n8n vs Zapier vs Make: The Real Cost Math for Small Businesses

Choosing between n8n, Zapier, and Make for workflow automation can be tricky due to differing pricing structures. The key difference lies in how each platform bills: Zapier charges per step, Make charges per module, and n8n charges per workflow run. This distinction means that the same automation can cost significantly more on Zapier versus n8n as volume and complexity increase.

For small businesses in the USA, the crucial question is not "which tool offers the most features?" but "what will this cost at our actual usage level?". This guide breaks down the costs for three common scenarios: micro, growing, and busy workloads, showing the estimated monthly costs for entry-level paid plans in September 2026. Make tends to be the cheapest cloud option, while n8n becomes more economical as volume grows. Zapier, on the other hand, becomes the most expensive as workflows get longer or more frequent.

Hidden costs can also significantly impact your automation budget. Polling triggers that check for new data on a schedule can quickly consume your quota. For instance, a trigger that checks every 15 minutes runs about 2,880 times a month, consuming most of n8n's Starter allowance. Webhooks, which provide instant triggers, help avoid this issue.

Additionally, retries and failed runs consume credits and failed runs on Make, while n8n Cloud Starter and Pro pause workflows at the limit instead of charging. Understanding these nuances is vital to avoid unexpected expenses.