After building hundreds of automation workflows across n8n, Make, and Zapier, we've developed strong opinions about when each platform shines — and where they fall short.
The Quick Take
Zapier is the gateway drug of automation. It's the easiest to learn, has the most integrations, and is perfect for simple linear workflows. But it gets expensive fast and struggles with complex logic.
Make (formerly Integromat) is the visual powerhouse. Its scenario builder handles complex branching, iteration, and error handling beautifully. It's our go-to for mid-complexity workflows.
n8n is the engineer's choice. Self-hosted, open-source, and infinitely extensible with custom JavaScript/Python nodes. When you hit the limits of Make or Zapier, n8n is where you go.
When to Use Each
### Zapier: Quick Wins - Simple trigger-action workflows - Teams without technical resources - When speed of setup matters more than cost efficiency
### Make: Complex Visual Workflows - Multi-branch conditional logic - Data transformation and iteration - When you need visual debugging and monitoring
### n8n: Enterprise and Custom Logic - Self-hosted data sovereignty requirements - Custom code nodes for complex business logic - When you need full control over execution and infrastructure
Our Recommendation
Most of our enterprise clients end up with a hybrid approach: Zapier for quick departmental automations, Make for complex cross-platform workflows, and n8n for mission-critical pipelines that need custom logic and self-hosting.