“Someone told me about Zapier, and about Make too, and you work with n8n: what is the difference?” This question comes up often, and it deserves better than “mine is the best”. The three tools serve the same purpose: connecting your software so it passes information along without you. But they do not do it under the same conditions, and depending on whether you are starting out on your own or having a lasting system installed, the right choice is not the same. If the idea of automation is new to you, I described it simply in automation explained without the jargon; here, we compare the tools.
What each tool does
Zapier
Zapier is the oldest and the best known. Its strength is simplicity: you link two applications in a few clicks, with nothing to install, from a huge catalogue of ready-made connections. For someone working alone who wants to connect two consumer tools without help, it is often the gentlest way in. Its logic stays fairly linear: one trigger, a series of actions.
Make
Make (formerly Integromat) sits in the middle. It offers a visual editor where you draw the sequences, it handles branches and conditions more easily than Zapier, and it generally costs less at the same volume. It is a good compromise for anyone who wants a bit more power without running a server, while staying on a turnkey platform.
n8n
n8n is an automation tool you can host yourself. In practice, instead of renting a remote service, you install it on a server you control. It offers very rich logic, connections to most tools, and the option to go a long way with custom builds. It is the block we build on, and I will explain why.
The differences that really count
Price and billing model
This is where the gaps widen. Zapier bills per task executed: every action counts, and the bill climbs fast as volume rises. Make is more generous on this point but follows the same volume-linked subscription logic. Self-hosted n8n changes the model: you pay for the hosting, not for each task. Once the server is in place, multiplying executions does not blow up the bill. For a small business automating several high-volume chains, the difference over a year is far from trivial, and it is a point I set out in detail in how much an automation costs.
Hosting and the GDPR
Zapier and Make are platforms operated outside the European Union. Data passing through them can leave the EU, which raises concrete compliance questions as soon as you handle customer or sensitive information. Self-hosted n8n lets you keep the data on a server located in France or in the EU, under your control. For a professional practice or a company that cares about data protection, this is not a technical detail but a real criterion, one I cover in full in automation and GDPR.
The learning curve
Let us be honest: Zapier is the simplest to start with on your own, Make takes a little more learning, and self-hosted n8n means running a server, so technical skill. That is exactly where a workshop has its role: you get the power and the sovereignty of n8n without having to become a system administrator. We install, we maintain, you use.
Why we favour self-hosted n8n
Our preference is not a matter of fashion. It comes down to two things that matter to our clients: control of the data and no cost per task. Hosting n8n in France means keeping control of what moves around and staying naturally aligned with the GDPR. Not paying per task means being able to grow a small business's automations without fearing a bill that runs away. On top of that comes the freedom of custom builds: because we master the tool end to end, we build from your software and your habits, without hitting the limits of a closed platform. That is the whole spirit of our approach to custom builds and our services.
That does not make n8n a magic solution for everyone. It needs hosting and upkeep, which only makes sense if someone takes that on seriously. It is a long-term investment choice, not a gadget you switch on in five minutes.
Who each tool suits
Rather than crown a universal winner, here is how I see it honestly.
- Zapier suits one person on their own who wants to connect two consumer tools, quickly, without help and without high volume. It is an excellent option for putting together a first automation and seeing the point of it.
- Make suits anyone who wants a bit more power and branching sequences, while staying on a turnkey platform with no server to manage.
- Self-hosted n8n suits a small business or a practice that automates several lasting chains, wants to keep its data in France and wants to avoid a cost per task. That is the ground where a workshop brings the most.
If you are looking for a Zapier alternative because the bill is climbing or because the data question bothers you, n8n is the most solid answer, provided you have support for the installation and the upkeep.
How to decide for your own case
The right tool depends on your volume, the sensitivity of your data and who will maintain the whole thing. That is exactly what we look at together during the audit: your real tasks, your constraints, and the solution that fits, even if sometimes the honest answer is “for what you need today, a simple platform is enough”. The discovery coffee is free: forty-five minutes, in Lyon or by video call, to choose the tool on facts rather than on a fashionable name. You can also browse our automation approach before you come, to see how we work.