n8n vs Make vs Zapier: Cost Comparison Guide for Businesses (2026)
Zapier, Make, or n8n? We compare real costs, execution limits, and data privacy so you don't overpay for your automations.
In the world of automation, success has a hidden price. Starting with a single Zapier task is free, but as your business grows and you start processing thousands of leads or workflows monthly, you’ll suddenly find yourself with a bill exceeding 500€/month without even realizing it.
In this guide, we break down the reality of Zapier, Make, and n8n in 2026, focusing on what matters most for scaling businesses: cost, privacy (GDPR), and scalability.
1. The Crucial Difference: Tasks vs. Operations vs. Executions
Before looking at prices, you must understand what you’re buying. They are not the same.
- Zapier (Tasks): Only charges for actions that complete successfully. If an “If” filter stops a data flow, it doesn’t count. This is the simplest model to understand but the most expensive per unit.
- Make (Operations): Charges for everything. If your workflow searches a database and finds 10 results, you’ve spent 10 operations. Iterators (loops) are credit-hungry monsters in Make.
- n8n (Executions): n8n Cloud charges for each time a workflow is triggered from start to finish, regardless of how many steps it has. n8n Self-Hosted (used by AIBuildr) doesn’t charge per execution. The limit is set only by your server’s hardware.
2. Real Cost Comparison (2026)
Let’s put numbers on the table for a scaling business.
| Scenario | Zapier (Team) | Make (Pro) | n8n (AIBuildr Starter) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Point | 69€/mo (2k tasks) | 16€/mo (40k ops) | 15€/mo (Starter) |
| Mid-Scale (50k tasks) | ~600€/mo | ~150€/mo | 15€/mo (Starter) |
| High Volume (500k tasks) | Enterprise (Contact Sales) | ~1.100€/mo | 39€/mo (Builder) |
NOTE
*In AIBuildr, the limit isn’t a meter from Meta or Zapier; it’s your VPS resources (CPU/RAM). A basic server can handle hundreds of thousands of simple executions per month without breaking a sweat.
3. Privacy and GDPR: Where is your data?
When handling client data (emails, invoices, phone numbers), the law is strict, especially in Europe.
- Zapier and Make: These are SaaS platforms. Your data travels to their servers (primarily in the US or shared regions). You must trust their DPAs (Data Processing Agreements).
- n8n (AIBuildr): Since it’s a private instance, your data never leaves your server. At AIBuildr, we host by default in Hetzner (Germany/Finland), complying 100% with European GDPR and offering minimal latency.
4. Learning Curve vs. Power
- Zapier: The iPhone of automation. Very easy, but very closed off. If you want to build complex logic, you’ll be hitting walls soon.
- Make: Visually beautiful and allows for complex logic, but its credit system might give you “overspending anxiety” at every step.
- n8n: The tool for engineers and AI builders. It allows you to write Javascript directly in any node, use complex expressions, and with its native AI nodes, it’s the undisputed king for building autonomous agents.
Which one to choose?
- Choose Zapier if: You have a high budget, little time, and only need to connect two apps with one simple step (e.g., Typeform to Google Sheets).
- Choose Make if: You want something visual, have moderate data volume, and don’t have technical staff on hand.
- Choose n8n with AIBuildr if: You want to scale without billing fear, need maximum data privacy, and want to be at the forefront by using AI (LangChain) within your flows.
Ready to stop paying per task?