Let’s be real here: n8n takes the W for enterprises, AI agent builders, and anyone who needs true
data sovereignty. Make.com clutches up for marketing teams and small businesses who want a polished drag-and-drop
experience without touching code. Dead serious—if you’re scaling AI workflows in 2025, n8n is built different. But
if your automations are straightforward Slack-to-Salesforce pipes? Make still goes hard. (Comparing against n8n vs Zapier? That’s a different battle entirely.)
I’ve been deep in both platforms for the past 6 months, building everything from simple notification bots to complex
RAG pipelines with LangChain. Here’s what the marketing pages won’t tell you—and why the right choice could save
your organization over $80,000 a year.
About Quang Minh: Senior Tech Reporter at minhdigital.com. 10+ years building custom automation
systems and testing enterprise software. Former competitive gamer who treats every platform comparison like a
ranked match. Has strong opinions backed by real testing data.
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
What’s New in 2025: Major Platform Updates
Both platforms came to play in 2025 with significant AI-focused updates. Here’s the thing—n8n went
all-in on AI infrastructure while Make doubled down on accessibility. The divergence is real.
n8n 2025: The AI Infrastructure Push
n8n’s v1.113.3 update dropped with 70+ AI nodes covering LLMs, embeddings, vector databases,
speech-to-text, OCR, and image generation. This isn’t just adding ChatGPT—it’s building the entire AI orchestration
stack. You can now create multi-step reasoning chains and RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) lookups natively.
Plus, the $2.5 billion Series C valuation signals serious enterprise backing.
Make.com 2025: The Intelligent Automation Push
Make responded with AI Agents—context-aware automation that dynamically adjusts steps based on
workflow goals. They also launched Make Grid for enterprise scaling and AI Content
Extractor for handling unstructured data like PDFs, images, and voice notes. The integration count
jumped to 2,400+ apps with over 9,000 pre-built scenario templates. Solid moves for the citizen
developer crowd.
- n8n v1.113.3 (2025 Update)
- Major release introducing 70+ AI nodes including LLM connectors (OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama), vector database
integrations (Pinecone, Weaviate, Qdrant), OCR nodes, image generation, and speech-to-text capabilities. Enables
visual construction of complex AI agent chains with multi-step reasoning and tool calling without code.
Quick Verdict: Which Platform Wins Overall?
n8n wins for technical teams, AI builders, and high-volume workloads—no contest. Make.com takes the
crown for business operations teams who need accessibility over raw power. If you’re processing over 50,000
automations monthly or building AI agents with LangChain, n8n is the MVP. For simple SaaS integrations without
developers, Make.com is actually valid.
| Category | n8n | Make.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI/LangChain Integration | Native support, Memory nodes | Basic modules only | n8n |
| Self-Hosting/Data Sovereignty | Full Docker/K8s support | Cloud-only | n8n |
| High-Volume Cost | Flat per-execution | Variable credits | n8n |
| Learning Curve | Steeper (developer-focused) | Gentle (drag-and-drop) | Make.com |
| Visual Interface | Technical, node-graph | Polished, animated | Make.com |
| Native Integrations | ~500 + community nodes | 2,400+ | Make.com |
| HIPAA Compliance | Via self-hosting | Limited/No BAA | n8n |
Pricing Battle: Make’s Credit System vs n8n’s Flat Rate
n8n absolutely demolishes Make.com on pricing at scale. Here’s the thing though—Make introduced a
controversial “Credits” system in August 2025 that changed everything. A single AI operation can now burn 10-100
credits depending on compute time. That’s tough for anyone trying to predict monthly costs.
With n8n’s execution-based model, you pay per workflow run regardless of complexity. A workflow with 5 steps costs
the same as one with 500 steps. This incentivizes building robust, well-documented automations instead of “code
golfing” your scenarios to save ops.
- Credit-Based Pricing (Make.com)
- A billing model where each action consumes varying “credits” based on compute intensity. Standard actions use 1
credit, but AI generation, heavy data transformations, and file manipulation can consume 10-100+ credits per
operation. Introduced in August 2025, replacing the simpler 1:1 “Operations” model. Creates cost
unpredictability for AI-heavy workflows.
Real Cost Comparison (2025)
| Scenario | Make.com (Credits) | n8n Cloud | n8n Self-Hosted | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple notifications (5 steps, 1k runs/mo) | ~$9 | ~$20 | Free + $5 infra | Make.com |
| E-commerce sync (20 steps, 50k runs/mo) | ~$300+ | ~$120 | Free + $40 infra | n8n |
| AI content agent (complex, 10k runs/mo) | $500-$1,000+ | ~$200 | ~$50 + LLM costs | n8n |
| High-volume ETL (1M runs/mo) | $3,000+ (Enterprise) | $700+ | ~$150 | n8n |
NGL, Make is cheaper only at the very bottom of the market. Once automation becomes a core business process, n8n’s
flat-rate model provides massive ROI. Users migrating from Make to n8n have reported annual savings exceeding
$80,000 for high-volume workloads. That’s not a typo.
AI Agents and LangChain: n8n is Built Different
n8n destroys Make.com in AI agent capabilities. This isn’t even close. While Make treats AI as just
another module you drag in (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.), n8n has fundamentally re-engineered its platform around
LangChain—the leading framework for building LLM applications. Want to learn how? Check out our guide on building AI agents with n8n.
Here’s where it gets real: n8n includes native AI nodes for Agents, Chains, Memory, Vector Stores, and Tools. You can
build full RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) pipelines visually.
Make? You’d need
hacky workarounds with external
databases to manage chat history. That’s absolutely cooked for anyone serious about AI.
- Agentic AI Orchestration
- A paradigm where AI agents can autonomously decide to trigger other workflows, wait for results, and continue
processing. Unlike linear automation (if X then Y), agentic systems make real-time decisions about which tools
to use. n8n’s “Tool Calling” feature allows AI agents to invoke other n8n workflows as tools—a capability
Make.com lacks at the architectural level.
AI Feature Showdown
| AI Feature | n8n | Make.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| LangChain Integration | Native, first-class support | Not supported | n8n |
| Memory Management | Window Buffer, Summary nodes | Manual implementation | n8n |
| Vector Store Support | Built-in nodes | Requires HTTP workarounds | n8n |
| Tool Calling | Agents can call other workflows | Linear only | n8n |
| Basic LLM Calls | Supported | Supported | Tie |
This focus on being the orchestration layer for enterprise AI was a primary driver for n8n’s Series C funding at a $2.5 billion valuation in late 2025. Investors see it as the
“operating system” for internal AI agents. That’s a massive W.
Self-Hosting and Data Sovereignty: n8n Wins By Default
If you need data to stay in your VPC, n8n is the only option. Make.com operates exclusively as a
managed cloud service on AWS (US and EU regions only). There’s no self-hosting capability—period.
n8n can be deployed via Docker, Kubernetes, or npm on literally any infrastructure: AWS, Azure, DigitalOcean,
on-premise servers, you name it. For healthcare, banking, and government agencies, this isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s
the whole ballgame.
Hosting Options Compared
| Hosting Capability | n8n | Make.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud Hosting | n8n Cloud (managed) | AWS US/EU only | Tie |
| Self-Hosting | Docker, K8s, npm | Not available | n8n |
| On-Premise Deployment | Full support | Not available | n8n |
| Data Residency (Canada, Australia, Asia) | Yes (self-host anywhere) | No | n8n |
| Source Code Access | Fair-code license | Proprietary | n8n |
Look, if your data absolutely cannot leave your controlled environment—whether for GDPR, HIPAA, or internal
policy—Make.com isn’t in the conversation. n8n’s “fair-code” model means teams can even audit the source code or
patch issues themselves. Need help getting started? See our complete guide to
self-hosting n8n. Respect.
HIPAA and Enterprise Compliance: n8n Takes the Crown
n8n wins compliance through architecture, not just certifications. Here’s the thing: Make.com
maintains SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications, which covers standard business security. But HIPAA? As of late
2025, Make.com generally does not sign Business Associate Agreements (BAA) for standard or Pro plans. That’s an L
for US healthcare providers handling PHI. For a deeper dive, check out our HIPAA-compliant automation tools guide.
n8n’s approach is fundamentally different. Because you can self-host inside your own HIPAA-compliant VPC (like AWS
Healthcare Stack), the platform inherits your infrastructure’s compliance. Data never leaves your control. This
makes n8n the preferred choice for hospitals, fintech, and government agencies.
| Compliance Feature | n8n | Make.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 2 Type II | Via Enterprise | Yes | Tie |
| ISO 27001 | Via Enterprise | Yes | Tie |
| HIPAA/BAA | Yes (self-hosted) | Limited/No | n8n |
| GDPR | Yes (full control) | Yes | n8n |
| Role-Based Access Control | Granular (Enterprise) | Basic | n8n |
| SSO (SAML, OIDC) | Yes | Enterprise only | n8n |
| Audit Logs | Comprehensive | Available | n8n |
User Experience: Make.com is the Designer’s Choice
Make.com wins the UX battle for non-technical users. I’ll give credit where it’s due: Make’s
interface is beautiful. When a scenario runs, you see animated data packets moving between modules. It’s genuinely
fun. The drag-and-drop experience abstracts away API complexity with “purple pills” representing data fields.
But here’s where it gets real—that abstraction layer becomes an obstruction layer for power users. The inability to
easily copy-paste transformation logic, directly manipulate raw JSON, or see the actual data structures slows down
developers significantly.
n8n’s interface is more utilitarian, like a shader graph or industrial control system. It assumes you know what JSON
is. But once you’re over the learning curve, you rarely want to go back. Users describe it as a “visual IDE for
backend logic” with virtually unlimited customization ceiling.
- Visual Spaghetti
- A common criticism of Make.com scenarios at scale. When complex logic requires multiple Router modules with 20+
filters, the visual representation becomes physically large and unmanageable on screen, requiring extensive
scrolling and zooming. This is less problematic in n8n’s flatter, more structured node-graph topology.
Integration Ecosystem: Make.com Still Leads on Quantity
Make.com’s 2,400+ native integrations beat n8n’s ~500. This is Make’s strongest card. Every
integration is polished with dedicated fields for almost every API endpoint—from major ERPs to obscure accounting
software.
But wait—n8n’s community node ecosystem changes the game. Users can build and publish custom nodes
(JavaScript/TypeScript) to the registry. Less polished? Sure. But this allows rapid support for niche tools. Plus,
n8n’s HTTP Request node is arguably best-in-class: advanced auth flows, automatic pagination, and direct header
manipulation without extra parsing steps.
| Integration Aspect | n8n | Make.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native Integrations | ~500 | 2,400+ | Make.com |
| Community Extensions | Strong, growing rapidly | Limited | n8n |
| HTTP Request Quality | Best-in-class | Good | n8n |
| Custom Node Development | Full JS/TS support | Limited | n8n |
Scalability and Performance: n8n Dominates at Volume
n8n’s Queue Mode with Redis enables true horizontal scaling. Make operates on a standard
multi-tenant queue—if your scenario triggers thousands of times per minute, you’ll get throttled. Priority
execution? Only on higher tiers.
With n8n self-hosted in Queue Mode, webhook listeners pile jobs into Redis while worker nodes process them as fast as
possible. Need more throughput? Just add more Docker containers. That’s horizontal scaling that Make simply can’t
match.
For high-frequency event processing—real-time inventory updates, live data pipelines, webhook-heavy architectures—n8n
is the only viable choice. No shot Make handles enterprise-scale event volumes without significant throttling.
Who Should Choose Make.com?
Make.com is the right pick for marketing teams, SMBs, and solopreneurs who value polish over power.
- Non-technical teams (marketing, HR, sales ops)
- Simple SaaS-to-SaaS workflows (Slack, Gmail, Airtable, Salesforce)
- Organizations okay with US/EU cloud hosting
- Low-volume use cases under 50k operations monthly
- Teams without DevOps resources for self-hosting
- Users who prioritize visual appeal and “fun” interface
Who Should Choose n8n?
n8n is the clear winner for CTOs, engineering teams, and enterprise architects building the future.
- Technical teams comfortable with JSON and JavaScript
- High-volume workloads (50k+ executions monthly)
- AI agent builders needing LangChain, memory, and vector stores
- Regulated industries (healthcare, finance, government) requiring HIPAA/self-hosting
- Organizations with strict data sovereignty requirements
- Teams wanting Git integration and CI/CD for workflows
- Companies that want to own their automation infrastructure
The Hybrid Strategy: Best of Both Worlds
Here’s a W move many enterprises are running in 2025: use both platforms strategically.
- Marketing/HR/Sales Ops: Make.com for internal, low-risk automations (new hire notifications,
lead routing) - Engineering/Product: n8n for mission-critical, high-volume, or customer-facing integrations
This balances “citizen developer” empowerment with “enterprise grade” reliability. Valid strategy for organizations
with diverse automation needs.
Final Verdict: n8n Wins for 2025 and Beyond
n8n takes the overall W for organizations serious about automation in 2025. The gap between “Visual
Automation” (Make) and “Orchestration Engineering” (n8n) is widening. With its $2.5 billion Series C valuation,
native AI/LangChain support, and true data sovereignty through self-hosting, n8n is positioned as the automation
platform for the AI era. See where both rank in our best AI automation
tools roundup.
Make.com isn’t out of the game—it absolutely clutches up for accessibility and citizen developers. But for anyone
building AI agents, processing high volumes, or operating in regulated industries, n8n is simply built different. No
shot I’d recommend Make for enterprise-scale AI workflows when n8n exists.
The automation landscape has shifted from “simple glue between SaaS apps” to “AI agent orchestration and enterprise
sovereignty.” n8n understood the assignment. Respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is n8n really free?
n8n’s Community Edition is free for self-hosting, but lacks Enterprise features like SSO and advanced IAM. The cloud
version and Business self-hosted plans have execution caps and monthly fees. For hobbyists and small teams, the free
tier is actually valid.
Can Make.com handle AI workflows?
Make has OpenAI and Anthropic modules for basic LLM calls. But for stateful AI agents with memory, reasoning loops,
or tool calling? Make struggles with the linear topology. n8n’s native LangChain support makes it the clear winner
for AI.
Which platform is easier to learn?
Make.com has a gentler learning curve—the animated interface and visual abstraction helps non-technical users. n8n
has a steeper initial cliff but a much higher ceiling. If you know JSON, n8n is more intuitive long-term.
Is Make.com HIPAA compliant?
Make.com generally does not sign Business Associate Agreements for standard plans. For healthcare use cases, n8n’s
self-hosted option (inside your HIPAA-compliant VPC) is the safer bet.
How much does n8n save compared to Make?
For high-volume workloads, users report annual savings exceeding $80,000 after migrating from Make to n8n. The
execution-based pricing vs. Make’s variable credit system creates significant TCO advantages at scale.
