Choosing Between Make and n8n Automation

Mar 4, 2025

Automation Platform Selection: Make vs. n8n

Introduction

  • Objective: Help users choose the right automation platform between Make and n8n to avoid wasting time.
  • Presenter's Experience: Successful use of AI automation generating over $100,000 per month.
  • Audience: Beginners to intermediates in automation, business owners seeking the right solution.
  • Agenda:
    • Pricing and features
    • User interface and experience
    • Technical differences and similarities
    • AI adoption and feature support
    • Importance of platform choice

Pricing and Features

  • Make: Offers free, core, pro, teams, and enterprise plans.
  • n8n: Offers similar tiered pricing and selects operations per month.
  • Difference:
    • Make charges per operation (each node).
    • n8n charges per workflow execution.
  • Workflow Limitations:
    • n8n: Limited to 5 active workflows on starter plan.
    • Make: Unlimited active scenarios on paid plans.
  • Data Limits:
    • Make has strict data transfer limits based on tiers.
    • n8n does not track data transfer.

User Interface and Experience

  • Similarity: Both platforms have similar navigation with differences in naming (workflows vs. scenarios).
  • Make: Color-coded modules, auto-align feature for neatness.
  • n8n: More technical feel, less polished but highly functional.

Technical Differences

  • Step-by-step Debugging: Easier in n8n, allows running single modules without re-running entire workflow.
  • Coding Flexibility:
    • Make provides built-in functions for operations.
    • n8n uses JavaScript code, offering greater flexibility.
  • Advanced Control:
    • n8n allows multiple triggers and paths, merging inputs.
    • Make has simpler, more straightforward operations.

AI Adoption

  • Make: Working on AI features, trying to integrate more.
  • n8n: Faster adoption of AI, with advanced tools and AI agents.

Importance of Platform Choice

  • Investment: Automation should save time and money; wrong choice leads to costly re-implementation.
  • Long-term Success: Choose the platform that aligns with strategic goals and team capabilities.

Recommendations

  • Make: Ideal for those seeking simplicity, especially for non-technical teams.
  • n8n: Suitable for technically advanced teams or businesses planning to deeply integrate AI automation.

Conclusion

  • Community and Learning: Engage with communities and resources available for each platform to maximize success.
  • Final Thoughts: Choose wisely based on long-term goals and team capabilities to ensure automation benefits.

These notes provide a comprehensive overview of the key points discussed in the lecture, supporting your study and decision-making in selecting between Make and n8n for automation needs.