- Self-host stability — requires monitoring. Without a watchdog, workflows can “silently” stop after a server failure.
Power Automate — Pros and Cons (Microsoft)
Microsoft Power Automate (formerly Microsoft Flow) is part of the Microsoft 365 and Power Platform ecosystem. In 2026 it is the tool with the greatest corporate reach — available “for free” to every company with a Microsoft 365 Business licence.
Power Automate Pros
- Native Microsoft 365 integration — Excel, SharePoint, Teams, Outlook, Dynamics 365, Dataverse — all work out of the box with deep integration (triggers at field level, not just file level).
- RPA (Desktop Flows) — the only platform in this comparison with native RPA. Power Automate Desktop can automate legacy applications (e.g. SAP GUI, AS/400 terminals) without an API.
- Copilot — since 2025, a built-in AI assistant builds flows from natural language descriptions. In 2026 it can modify existing flows and suggest optimisations.
- Compliance — SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA certifications. Data within the Microsoft tenant (EU data boundary since 2024). Ideal for regulated industries.
- “Free” in M365 — the Power Automate for Microsoft 365 plan is included in the Business Basic licence ($6/user/month). Sufficient for simple Outlook → SharePoint → Teams automations.
- Governance — DLP policies, environment management, audit logs — IT governance tools unavailable in Make/Zapier/n8n.
Power Automate Cons
- Vendor lock-in (Microsoft) — works best in the Microsoft ecosystem. Integration with tools outside M365 (e.g. Slack, Notion, HubSpot) is possible but less refined.
- Complex pricing — the “free” plan has a limit of 6,000 actions/day/user. The Premium plan ($15/user/month) unlocks premium connectors (SAP, Salesforce). The Process plan ($150/bot/month) for RPA. Costs escalate quickly.
- UX — the interface is functional but visually dated and slower than Make/n8n. Microsoft changed the designer 3× in 5 years, frustrating users.
- Debugging — tracing errors in complex flows is less intuitive than in Make. No step-by-step visual debugger.
- Performance — flows run with a 1–5 minute delay on polling triggers. Instant triggers available only for selected connectors.
- No self-hosting — Microsoft cloud (Azure) only.
Comparison Table (Price / Integrations / Complexity / Hosting / API)
| Criterion | Make | Zapier | n8n | Power Automate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $9/month (10k ops) | $19.99/month (750 tasks) | $0 (self-host) / €20/month (cloud) | $0 (in M365) / $15/user/month (Premium) |
| Cost at 50k ops/month | ~$29 | ~$299 | $0 (self-host) + server ~$30 | ~$150 (Premium × 10 users) |
| Native integrations | 1,800+ | 7,000+ | 900+ | 1,000+ (incl. premium) |
| Self-hosting | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (Docker/K8s) | ❌ |
| RPA (desktop) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ (community node) | ✅ native |
| AI nodes | ✅ (OpenAI, Claude) | ✅ (AI Actions) | ✅ (LangChain agents) | ✅ (Copilot + AI Builder) |
| Scenario complexity | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Learning curve | Medium | Low | High | Medium–high |
| Trigger time | Instant (webhook) | 1–15 min (polling) | Instant (webhook) | 1–5 min (polling) |
| Error handling | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| GDPR / EU data | ✅ (EU servers) | ✅ (Enterprise) | ✅ (self-host) | ✅ (EU boundary) |
| Scenario export | JSON | ❌ | JSON | ZIP (solution) |
Which Tool for Which Company? Decision Matrix
The choice of tool depends on 5 factors: budget, team’s technical skills, IT ecosystem, operation volume, and compliance requirements.
Decision Matrix
| Company profile | Recommendation | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Startup / freelancer (1–5 people, low budget) | Make (Free/Core plan) | Best price-to-functionality ratio. 1,000 ops free is enough to start. |
| Non-technical SME (10–50 people, no DevOps) | Zapier | Simplest UX, largest integration base. Higher cost, but saves implementation time. |
| Technical SME (10–50 people, has a developer) | n8n (self-hosted) | No operation limits, full control. Developer maintains the instance in 2–4h/month. |
| Company in Microsoft ecosystem (M365, Dynamics, SharePoint) | Power Automate | Native integration with the whole stack. “Free” within the existing licence. |
| Company with legacy systems (SAP GUI, AS/400, old ERP) | Power Automate (with Desktop Flows) | The only tool with native RPA for automating applications without an API. |
| Agency / software house (building for clients) | Make or n8n | Make — if clients need a dashboard. n8n — if flexibility and white-labelling are needed. |
| Corporation / regulated industry (finance, healthcare) | Power Automate + n8n (hybrid) | PA for compliance/governance, n8n self-host for sensitive data outside the cloud. |
| High-volume company (100k+ operations/month) | n8n (self-hosted) | Fixed cost (server ~$50–100/month) regardless of volume. Make/Zapier would cost $500–3,000/month. |
Hybrid Scenario
In practice many companies use 2 tools simultaneously. A typical setup:
- Make for marketing and sales automation (CRM, email, social media)
- Power Automate for internal processes (HR, documents, SharePoint)
- n8n for sensitive data flows (GDPR, medical data)
How Much Does It Cost Per Month? Real Budgets
Below are real budgets for 3 company profiles — not landing page prices, but actual costs after a year of use (accounting for volume growth).
Scenario 1: Small e-commerce company (5 people, ~5,000 ops/month)
| Tool | Plan | Monthly cost | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make | Core | $9 | $108 |
| Zapier | Professional | $49 | $588 |
| n8n | Cloud Starter | €20 | €240 |
| Power Automate | M365 (included) | $0 (if company has M365) | $0 |
Recommendation: Make or Power Automate (if the company is in the Microsoft ecosystem).
Scenario 2: Mid-sized service company (30 people, ~50,000 ops/month)
| Tool | Plan | Monthly cost | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make | Pro | $29 | $348 |
| Zapier | Team | $299 | $3,588 |
| n8n | Self-host + VPS | ~$30 server | ~$360 |
| Power Automate | Premium × 10 | $150 | $1,800 |
Recommendation: Make (Pro) or n8n self-hosted. At this volume Zapier is 10× more expensive than Make.
Scenario 3: Company with 100+ employees, 200,000 ops/month
| Tool | Plan | Monthly cost | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make | Teams | $79 + extra ops | ~$200 |
| Zapier | Company | Custom (est. $799+) | ~$9,600 |
| n8n | Self-host (dedicated) | ~$100 server | ~$1,200 |
| Power Automate | Premium × 30 + Process | ~$600 | ~$7,200 |
Recommendation: n8n self-hosted with a dedicated server. At 200k+ operations the cost difference between n8n and Zapier is over $8,400 per year.
Hidden Costs — What the Vendor Doesn’t Mention
- Implementation time — n8n self-host requires 20–40h setup + 4–8h/month maintenance. Zapier: 2–4h setup, 0h maintenance.
- Team training — Make and n8n require training (1–2 days). Zapier — typically not.
- Migration — switching platforms takes 40–100h of work. Vendor lock-in is real.
- Premium connectors — in Power Automate basic connectors (SharePoint, Outlook) are free, but SAP, Salesforce, Oracle require Premium licences (+$15/user/month).
FAQ
1. Is Make Better Than Zapier?
Make offers a better price-to-functionality ratio — it is 5–10× cheaper at high operation volumes and has a more advanced scenario editor. Zapier wins on ease of use and number of integrations (7,000 vs 1,800). For technical teams — Make. For non-technical teams with a budget — Zapier.
2. Is n8n Really Free?
In the self-hosted version, n8n is free for teams of up to 3 users (Sustainable Use Licence). Above that, an Enterprise licence is required. Self-hosting cost: server ($20–100/month) + DevOps time (4–8h/month). The cloud version starts at €20/month.
3. Is Power Automate Enough If I Have Microsoft 365?
For simple automations within the Microsoft ecosystem (Outlook → SharePoint → Teams) — yes. The M365 plan gives 6,000 actions/day/user and standard connectors. If you need integrations with tools outside Microsoft (HubSpot, Slack, custom API) — you need the Premium plan or a different tool.
4. Which Tool Integrates Best With AI?
n8n leads in the AI-first automation segment thanks to native LangChain nodes and the ability to build full AI agents. Zapier offers AI Actions (simple but limited). Make has OpenAI/Claude modules. Power Automate integrates with Azure AI and Copilot Studio. For advanced AI use cases — n8n.
5. How Long Does Migration From One Platform to Another Take?
A typical migration of 20–50 scenarios from Zapier to Make takes 40–80 hours of work. There is no automatic converter between platforms — each scenario must be rebuilt manually. This is why the initial platform choice is critical — the cost of switching grows with every month of use.
Not Sure Which Tool to Choose? We’ll Do It For You
Choosing an automation platform is just the beginning. The key question is: which processes in your company are worth automating first — and which tool fits them best?
Within the Process Intelligence Audit (AiP) we analyse your processes, identify automation candidates, and recommend a specific technology stack — tailored to your budget, team, and IT ecosystem.
The result: instead of guessing, you get a concrete roadmap with pricing and ROI for each process.
→ Order a free consultation and find out which tool suits your company