Comparison · automation platforms

n8n, Make or Zapier: which automation platform should you pick?

All three lead no-code/low-code automation, but they solve different problems. This page compares n8n, Make (formerly Integromat) and Zapier in 2026: real cost (ops, runs and tasks), features, self-host availability, data sovereignty (LGPD) and ecosystem. Honest verdict per use case included.

Quick summary

Zapier is the easiest to start with and has the largest app catalog (8,000+), but it is the most expensive per run and has no self-hosted option. Make sits between visual power and price — billed by ops (operations) with the richest visual scenarios. n8n is the only truly self-hosted option (open core), with predictable VPS pricing, Node.js code and full data control (essential for LGPD). In 2026, technical teams in Brazil migrate from Zapier to self-hosted n8n once they pass US$ 100/mo in tasks.

Side-by-side comparison

Feature	n8n	Make	Zapier
Model	Open core (free self-host)	SaaS	SaaS
Company	n8n GmbH (Germany)	Celonis / Make.com	Zapier Inc. (US)
Billing	Per execution (cloud) or flat (VPS)	Per op (operation)	Per task
Cloud starting price	EUR 20/mo (2.5k executions)	US$ 9/mo (10k ops)	US$ 19.99/mo (750 tasks)
Free plan	Yes (1 user cloud) + unlimited self-host	Yes (1k ops/mo)	Yes (100 tasks/mo)
Self-hosted	Yes · Docker, npm, K8s	No	No
Custom code	Node.js + Python (native)	JavaScript in module	Code by Zapier (limited)
Integrations	400+	1,500+	8,000+
HTTP request universal	Yes · no extra cost	Yes · spends ops	Yes · spends tasks
Built-in LLM / AI	Native nodes (OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama)	Modules (OpenAI, Anthropic)	Apps (OpenAI, Claude)
Webhook receiver	Yes · no limit on self-host	Yes · spends ops	Yes · spends tasks
Data control	Full on self-host	On Make servers (EU)	On Zapier servers (US)
LGPD-friendly	Yes (self-host in Brazil)	Partial (EU)	Hard (data in US)
Learning curve	Medium-high	Medium	Low
BR / PT-BR support	Community + partners	Limited	Limited

Pros and cons of each

n8n

n8n pros

Open core — free self-host with unlimited executions
Native Node.js + Python code inside workflows
Strong LLM support (OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, LangChain)
Full data control on self-host (LGPD)
Large and growing community with open templates

n8n cons

Higher learning curve (you need to understand JSON, HTTP, expressions)
Fewer out-of-the-box integrations than Zapier and Make
Self-host requires a VPS, maintenance and backup
Official cloud is more expensive than Make at low volume
Limited official support outside the enterprise plan

Make

Make pros

Extremely expressive visual editor (routes, iterators, aggregators)
Competitive per-op billing — pay proportional to usage
Robust catalog (1,500+ apps)
Complex scenarios without coding
Generous free plan for experimentation

Make cons

No self-hosted option — data stays on European servers
Surprise per-op charges in loop-heavy workflows
Debug can be confusing in scenarios with many modules
Cost escalates fast in ops with aggregation
Less support for LLMs and AI agents

Zapier

Zapier pros

Largest integration catalog (8,000+ apps)
Easiest learning curve — onboarding in minutes
Reliable and stable for over 10 years
Ready-made templates for common use cases
Solid official English-language support

Zapier cons

Most expensive per execution at volume
No self-host — all data on US servers
Complex workflows are limited (no visual routes like Make)
Code by Zapier is too simple for advanced logic
Multi-step is premium — free plan limited to 1 action per trigger

When to pick each

Pick n8n if...

You spend more than US$ 100/mo on Zapier/Make automation
You have sensitive data (LGPD, financial, health, legal) that cannot leave Brazil
You want to run AI agents with local LLMs (Ollama, Llama 3) without international latency
You have a technical team (someone who runs Docker or hires a managed VPS)
You want to integrate internal systems / private APIs without exposing them externally

Pick Make if...

You want visual power (routes, aggregators, iterators) without becoming a dev
You run an agency or consultancy with medium volume (10k to 100k ops/mo)
You need more integrations than n8n ships out of the box
Your client does not mind data on European servers
You build complex scenarios with more than 20 chained modules

Pick Zapier if...

You are a small business with a few simple zaps (less than 1,000 tasks/mo)
You need to integrate with a niche app that only exists on Zapier
Your team is 100% non-technical and refuses to learn ops/visual flows
You have budget and prioritize setup speed over recurring cost
You onboard non-technical clients already familiar with Zapier

Honest verdict

For enterprise automation in Brazil in 2026, self-hosted n8n is almost always the right call: predictable cost (a R$ 50 to R$ 200/mo VPS runs tens of thousands of executions), data on Brazilian soil (LGPD), native integration with local LLMs and source code open for audit.

For small projects without a tech team, Zapier is still the easiest — under 1,000 tasks/mo, the free or Starter plan handles it without hassle. Make is the best middle ground for those who want visual power without self-hosting: agencies and consultancies with medium volume and complex scenarios.

Rollin Host runs n8n in production internally and offers a managed VPS with n8n pre-installed — updates, backup and monitoring included.

Frequently asked questions

Is n8n actually free?

n8n is open source under the Sustainable Use License (open core). You can run unlimited self-hosted, free, on your own VPS. There is an official Cloud plan and an Enterprise license for premium support and features like SSO. For 95% of business use cases, self-host is enough with no license cost.

What is the difference between task, op and execution?

Zapier bills per task (each individual action inside a zap). Make bills per op (each read or write operation in any module). n8n cloud bills per execution (one full workflow run, no matter how many nodes). That is why n8n tends to be cheaper in complex workflows.

How much resource does self-hosted n8n need?

For personal use or small teams, a VPS with 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM and 40 GB NVMe comfortably runs thousands of executions/day. For enterprise volume with queues, 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM and dedicated Redis is recommended. Rollin Host offers a VPS with n8n pre-installed in both setups.

Is Make better than n8n?

For those without a tech team who want rich visual scenarios without coding, Make has a more polished editor and an easier curve. For those who need LGPD, data sovereignty, local LLMs and code flexibility, n8n is better. They serve different cases.

Which is cheaper long-term?

Self-hosted n8n on a VPS: cost is fixed (R$ 50 to R$ 300/mo depending on the VPS) regardless of volume. Zapier and Make scale linearly with usage — above US$ 100 to US$ 200/mo, it usually pays to switch to n8n. Below that, setup time may not pay off.

Can I run AI agents on n8n?

Yes. n8n has native nodes for OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, LangChain and vector databases (Qdrant, Pinecone, pgvector). It is one of the most used platforms to build AI agents with RAG, tools and persistent memory.

Does n8n integrate with WhatsApp?

Yes, via EvolutionAPI (open source), the official WhatsApp Business API or other unofficial integrations. It is one of the most popular stacks in Brazil: n8n + EvolutionAPI to build automated support and WhatsApp agents.

Does Zapier work well in Brazil?

It works, but has latency (main datacenter in the US) and LGPD compliance friction with sensitive data. To integrate international apps without sensitive Brazilian data, it is fine. For flows with end-customer Brazilian data, self-hosted n8n is better.

Does Make have a datacenter in Brazil?

As of 2026, Make operates primarily in European datacenters (Prague, EU region). There is no dedicated datacenter in Brazil. For LGPD with sensitive personal data, that can be a problem depending on the processing purpose.

Is it worth migrating from Zapier to n8n?

If you spend more than US$ 100/mo on Zapier or have sensitive data, yes — payback usually happens in 2 to 4 months considering VPS cost + workflow rebuild time. Below that, learning time may not pay off.

Who maintains n8n? Is it reliable?

n8n is maintained by n8n GmbH, a German company founded in 2019, backed by funds like Sequoia and Felicis. It has over 60,000 GitHub stars, an active community and is used in production at companies like Cisco, Box and Vodafone.

Does Rollin Host support n8n?

Yes. Rollin Host offers a managed VPS with n8n pre-installed, automatic updates, daily backups and 24/7 monitoring. It also offers consulting to migrate workflows from Zapier/Make to n8n with its in-house team.

Want n8n pre-installed on a Brazilian VPS?

Rollin Host offers a managed VPS with n8n ready to run — Docker, SSL, daily backup and monitoring. Tier III datacenter in Sao Paulo, human support 24/7 and LGPD compliance.

See VPS for n8n