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Documented comparison · Checked 2026-11-12

n8n vs Make: per-execution billing and self-hosting or module credits

n8nMake

The short answer

Choose n8n if billing per workflow execution suits workflows with many steps, or if you can run and maintain a server for the self-hosted Community Edition. Choose Make if you prefer a visual canvas with credits counted per module action and a free plan of 1,000 credits a month. Map one real workflow on both before judging cost.

Based on official documentation. This article does not report a new hands-on performance test.

Documented capabilities and constraints
Decision pointn8nMake
Start with
  • app events
  • webhooks
  • connected app data
  • app triggers
  • webhooks
  • records
Work towards
  • workflow actions
  • transformed data
  • agent steps
  • automated app actions
  • transformed data
Check first
  • Starter allows 1 shared project and 5 concurrent executions
  • Self-hosting means running and maintaining your own server
  • Scenarios pause when credits run out
  • Some AI actions use more than 1 credit
Pricing and accessFree self-hosted Community Edition. Hosted Starter is €20 per month billed annually (€240 upfront) with 2,500 executions; a separate hosted free trial needs no card.Free plan with 1,000 credits a month. Paid pricing not verified; check the current plan.

Hosted n8n versus self-hosting

n8n Cloud is a hosted service, so it needs no server work from you. Separately, n8n offers a free self-hosted Community Edition, but running it means hosting and maintaining your own server; it is not a free cloud plan. A hosted free trial is available without a card. n8n also provides agents, MCP and AI nodes. Self-hosting options for Make were not covered in the reviewed evidence, so this is not a claim that Make lacks them.

Executions versus credits

n8n bills hosted plans by execution, not per step, and Starter allows unlimited steps, 2,500 executions, one shared project and five concurrent executions. Make counts credits, usually one per module action, with some AI actions using more, while routers and error handlers use no credits. Make scenarios pause when credits run out. As advice, count the steps in a typical run: the more steps, the more the two billing models diverge.

Plan prices

n8n Starter is €20 per month billed annually, which means €240 paid upfront rather than monthly payments. Make's free plan includes 1,000 credits a month, but its paid price was not verified, so no total-cost winner can be named. Paid n8n plans differ in roles, projects and concurrency.

Which starting point fits your work?

n8n

Your workflows have many steps and execution-based billing fits, or your team is ready to maintain a self-hosted server.

Make

You want to start free with 1,000 monthly credits on a visual canvas and can estimate usage per module action.

Scope and limits

  • Based on official documentation checked 12 November 2026; no new hands-on comparison was run for this article.
  • Make's paid pricing was not verified.
  • Server and maintenance costs for self-hosting n8n were not estimated.
  • Only the annual billing price for n8n Starter was checked; monthly billing terms were not confirmed.

Sources

Gen AI Tools editorial · How we research · No paid placement in this comparison.