n8n vs Make vs Zapier Cost Calculator 2026 — Automation Pricing Comparison
Reviewed by The Architect • Published by CreatorOpsMatrix • Updated June 2026Is n8n cheaper than Make and Zapier in 2026? For multi-step workflows, yes — significantly. n8n charges per workflow execution regardless of how many steps are inside it. Zapier charges per action step. A 10-step workflow running 1,000 times costs 1,000 executions on n8n ($60/month) but 10,000 tasks on Zapier ($300+/month). Make.com sits in between: Core is $10.59/month for 10,000 operations, roughly 3–5× cheaper than Zapier at equivalent volume. n8n self-hosted is free.
The reason this comparison confuses so many operators: all three platforms use different billing units. Zapier charges per task — each action step in a Zap costs one task. A 5-step Zap running 500 times consumes 2,500 tasks. Make charges per operation — each module including the trigger counts as one operation, so a 5-module scenario running 500 times uses 2,500 operations. n8n charges per execution — one complete workflow run, regardless of how many nodes are inside it. The same 5-step workflow running 500 times uses just 500 executions.
That billing difference is why the cost gap widens dramatically as workflow complexity increases. For a simple 2-step automation at low volume, Zapier’s entry plan is competitive. For a 10-step workflow running thousands of times per month, n8n is typically 75–90% cheaper than Zapier and 30–60% cheaper than Make. The calculator below runs all three platforms simultaneously so you see the exact monthly cost for your specific setup — not a generic estimate.
What this calculator accounts for: Monthly workflow runs, steps per workflow (which determines effective task/operation counts), the plan each platform would assign you to at your volume, and overage charges when you exceed the included quota. It also shows n8n self-hosted cost (free + $10/month server estimate) so you can see the maximum possible savings.
n8n self-hosted: ~$10/month (unlimited executions). You save an estimated $50/month vs n8n Cloud and $139/month vs Zapier by managing your own server.
| Monthly Runs | n8n Cloud | Make.com | Zapier | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 runs | — | — | — | — |
| 10,000 runs | — | — | — | — |
| 100,000 runs | — | — | — | — |
How n8n, Make, and Zapier Billing Actually Works
The billing unit difference is the most important thing to understand before comparing prices. Zapier counts each action step as one task. A Zap with a trigger, three actions, and a filter step uses 3 tasks per run (filters are free). Run it 1,000 times and you consume 3,000 tasks. Make.com counts each module — including the trigger — as one operation. A 5-module scenario uses 5 operations per run. Run it 1,000 times and you consume 5,000 operations. n8n counts one execution per complete workflow run regardless of how many nodes are inside it. Run the same workflow 1,000 times and you consume 1,000 executions — whether it has 3 nodes or 30.
The Step Multiplication Trap
A 10-step workflow running 2,000 times per month uses 2,000 executions on n8n (Pro plan, $60/month). The same workflow uses 20,000 tasks on Zapier. The cheapest Zapier plan covering 20,000 tasks costs approximately $299/month. For complex automations, this gap compounds every time you add a step.
June 2026 Pricing Reference — n8n, Make.com, Zapier
| Platform | Plan | Monthly Price | Included Units | Billing Unit | Overage Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n8n Cloud | Starter | $24/mo | 2,500 executions | Per workflow execution | No overage — workflows stop at cap |
| n8n Cloud | Pro | $60/mo | 10,000 executions | Per workflow execution | No overage — workflows stop at cap |
| n8n Cloud | Business | $800/mo | 40,000 executions | Per workflow execution | Custom |
| n8n Self-Hosted | Community | Free + ~$10 server | Unlimited | N/A | N/A |
| Make.com | Free | $0 | 1,000 operations | Per module run | Upgrade required |
| Make.com | Core | $10.59/mo | 10,000 operations | Per module run | ~$9 per 10K ops |
| Make.com | Pro | $18.82/mo | 10,000 operations | Per module run | ~$9 per 10K ops |
| Make.com | Teams | $34.12/mo | 10,000 operations | Per module run | ~$9 per 10K ops |
| Zapier | Free | $0 | 100 tasks | Per action step | Upgrade required |
| Zapier | Professional | $19.99/mo (annual) | 750 tasks | Per action step | 1.25x base rate |
| Zapier | Professional 2K | $49/mo (annual) | 2,000 tasks | Per action step | 1.25x base rate |
| Zapier | Team | $69/mo (annual) | 2,000 tasks | Per action step | 1.25x base rate |
When to Choose Each Platform
Choose n8n When
Your workflows are complex (6+ steps), you run high volume (10,000+ runs/month), or you have technical team members who can manage a self-hosted instance. n8n’s per-execution billing makes adding workflow complexity free. At 10+ steps and moderate volume, n8n is typically 5–10× cheaper than Zapier. n8n self-hosted is the most cost-efficient automation infrastructure available in 2026 for teams who can manage it.
Choose Make.com When
You want a significant cost reduction from Zapier without the technical overhead of self-hosting n8n. Make’s visual canvas builder is more powerful than Zapier for complex logic while remaining accessible to non-developers. Core at $10.59/month is the best-value hosted automation plan in 2026 for small teams running moderate volume. Unused operations roll over one month on paid plans, which smooths seasonal usage spikes.
Choose Zapier When
You need access to an integration that only exists in Zapier’s 9,000+ app library. Zapier connects more niche SaaS tools than any other platform. If your specific app combination is unavailable on Make or n8n, Zapier’s integration ecosystem justifies the premium. It also has the lowest setup friction for non-technical users with no interest in visual builders.