n8n is an open-source, self-hosted automation platform that gives you full control of your workflows and data; Make is a proprietary SaaS with a generous free tier and sophisticated visual workflow builder; Zapier is the most user-friendly integration-first platform with the broadest app coverage but at premium pricing. Each solves a different tension: n8n prioritizes control and extensibility, Make balances cost with capability, and Zapier trades cost for simplicity and breadth.
Choose n8n if your team includes developers, needs custom integrations, or runs in regulated industries requiring data sovereignty. Pick Make if you're a power user or agency building complex automation and want to minimize tooling costs. Use Zapier if you're non-technical, need integration with uncommon legacy systems, or your workflows are straightforward and you value setup speed over customization.
In practice, n8n and Make serve different markets rather than compete directly. Most organizations pick one and live with it: n8n for engineering teams and startups, Zapier for departments and SMBs, Make for cost-conscious agencies. Trying to use multiple platforms adds operational complexity that rarely pays off. Pick the one that matches your team's technical depth and lock-in tolerance, not the one with the longest feature list.