How does n8n compare with the alternatives?
Pick n8n when technical teams want code and hosting control, and Zapier when business teams build on their own. Zapier counts a task for each successful action and runs only as a hosted service. n8n counts one execution per workflow run and can run on your own servers.
Pick n8n for long workflows or your own infrastructure, and Make for a hosted builder. Make charges a credit for each module operation, so a long scenario costs more per run, and n8n charges one execution per run regardless of steps. Make is hosted only, with an on-premise agent on Enterprise to reach local systems.
Microsoft 365 organizations should use the cloud flows with standard connectors their work accounts already include, and add n8n when work must run on their own servers. Power Automate beyond those flows is licensed per user or per flow. n8n runs on n8n Cloud or your own servers and bills per execution, plus the work of hosting it.
