Make vs Zapier vs n8n: how to choose for B2B automation

Make, Zapier, and n8n are the three tools that show up most often when B2B teams start looking at automation. They all have visual workflow builders, hundreds of app integrations, and a no-code entry point. The differences are real, and they matter depending on what you're actually trying to build.

What they all have in common

All three use the same basic model: a trigger event starts the workflow, and the platform executes a series of actions across connected tools. You build the logic visually, connecting nodes or steps without writing code, at least for the common cases. All three support hundreds of apps, and all three have a free or low-cost tier to start.

The split happens when you need to do something more complex than a two-step trigger-and-action, when you're running high volumes, or when you need to deploy in an environment with specific hosting or data requirements.

Zapier: easiest to start with

Zapier has the largest app library, if a tool has an API, there's a reasonable chance Zapier already has a connector for it. The interface is the most approachable of the three, and you can get something working in minutes without any setup. For simple, reliable glue logic, a form submission creates a CRM record and sends a Slack notification, Zapier is hard to beat on speed.

The downside is cost at scale. Zapier charges per task, and pricing climbs fast once you're running workflows that touch many records or fire frequently. It's also less capable for complex conditional logic or workflows that need to loop over data sets.

Make: more power, more complexity

Make (formerly Integromat) sits between Zapier and n8n. It handles more complex data transformation than Zapier, you can manipulate arrays, apply formulas to data mid-workflow, and build scenarios that do significantly more in a single run. Pricing is based on operations rather than tasks, which tends to be more favorable for high-volume builds.

The interface is more visual and node-based than Zapier, which some people find intuitive and others find confusing. There's a steeper learning curve, but once you're comfortable, you can build things in Make that Zapier would require multiple workarounds to achieve.

n8n: most flexible, most demanding

n8n is open source and can be self-hosted, which is the main reason teams with data residency requirements or high-volume needs choose it. Pricing on the cloud version is competitive; self-hosted is effectively free beyond infrastructure costs. It supports custom JavaScript nodes, meaning you can write actual code inside the workflow when the visual tools don't cover the edge case.

The trade-off is setup and maintenance. n8n requires more effort to stand up, and complex builds take longer to configure. For teams without any technical capacity to troubleshoot when something breaks, this is a real consideration. We handle the build and maintenance on client workflows, which removes most of that friction, but it's worth understanding before you choose.

Which one we use and why

We match the tool to the job. Zapier for simple, fast builds on common apps where a non-technical team member may need to make changes. Make when the workflow needs more data transformation but the team wants a cloud-hosted solution. n8n when the workflow is complex, volume is high, or there's a hosting requirement. Most teams we work with end up using more than one, Zapier handling the lightweight stuff while n8n runs the heavier builds. That's not a problem; it's just how it works in practice.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheapest?

Zapier scales by task count and gets expensive fast. Make is cheaper for high-volume workflows. n8n is free to self-host. But price alone is a bad reason to choose, the one that actually gets built and maintained matters more than the monthly bill.

Can I use more than one?

Yes. Some of our clients run Zapier for simple glue-logic and n8n for the heavier custom builds. You don't have to pick one.

What does TEG use?

All three, depending on what the work actually needs. We're not brand-loyal to any platform.