Zapier vs Make vs n8n: Automation Tool Picker
Answer 6 questions about your team and workflows to see which automation platform fits best, or whether custom code makes more sense. The ranking updates as you answer.
Quick comparison
| Zapier | Make | n8n | Custom code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Fast, simple app-to-app automations | Visual, multi-step scenarios with branching | Technical teams, AI agents, self-hosting | Unique logic, scale, full control |
| Learning curve | Lowest | Moderate | Higher | Developers needed |
| Hosting | Cloud | Cloud | Cloud or self-hosted | Your servers or cloud |
| Cost at high volume | Rises fastest | Usually lower per step | Low when self-hosted | Build cost up front, low per run |
General guidance only. Pricing, limits and app coverage change often: check each vendor's current plans before deciding.
How it works
Each answer gives Zapier, Make, n8n and custom code between 0 and 3 points, depending on how well each one suits that answer. A tool's percentage is its share of the points available for the questions you have answered, so a ranking appears after your first answer and settles as you finish.
For a longer comparison with pricing models and worked examples, read Zapier vs Make vs n8n, or our guide to low-code workflow automation tools.
Limitations
- The scoring is a simplified guide, not a technical evaluation of your workflows.
- Pricing, limits and app coverage change often. Check each vendor's current plans before deciding.
- It does not know which apps you use. Check that yours have connectors on the platform you pick.
- Many businesses end up combining two tools, so a single winner is a simplification.
Also on Hugging Face
This tool is also published as a Hugging Face Space, 313Automations/automation-tool-picker. It is the same tool; this page is its home.