n8n vs Make: choose the operating model

n8n and Make both connect applications and run repeatable processes. Their purchase decisions differ in the work left with your team. n8n offers cloud and self-hosted options, while Make is primarily a managed cloud service. n8n Cloud counts workflow executions; Make counts credits consumed by module actions.

The n8n deployment guide, n8n pricing page, Make pricing page and Make organisation guide are the current sources for plan features, limits, billing and data-centre selection.

Choose on hosting responsibility first

n8n's deployment choices describe Cloud as fully managed and self-hosting as an option for teams that need infrastructure control. The Sustainable Use License governs the self-hosted software; check its current terms before offering n8n as part of a service.

Make's organisation documentation says the data-centre region is selected when an organisation is created and cannot be changed for that organisation. Record the region, plan, users and scenarios in the processing documentation.

Translate volume into each provider's unit

n8n Cloud measures workflow executions. Its pricing page describes executions as complete workflow runs with unlimited steps on the listed plans. Self-hosted n8n adds infrastructure, maintenance and any paid edition requirements.

Make uses credits. Its official pricing page explains that a module action consumes credits, and a single scenario run can consume several or many credits depending on the modules and records processed.

Use a separate estimate for each platform:

n8n executions = cases started by the workflow

Make credits = cases × module actions per case × records handled per action

Then add retries, scheduled polling, branches, iterators, model calls, storage and review work. A sticker price is only comparable after both processes use their own units and the same service window.

Compare the process path alongside the canvas

For one representative workflow, record:

• trigger and schedule;
• records read and written;
• integrations and authentication;
• branching and retry rules;
• attachments and large payloads;
• human review and failure handling;
• expected cases per month.

Make can suit a team that values a visual cloud start and standard connectors. n8n can suit a technical team that needs code steps, self-hosting or more control over the runtime. The decision changes when the workflow carries sensitive data, unusual integrations or a high retry rate.

Document data location and access

Self-hosted n8n lets the company select the server and network, while also making the company responsible for patching, backups, secrets, access logs and incident response. n8n Cloud transfers infrastructure work to the provider, subject to its current service terms.

Make's organisation region answers where its organisation data centre is located. Review the provider's processing terms, subprocessors, retention and access roles alongside the selected region. EU selection does not remove the need to document purpose, minimisation, permissions and deletion.

Use separate roles for building, activating and operating scenarios. Keep credentials out of shared exports. Log who changed a workflow, who enabled it and which records it handled.

Decide where a workflow stops

Both platforms are strong when the process has known steps and explicit conditions. A different design may be needed when each case requires interpretation, an action chosen from context, a hold for low confidence and a trace explaining the decision.

Test the exception share on the company's process:

cases needing human judgment ÷ total cases

If the exceptions are rare and can wait in a queue, a workflow with a clear review path may be enough. If the exceptions are frequent and the team needs context assembled before deciding, compare a narrow agent design with the workflow. Syntalith lists automations from €1,750 net and apps or agents from €3,000 net when a custom process is justified.

Record the platform decision

1. Which platform handles the first case and why?
2. Who operates hosting, credentials, updates and backups?
3. What usage unit and retry policy drive the monthly cost?
4. Where do prompts, files, logs and outputs reside?
5. Which users can edit, activate or approve a scenario?
6. Which exceptions wait for a person?
7. What evidence is retained after a run?
8. What event would justify a move to another platform or an agent?

Bring one workflow, its volume and data policy to a free process scan. The recommendation may be n8n, Make, another ready service or a custom process when the case needs a richer decision layer.