Every wasted hour costs money, and every manual step slows growth. The right automation platform changes that, and if you’ve done any research, two strong names stand out the most: n8n and Make (formerly Integromat).
One gives you full control with open-source power. The other offers a fast, cloud-first setup. Both claim to reduce manual work and improve speed, and appear to be effective on the surface.
But they offer very different strengths.
This comparative study of n8n vs Make shows you how each tool works. You will see the costs, hosting options, security setups, and use cases across industries.
By the end, you will know which tool best suits your business.
What is n8n?
n8n is a quickly growing open-source workflow automation platform with over 230,000 active users. It’s designed for technical teams that require complete control over their automation infrastructure.
Unlike cloud-only solutions, n8n offers self-hosting options that keep your data on your servers. However, the platform operates under a Sustainable Use License, which restricts reselling n8n as a service.
The platform utilizes a node-based visual editor, where each node performs specific tasks, such as data transformation, API calls, or service integrations. This approach provides developers with the flexibility to create complex workflows that utilize custom JavaScript functions and conditional logic.
Key n8n features
Here’s a list of some outstanding features of n8n:
n8n use cases
n8n works best when you need flexibility, compliance, and custom workflows, particularly for developer-heavy teams or businesses that require regulatory control. Here are some common use cases:
What is Make?
With more than 3.1 million users, Make is a popular tool to transform business workflows through its visual scenario builder, designed for non-technical users. The platform connects over 2,100+ applications through pre-built modules that require no coding knowledge.
Make's strength lies in its user-friendly interface that represents workflows as flowcharts. Complex integrations become visual puzzles that teams can build collaboratively. Each module performs actions like reading emails, updating CRM records, or posting social media content.
Make operates exclusively in the cloud, which simplifies deployment but limits data control options for compliance-sensitive organizations.
Key Make features
Let’s look at the key features of n8n:
Make use cases
Given that Make suits non-technical teams or businesses that want speed and breadth of integrations without worrying about servers, here are some of its common use cases:
n8n vs Make: Detailed comparison
Choosing between n8n and Make comes down to how your business values control, cost, and ease of use. Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison of the core differences, so you can see which platform best matches your business needs.
Which tool is right for your business?
Both tools can save time and cut manual work. The right choice depends on your needs, your team, and your budget.
When to choose n8n
n8n works best for companies with strong technical teams or IT partners. It suits industries with strict compliance needs, such as those building finance or healthcare applications and websites, where self-hosting is crucial. Pick n8n if your business has:
- Technical resources available: Your team includes developers, IT staff, or technically skilled operations personnel who can manage self-hosted infrastructure.
- Data control requirements: Compliance regulations demand specific data residency, encryption, or security controls that cloud-only platforms cannot provide.
- High-volume automation need: You process thousands of workflow executions monthly and need cost-effective scaling without per-operation charges.
- Custom integrations requirements: Your business uses proprietary systems, legacy applications, or unique APIs requiring custom development.
- Long-term cost control plan: You want to avoid vendor lock-in and maintain control over automation infrastructure costs as you scale.
When to choose Make
Make works best for companies that need to launch automations fast without heavy IT involvement. It fits marketing, retail, and support teams that value speed and simplicity. Pick Make if your business has:
- Non-technical team: Your automation users are marketers, sales operations, or business analysts without programming experience.
- Rapid deployment need: You need functional automations within days rather than weeks of development time.
- Standard SaaS integrations requirements: Your workflows primarily connect popular business applications like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Google Workspace.
- Managed infrastructure preference: You want platform-managed scaling, updates, and maintenance rather than self-hosted responsibility.
- Team collaboration focus: Multiple departments need shared access to automation development and management.
Or? You Can Use a Little Help
Let Anglara handle automation while you do what you do best.
Schedule a CallLet Anglara do the heavy lifting
Choosing a tool is only the first step. The bigger challenge arises when setting up workflows across different teams, handling errors and ongoing maintenance, and scaling automations as your business expands.
Many companies stall due to these common implementation pain points:
- Learning curve delays that push automation projects months behind schedule
- Integration complexities between existing systems and new platforms
- Security configuration requirements for compliance and data protection
- Scaling bottlenecks as automation needs grow across departments
- Ongoing maintenance and optimization demands on internal teams
That’s where Anglara steps in. Our team builds, scales, and manages automation systems tailored to your specific business needs. We handle the setup, testing, and monitoring so your team stays focused on what matters.
Here’s our automation implementation approach:
- Platform Assessment: We evaluate your technical requirements, compliance needs, and team capabilities to recommend the optimal platform choice.
- Custom Integration Development: Our developers build secure connections between your existing systems and automation platforms, including legacy applications and proprietary APIs.
- Security and Compliance Configuration: We implement enterprise-grade security controls, encryption, and compliance frameworks tailored to your industry's specific requirements.
- Scalable Architecture Design: Our infrastructure experts design automation architectures that scale with your business, eliminating performance bottlenecks and unexpected costs.
- Team Training and Handover: We provide comprehensive training for your staff and document all implementations to ensure seamless long-term management.
You don’t need to spend months learning n8n or Make. We design the right workflows for you, set them up, and ensure they run smoothly. Get your automation infrastructure deployed correctly from the start. Contact us for a consultation on implementing n8n or Make for your business requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do n8n and Make differ in terms of data security for enterprise use?
n8n lets you self-host, so you control where data lives. Make runs in the cloud with strong security certifications. If you need strict compliance, self-hosting n8n gives more control.
Can n8n or Make handle complex multi-step workflows across different departments?
Yes. Both tools support advanced workflows. n8n charges once per run, regardless of the number of steps. Make charges per step, which can raise costs for long processes.
Does choosing one platform over the other limit future automation opportunities?
No. Both tools grow with your needs. The difference is in flexibility. n8n gives you open-source freedom. Make gives you a managed cloud setup with wide app coverage.
What industries benefit most from n8n vs Make?
Finance and healthcare often choose n8n for control and compliance. Marketing, retail, and support teams often choose Make for speed and ease of use.
Do I need an external partner to implement n8n or Make for my company?
You can try on your own, but setup and scaling take time. Many businesses work with partners like Anglara to save time and avoid costly mistakes.
