n8n vs Make: Real Automation Cost in 2026
n8n and Make look similar until you model the billing unit. n8n charges around workflow executions, while Make charges credits for module actions. That difference matters more than the headline plan price once a workflow grows beyond a few steps.
Open this calculator preset ->Two billing models, one important distinction
n8n prices hosted plans around workflow executions, regardless of how many steps a workflow contains. Make uses credits: most module actions consume one credit, while some AI or advanced actions can consume more. These are structural differences, not a universal claim that one platform is always cheaper.
For a simple automation, Make's displayed Core price of $12 per month for 10,000 credits can be attractive. n8n's Starter plan is displayed at €20 per month when billed annually for 2,500 executions. Confirm the billing toggle and currency on each official pricing page before purchasing.
Why workflow complexity changes the answer
A six-step workflow run is one n8n execution but commonly several Make credits. At 200 runs per month, that distinction may not matter. At 5,000 runs with eight actions each, the Make model reaches roughly 40,000 credits before any AI-specific usage, while n8n counts roughly 5,000 executions.
This is a calculated comparison using stated assumptions, not a vendor invoice. Filters, routers, error handlers, AI connections and data volume can change the real Make total. Use your account usage history for a purchase decision.
Growth and self-hosting costs
n8n's current pricing page lists Business at €667 per month billed annually and describes it as self-hosted. Its public page also lists a 40,000-execution allowance and a €4,000 extra bucket of 300,000 executions. Treat enterprise or overage decisions as sales/account-pricing questions rather than extrapolating a small monthly bill.
Self-hosted n8n software is not the same as a zero-cost production system. Server capacity, database, backups, monitoring, updates and administration remain separate costs. Make also offers higher credit quantities and extra-credit purchasing, but the exact account price should be confirmed in the live billing flow.
Which platform fits the workflow?
Make is a sensible starting point for simple visual automations where a low entry price and its app catalogue matter. n8n is worth testing when workflow runs are frequent, workflows are multi-step, or self-hosting and control are important. Neither conclusion is a guaranteed ROI claim.
Before choosing, count real runs, actions per run, AI calls, retries and the time required to maintain the system. Keep platform price, provider API spend and engineering time in separate rows.
A worked monthly budget
These figures use the calculator's recorded pricing snapshot and the assumptions below. They are historical examples, not a live quote. No existing credit or subscription is assumed. The target budget is $50.00.
- Monthly outputs
- 30
- Seconds per output
- 15
- AI video share
- 25%
- Images per output
- 2
- Attempt factor
- 1.25x
- Narration
- Included
| Tool | Planned demand | Usage + new plan fee |
|---|---|---|
| MiniMax H3 Max480p · Runway API | 300 seconds | $15.00 |
| Gen-4 Image720p · Runway API | 90 images | $4.50 |
| ElevenLabs FreeMultilingual v2 · direct subscription | 8,460 characters | $0.00 |
Metered usage: $19.50. Additional payment: $19.50. The payment includes new subscription fees and minimum API purchases. It may exceed metered usage. The original brief fits the target budget.
Runway API: $19.50 to pay; $0.00 API credit remaining after this project.
ElevenLabs: $0.00 to pay; $0.00 API credit remaining after this project.
Tax, labor, stock assets and distribution are excluded. The free voice option, where shown, is noncommercial. No commercial or privacy requirement is assumed in these examples. The influencer preset additionally requires supported character consistency. See the full calculation rules.
Calculate your own budget ->Common questions
Is n8n always cheaper than Make?
No. Make can be cheaper for simple, low-volume workflows. n8n often becomes more attractive when many actions occur inside each run, but your actual usage and plan determine the result.
Does Make publish exact high-volume overage prices?
The public pricing page describes higher credit quantities and extra-credit options, but the exact price depends on the subscription and should be confirmed in the account or with sales.
Is n8n Business a hosted cloud plan?
The current n8n pricing page presents Business as self-hosted. Check the current official page before relying on older descriptions of cloud availability.
Sources and corrections
Provider prices are linked in the example table. Runway's setup guide documents the initial credit purchase minimum. Runway's reference guide explains character image consistency. Workload choices and comparisons are our own model assumptions. Report a correction with the official source and affected scenario.