Zapier alternatives: compare Make, n8n and staying put
Make and n8n use different billing units from Zapier. Reconstruct one real workflow before comparing a credit, execution or task. Staying with a working Zap can be better than paying migration and maintenance costs.
The decision ledger
| Billing question | Zapier | Make | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main unit | Tasks for standard successful actions | Credits for most work modules and polling | Monthly workflow executions |
| Important exception | Built-in utilities do not count; advanced actions can use more | Router and error-handler exceptions; iterators and aggregators count | Assistant credits and external services are separate concerns |
| Free or self-hosted path | Free lists 100 tasks and two-step Zaps | Free lists 1,000 credits | Community Edition is self-hosted, not free managed Cloud |
| The first thing to map | Chargeable actions after filtering | Checks, bundles and work modules | Trigger frequency and execution boundaries |
Count one form-submission workflow as the comparison unit
Imagine 400 form submissions a month. Each valid submission creates a record, sends an email and adds a task. A simple standard-action Zap could use three paid actions per submission, or 1,200 tasks, before exceptions. Do not copy that total to Make: polling can run when no form arrives, and a module may process multiple bundles. Do not copy it to n8n either: its published unit is a run of the workflow, not each ordinary step. This is an illustrative model, not a measured bill.
Choose who owns failures
A useful alternative must reproduce more than the happy path. Decide who notices a failed run, how a duplicate is recognized and whether replaying it can send a second invoice or email. n8n’s pricing page offers managed Cloud plans and a self-hosted Community Edition. A self-hosted deployment shifts updates, backups and service operation to its owner. That can suit an experienced operator, but it is not equivalent to a zero-cost hosted subscription for a nontechnical business.
Compare the connector behavior, not the logo count
Check the exact trigger, supported fields, pagination, file limits and permission requirements for each app you need. A catalog entry can exist without the action your workflow depends on. Document the output of one sample record, including a missing optional field and a duplicate. Estimate retries separately. If the workflow uses an AI model, add the provider’s usage bill rather than assuming it is absorbed by the automation platform’s headline allowance.
What to watch out for
Zapier’s current pricing reference explicitly distinguishes zero-task built-in tools from standard actions and advanced cases. Make exempts some control modules, so saying that it bills “every box” is inaccurate. n8n publishes separate concurrency, timeout and saved-history limits even though its headline unit is executions. Switching for an attractive headline number can backfire if the required integration, monitoring or retention forces an upgrade. Keep the existing workflow disabled only after the replacement has a clear rollback and duplicate-prevention plan.
Options for different requirements
Unranked, source-researched options. The appropriate choice depends on the stated constraint.
Make
- Fits
- A visual workflow where module and polling usage can be modeled.
- Watch out
- Most work modules and polling use credits, with exceptions; bundles and advanced features affect totals.
n8n
- Fits
- A technical owner comparing execution-based cloud billing with an operationally managed self-hosted option.
- Watch out
- Self-hosting needs maintenance; execution counts do not include every external model or provider cost.
Zapier
- Fits
- An existing standard-action workflow with the required app integrations.
- Watch out
- Premium apps and advanced actions have plan or task implications; do not assume every step is one task.
The next practical job
- Open the local workflow calculator.
- Log selected paid Stripe Checkout sessions to Google Sheets with Make.
- Send Shopify orders to Google Sheets with one row per line item (Make).
Sources and evidence
- Zapier pricing reference (read November 7, 2026)
- Make pricing (read November 7, 2026)
- n8n pricing and execution definition (read November 7, 2026)
Common checks
Is n8n completely free?
A self-hosted Community Edition exists. Hosting, maintenance and external services still need an owner and may cost money.
Is one credit equal to one task?
No. Map the documented billing rules onto the same workflow before comparing totals.
Published November 8, 2026. Sources last read November 7, 2026. Send a correction.