When choosing between automation platforms like Make and n8n, most businesses start with one question: Which one costs less?
After helping a client evaluate both platforms for 5M+ yearly executions, we realized the real Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) goes far beyond monthly subscription fees. To make this decision easier for others, we compiled everything: cost breakdowns, feature comparisons, ROI scenarios etc. into a comprehensive downloadable PDF.
This insight could shift your perspective on how to evaluate the real value of automation tools.
Here’s a quick summary of what you’ll find inside:
📄 Download the full report here
Make vs n8n: The Real Total Cost of Ownership Debate
Self-hosting n8n looks appealing at first, “free” software always does. But real-world use brings hidden costs: setting up and securing servers, hiring or dedicating DevOps resources, managing custom updates, and building missing integrations. Each adds friction and cost. For many businesses, that “free” platform quickly turns into an expensive infrastructure project.
With Make, things are a bit different. The setup is quick, done in under two hours. There is no need for ongoing maintenance or DevOps support. Everything just works. We have over 2,400 ready-made integrations at our fingertips, and the entire platform is intuitive enough for non-technical team members to build automations on their own. Security, compliance, and scalability? Already taken care of.
To help you get a clearer picture, we’ve extracted a portion of the key technical and operational differences between Make.com and n8n (self-hosted).
🔧 Feature Comparison Table
We’ve presented all the real numbers, from infrastructure costs to productivity gains, in the detailed document you can download here.
Case Snapshot: A Real Client Scenario
This client needed scalability, reliability, and ease-of-use. n8n’s initial setup looked doable, until they considered the DevOps hours required to maintain it, the risks of downtime, and the delay in launching new automations. They chose Make, and the numbers backed them up:
- Setup completed in under 2 hours
- No ongoing maintenance or DevOps support needed
- Over €28,000 saved per year
- Automations deployed 3× faster
Curious About the Full Report?
We’ve compiled all our findings: cost breakdowns, feature gaps, and detailed scenarios, including also our personal recommendation, in a downloadable PDF designed to help you make a smart automation investment.
