n8n (self-hosted)
Best long-term economics, best AI fit, real portability. Worth the one-time setup cost.
| Criterion | n8n (self-hosted) | Zapier | Make |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing (moderate use) | $5–$20/mo (VPS) + $0 software | $29–$299/mo (Task-capped) | $9–$99/mo (Op-capped) |
| Learning curve | Medium (self-hosting) | Low | Low–Medium |
| AI step quality | High (custom, any model) | Medium (OpenAI sidebar) | Medium |
| Data residency control | Full (your server) | None | Limited |
| Connector breadth | Good + HTTP fallback | Best-in-class | Very good |
| Long-running workflows | Excellent | Poor | Good |
| Version control / Git | Yes (JSON export) | No | Limited |
| Vendor lock-in risk | Low | High | Medium |
Zapier
Pure SaaS-to-SaaS glue where every connector exists, low volume, zero engineering resource, want to ship today.
Make
You want visual logic with more power than Zapier but without running a server. Great UX for non-engineers.
Where we land
We ship most client automations on n8n.
Best AI step quality, full control over prompts and data, clean exports into Git. When the client team is non-technical, we set up Make and leave a short playbook. We rarely recommend Zapier for new automations in 2026 — but we respect it as a bridge while teams get unstuck.
FAQ