Make vs n8n—The Wrong Choice Will Cost You

N8N vs. Make.com: A Detailed Comparison

Key Concepts:

• Automation Platforms: N8N and Make.com are both no-code/low-code automation platforms.
• Popularity & Growth: N8N is experiencing rapid growth and increasing popularity compared to Make.com.
• Pricing Models: Make.com charges per operation, while N8N charges per workflow.
• Self-Hosting: N8N offers a self-hosted community edition, allowing for free usage (with hosting costs).
• Functionality: N8N offers more built-in functionality and features compared to Make.com.
• Integrations: Make.com has a significantly larger number of integrations than N8N.
• Learning Curve: Make.com has a shallower learning curve, while N8N is slightly more complex initially.
• HTTP Request: A method to connect to applications without native integrations.

Popularity and Growth

• Market Trend: N8N's popularity has exploded recently, surpassing Make.com in search interest.
• Google Trends Data: N8N searches are around 1,700 compared to Make.com's just over 1,000.
• Update Frequency: N8N releases updates and new features almost daily, while Make.com's updates are less frequent.
• Implication: Faster iteration and updates in N8N lead to compounded growth and improved technical capabilities over time.
• Business Owner Interest: More business owners are looking to buy automations using N8N.

Pricing Comparison

• Core Difference: Make.com charges per operation (each node execution), while N8N charges per workflow (entire scenario execution).
• Cost Advantage: N8N is generally cheaper because it doesn't matter how many nodes run in a workflow, the cost is fixed per workflow execution.
• Self-Hosting Option: N8N offers a free, self-hosted community edition.
• Hosting Costs: Self-hosting on a cloud platform like Hostinger can cost around $4/month.
• Make.com Pricing: Make.com starts free but quickly scales to $9, $16, and beyond.
• Real-World Example: The speaker's business spent $160/month on Make.com, while N8N costs around $10/month.

Functionality and Features

• Pinned Data: N8N allows pinning sample data from a workflow execution for repeated testing without re-entering data.
• Data Editing: N8N allows editing data within a workflow to test different paths without re-triggering the initial event.
• AI Agents: N8N has built-in AI agents that can be integrated directly into workflows.
• Make.com Limitations: Make.com lacks features like pinned data and direct data editing, which are considered basic and time-saving.

Integrations

• N8N Integrations: N8N has 1,221 built-in integrations (e.g., Google Sheets, Gmail, OpenAI, Slack).
• Make.com Integrations: Make.com has 2,831 applications.
• Missing Integrations in N8N: N8N lacks some common integrations like Pinterest, Instagram, and Google Forms.
• HTTP Request as a Workaround: Missing integrations can be connected using HTTP requests, but this is more complex.
• HTTP Request Explanation: N8N's built-in integrations are essentially pre-built HTTP request connections.

Learning Curve

• Make.com Ease of Use: Make.com is easier to learn, especially for non-technical users.
• N8N Complexity: N8N has a steeper learning curve due to its low-code nature and more technical interface.
• Code Option: N8N allows for code integration, while Make.com is strictly no-code.
• Interface Comparison: Make.com's interface is more approachable and less intimidating for beginners.
• N8N Interface: N8N's interface can appear overwhelming due to its code-like presentation of data.
• Long-Term Efficiency: Once comfortable, N8N can be faster to build with due to its added functionality.

Final Verdict and Recommendation

• Overall Winner: Based on popularity, updates, functionality, and pricing, N8N is the recommended choice.
• Long-Term Investment: Investing time in N8N is a better long-term bet due to its growth and feature development.
• Switching Considerations: If already heavily invested in Make.com and short on time, switching may not be worth the effort.
• Equivalence: Both tools can accomplish similar tasks, so switching is not always necessary.

Conclusion

N8N is presented as the superior choice for new automation projects due to its rapid growth, frequent updates, lower cost, and greater functionality. While Make.com offers a gentler learning curve and a vast library of integrations, N8N's advantages in other areas make it a more compelling option for those looking to invest in an automation platform for the long term. However, the decision to switch from Make.com to N8N depends on individual circumstances, particularly the existing investment in Make.com and the available time for migration.