Zapier
The easiest to start with and the largest app library. Best for simple, low-volume workflows your team wants to change themselves. Costs rise as the number of tasks grows.
Guide
Zapier vs Make vs n8n: which should a small business use?
All three connect your apps and run tasks on their own. They differ in how easy they are, how they charge and how much control you get. We build on all three, so here is how we choose.
Updated
The short answer
Choose Zapier if you want the quickest set-up and the widest range of apps, and your volumes are low. Choose Make if your workflows have many steps and branches and you want lower running costs as volumes grow. Choose n8n if you want full control, flexible AI agents or the option to host it yourself, and you have someone to look after it.
When each one fits
Make
A visual builder that handles branching, loops and data clean-up well. Often cheaper than Zapier for busy, multi-step workflows, with a steeper learning curve.
n8n
Flexible, with strong AI agent features. You can use n8n's cloud or host it yourself, which keeps data on your own servers and can cut costs at scale, but it needs looking after.
Side by side
How they compare.
Prices and plans change often, so check each provider's current pricing before you decide.
| Zapier | Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easiest for | Non-technical teams | Teams happy with a visual flowchart | Technical teams, or with a partner |
| How you pay | Per task, on a monthly plan | Per operation or credit, on a monthly plan | Per workflow run on n8n cloud, or self-hosted on your own server |
| AI agents | Built-in AI steps and agents | AI modules and agents | Among the most flexible |
| Where it runs | Zapier's cloud | Make's cloud | n8n's cloud or your own server |
| Best fit | A handful of simple workflows | Busy, multi-step workflows | AI agents, high volumes or strict data needs |
How we choose for you
List the workflows
We map what needs to run, how often and which apps are involved.
Price them at your volumes
We estimate running costs for each option at your real volumes, not the headline plan.
Decide who looks after it
If your team will edit workflows, simpler wins. If we support it, we can use more powerful tools.
Build and hand over
Built in accounts you own, tested on sample data, with your team trained at handover.
Whichever tool fits, builds start at £3,000 and the subscription is paid by you, directly to the provider. See all prices
Questions we get asked
Is Zapier worth it for a small business?
Yes, for a few simple workflows your team wants to manage. It gets expensive at high volumes or with many multi-step workflows, which is when Make or n8n usually work out cheaper.
Why is Zapier so expensive?
Zapier charges per task, and every action step that runs counts as one. Busy workflows with several steps use tasks quickly. Filtering early, combining steps or moving heavy workflows to Make or n8n can cut the bill.
What is n8n and is it free?
n8n is a workflow automation tool with strong AI features. Its community edition is free to host on your own server, and n8n also sells a paid cloud service and business plans. Self-hosting saves on subscriptions but means someone has to keep it updated and secure.
Is n8n better than Make?
Neither is better for everyone. Make is easier for visual, step-by-step workflows. n8n gives more control, self-hosting and more flexible AI agents, but needs more technical care.
Can you move our workflows from Zapier to Make or n8n?
Yes. We rebuild them, test them on sample data and run old and new side by side before switching over.
Do you resell any of these tools?
No. You hold the account and pay the provider directly, with no markup from us.
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Get the right tool picked for you.
Book a 90-minute Growth Quick-Start. We look at your operations and your marketing together, and you get one clear plan for what to do first, what it costs and what it gives back.
- £500 instead of £1,000
- Covers AI automation, AI agents and marketing
- Credited in full if you book a Full Custom or Gold build within 14 days
- A written plan you keep either way