Zapier vs Make vs n8n: which automation tool?

Zapier: easiest to use, largest app library (6,000+), best for non-technical teams. Starts free (100 tasks/month), Pro at $29.99/month (750 tasks). Limitation: expensive at scale, no branching logic on basic plans. Make (formerly Integromat): visual workflow builder, more powerful data transformations, better for complex automations with conditional logic. Starts free (1,000 ops/month), Core at $10.59/month (10,000 ops). Better value per operation than Zapier. n8n: self-hosted and open-source, no per-operation costs, full control over data. Free to self-host (you pay for server). Cloud starts at $24/month. Best for technical teams who want no vendor lock-in and handle sensitive data. Recommendation: Zapier if your team is non-technical and you run fewer than 2,000 tasks/month. Make if you need complex branching logic or run 5,000+ operations. n8n if you have a developer, handle sensitive data, or want to eliminate per-operation costs at scale. Many companies use Zapier for simple connections and Make or n8n for complex workflows.