Scorecard · small-team automation
Make vs n8n vs Zapier for small teams
What this page tells you.This card ranks Make vs n8n vs Zapier for small-team automation. Each tool is rated 1–5 on named criteria; weights add up to 100; a perfect score is 500. n8n Self-host is on the same sheet, not a fourth cloud seat.
Approved totalsUpdated 2026-09-07Methodology
Published cloud ranking
MakeCloud leadCloud #1410/500Make
Complete /500
n8nRunner-upCloud #2368/500n8n Cloud
Complete /500
ZapierThirdCloud #3353/500Zapier
Complete /500
n8nSelf-hosted (not ranked)n8n Self-hosted 382/500— same sheet, not mixed into the cloud rank.
Make leads the cloud rank at 410/500. n8n Self-hosted 382/500 is on the same sheet, not a fourth cloud seat.
We may earn a commission on Make links. Rankings are not sold. Affiliate disclosure · Disclosures · [email protected]
At-a-glance
Facts already on this card — blurbs, hosting, pricing model, Canada notes, and published totals. No new scores.
MakeCloud lead410/500MakeVisual scenario builder for small-team cloud automation.
n8nRunner-up368/500n8n CloudHosted n8n editor without owning the runtime.
ZapierThird353/500ZapierLargest no-code automation marketplace.n8nSelf-hosted (not ranked)382/500n8n SHOperator-controlled runtime (self-hosted, not a cloud SaaS seat).Wider table below — swipe if you want every lens.
| Lens | MakeMake | n8nn8n Cloud | ZapierZapier | n8nn8n SH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Role | Cloud lead | Runner-up | Third | Self-hosted (not ranked) |
| Weighted total | 410/500 | 368/500 | 353/500 | 382/500 |
| Best for | Visual scenario builder for small-team cloud automation. | Hosted n8n editor without owning the runtime. | Largest no-code automation marketplace. | Operator-controlled runtime (self-hosted, not a cloud SaaS seat). |
| Pricing model | Operations / month, tiered (pricing page, make.com/en/pricing, 2026-09-07) | Cloud subscription, execution-based | Tasks / month, tiered | Infra + time; licence per n8n fair-code terms |
| Hosting | Vendor cloud | Vendor cloud (EU Frankfurt noted below) | Vendor cloud | Self-host (operator-controlled) |
| Portability | Closed source. Export and lock-in cost sit with the operator. | Source-available engine, hosted by n8n. | Closed source. Leaving cost sits with the operator. | Self-host path. You own the runtime, upgrades, and backups. |
| Canada-fit | CAD or GST/HST not inferred from the pricing score; they still belong on the invoice line. | Region named in this review: EU Frankfurt — not Canadian residency. | CAD billing is available. GST/HST still belongs on the invoice line. | Runtime sits where you put it. We do not certify PIPEDA operations. |
Choose if
Condensed from the published blurbs and caveats. Not a “best of 2026” list.
MakeCloud lead
Make
410/500
You want the current cloud lead on a complete /500 card (410/500) and an operations-tiered visual builder. Pricing scored 4 of 5 from make.com/en/pricing, 2026-09-07 — not a CAD list price we invented.
n8nRunner-up
n8n Cloud
368/500
You want the same editor family as self-host without running the box. Runner-up at 368/500. Vendor cloud; you do not own uptime.
ZapierThird
Zapier
353/500
You need the widest app coverage and will live with task-based pricing. Third in the cloud rank at 353/500. Not a hidden winner.
n8nSelf-hosted (not ranked)
n8n Self-hosted
382/500
You will own uptime, upgrades, and backups. 382/500 is the same 1–5 × weight sheet — not a fourth cloud product, and not mixed into the cloud #1 / #2 / #3 rank.
Cloud trio (like-for-like)
Complete /500 totals only. Make’s pricing cell is filled (4 of 5); the cloud rank is Make, then n8n Cloud, then Zapier.
Swipe sideways for rank, lane, and total.
| Cloud rank | Lane | Weighted total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MakeMake | 410/500 | Cloud lead · complete card |
| 2 | n8nn8n Cloud | 368/500 | Runner-up · complete card |
| 3 | ZapierZapier | 353/500 | Third · complete card |
Self-hosted (not in the cloud rank)
Scored on the same 1–5 × weight sheet so you can compare the number. It is not a fourth cloud product. You own uptime, upgrades, backups, and PIPEDA operations.
| Lane | Weighted total | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| n8nn8n Self-hosted | 382/500 | 382/500 on the same sheet — not a fourth SaaS seat. Ops cost sits with the operator. |
Show full criteria sheet
Contribution = score (1–5) × weight. A complete card is 500. We have published Make’s pricing cell (4 of 5). Other 1–5 cells stay inside the totals for now. Unpublished cells read “in total.”
Swipe sideways — first column stays pinned.
| ID | Criterion | Weight | Max (×5) | MakeMake | n8nn8n Cloud | ZapierZapier | n8nn8n Self-hosted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | Time-to-competence How long a non-developer operator needs to ship a reliable three-step workflow with basic error handling. | 15 | 75 | in total | in total | in total | in total |
| C2 | Reliability and operability Execution consistency, retries, logs, and the operational burden of keeping the stack healthy. | 20 | 100 | in total | in total | in total | in total |
| C3 | Ecosystem First-party integrations and templates that small teams actually use: email, sheets, Notion, chat, payments, accounting. | 15 | 75 | in total | in total | in total | in total |
| C4 | Canada fit CAD pricing, tax invoices, data-residency options, and privacy posture as the vendor discloses it (PIPEDA / Quebec Law 25). | 15 | 75 | in total | in total | in total | in total |
| C5 | Pricing at small-team scale Realistic monthly spend for a 2–5 person shop, in CAD where list prices exist, with GST/HST called out separately. | 20 | 100 | 4 published criterion score | in total | in total | in total |
| C6 | Portability and lock-in Export paths, self-host options, and the real cost of leaving. | 10 | 50 | in total | in total | in total | in total |
| C7 | Support and documentation Official docs, community, and paid support that is reachable at small-team spend. | 5 | 25 | in total | in total | in total | in total |
| Weighted total | 100 | 500 | 410/500 | 368/500 | 353/500 | 382/500 | |
in total means the 1–5 cell is not published and sits inside the composite. We do not back-solve missing cells. See Methodology.
Canada-fit notes
- Zapier. CAD billing is available. GST/HST still belongs on the invoice line, not inside “from $X USD.”
- n8n Cloud. Cloud region called in this review: EU Frankfurt. That is not Canadian residency; it is the residency we could name.
- n8n Self-hosted. Runtime sits where you put it. A Canadian VM or on-prem box can be operated under PIPEDA; we do not certify the operator.
- Make. Pricing scored from Make’s public pricing page (make.com/en/pricing, accessed 2026-09-07). Operations-tiered list prices; CAD or GST/HST still belong on the invoice line if billed that way — we do not infer a CAD list from the pricing score.
Operator notes, not counsel. See Privacy and editorial standards.
Caveats
- Approved totals, not a final “best of 2026.” Dated 2026-09-07.
- Scale is 1–5 × criterion weight. Weights sum to 100. A complete card maxes at 500.
- n8n Self-hosted is scored on the same sheet so you can see the number. It is not a fourth cloud product. 382/500 is not a cloud-rank win.
- Make’s pricing criterion is 4 of 5 (from make.com/en/pricing, 2026-09-07). Total 410/500, cloud rank 1. Other 1–5 cells stay unpublished except this one.
- Nothing here is tax, legal, or privacy advice.
Methodology
Scale is 1–5 × named weight. Weights sum to 100. A complete card maxes at 500. Self-host is scored on the same sheet, not mixed into the cloud rank. Full contract: How scoring works.
FAQ
What does 410/500 mean?
Each tool is rated 1–5 on named criteria. Each criterion has a weight; the weights add up to 100. We multiply rating × weight and add them up. A perfect score is 500. Make’s 410/500 is 410 out of 500 possible points on the automation card. Higher is a better fit for small teams on our criteria — not “best tool forever.”
Why does Make lead vs n8n and Zapier?
On this card’s weighted sheet, Make totals 410/500, n8n Cloud 368/500, and Zapier 353/500. That is the cloud rank. We have published Make’s pricing cell (4 of 5, from make.com/en/pricing, 2026-09-07). Other 1–5 cells stay inside the totals for now.
Why isn’t n8n Self-hosted ranked with the cloud products?
382/500 is scored on the same 1–5 × weight sheet so you can compare the number. It is not a fourth cloud SaaS seat and is not mixed into the cloud #1 / #2 / #3 rank. You own uptime, upgrades, and backups.
What do approved totals mean?
The /500 totals are approved; we have not published every 1–5 cell yet. This is not a final “best of 2026.” A full scorecard would also show every criterion-level cell. “Not ranked yet” means no ranking at all.
Where are the criterion-level scores?
Inside the weighted totals. We publish the /500 composites and the labelled cells we have filled (Make’s pricing is 4 of 5). Unpublished cells read “in total.” We do not back-solve them. Rules live on Methodology.
Is there a separate Make vs Zapier or Make vs n8n scorecard?
No second scorecard. Approved totals stay on this automation card. A thin Make vs Zapier guide cites 410/500 vs 353/500 only. Pairwise n8n reads still jump to Choose-if here.
What do the Canada notes actually say?
Operator notes, not counsel. Zapier: CAD billing available, GST/HST on the invoice line. n8n Cloud: EU Frankfurt named — not Canadian residency. n8n Self-hosted: runtime sits where you put it. Make: CAD/GST not inferred from the pricing score.
Product facts (not extra points)
n8nSelf-hosted
n8n Self-hosted
382/500
You run the engine (Docker, VM, or k8s). Licence can be cheap; operations are not free. Scored on the same sheet, not mixed into the cloud rank.
- Hosting
- Self-host (operator-controlled)
- Pricing
- Infra + time; licence per n8n fair-code terms
- Source
- Source-available (fair-code)
Official site: n8n · no affiliate ID · not a partner mark
n8nCloud
n8n Cloud
368/500
Vendor-hosted n8n. Same editor family as self-host, without you owning the runtime.
- Hosting
- Vendor cloud (EU Frankfurt noted below)
- Pricing
- Cloud subscription, execution-based
- Source
- Source-available engine, hosted by n8n
Official site: n8n · no affiliate ID · not a partner mark
ZapierCloud
Zapier
353/500
Largest no-code automation marketplace. Task-based pricing; very wide app coverage.
- Hosting
- Vendor cloud
- Pricing
- Tasks / month, tiered
- Source
- Closed source
Official site: Zapier · no affiliate ID · not a partner mark
MakeCloud
Make
410/500
Cloud visual builder, formerly Integromat. Strong scenario UI; operations-based pricing.
- Hosting
- Vendor cloud
- Pricing
- Operations / month, tiered (pricing page, make.com/en/pricing, 2026-09-07)
- Source
- Closed source
Try Make Affiliate. We may earn a commission. Affiliate disclosure
We may earn a commission on Make links. Rankings are not sold. Affiliate disclosure · Disclosures · [email protected]
Affiliate disclosure
Product links on this page: Make is a live partner signup (pc=stackscorecard) and is marked affiliate. n8n and Zapier stay official-site URLs with UTM only — no invented IDs. We may earn a commission on Make. Rankings are not sold. Wordmarks are not partnership marks. Policy: Affiliate disclosure · Disclosures. Contact [email protected]. Commissions do not move a score, a weight, or Make’s pricing cell.