n8n vs Zapier vs Make vs W flow: which automation tool fits you?
An honest comparison of the popular workflow automation tools — hosting, pricing model, AI features, integrations and who each one is best for.
Zapier, Make and n8n are the best-known tools for connecting apps and automating work. W flow is a newer alternative. They overlap a lot, but differ in where they run, how you pay and how much control you get. Here is an honest overview.
At a glance
| Zapier | Make | n8n | W flow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Cloud only | Cloud only | Cloud or self-hosted | Cloud or self-hosted |
| Editor style | Step list | Visual canvas | Visual canvas | Visual canvas |
| Integrations | Largest catalogue (thousands of apps) | Very large | Large, plus community nodes | 400+ node types, plus generic HTTP |
| Pricing model | Per task | Per operation | Per execution (cloud); self-hosting under its own license | Free plan with limits; Pro for unlimited use and self-hosting |
| AI | AI steps and agents | AI modules | AI agent nodes (LangChain-based) | AI agents, chat, extraction, embeddings — with your own model and key |
| Code when you need it | Limited | Limited | JavaScript / Python | JavaScript node |
Features and prices change often — check each vendor's website for the current details.
Zapier — easiest start, biggest catalogue
Zapier connects more apps than anyone else and is the easiest to learn: pick a trigger, add steps, done. The trade-offs are cost at higher volumes (every step of every run counts as a task), linear flows that get awkward with lots of branching, and no way to run it on your own server.
Best for: non-technical teams who need a niche app connected quickly.
Make — visual and powerful
Make (formerly Integromat) shows scenarios on a visual canvas with routers, iterators and detailed data mapping. It is usually cheaper than Zapier for complex flows, but also cloud only, and its operation-based pricing takes some getting used to.
Best for: people who like visual building and complex data handling, and are happy in the cloud.
n8n — developer-friendly and self-hostable
n8n is a node-based editor you can run on your own server. It is popular with developers: code nodes, strong AI-agent features and full control over data. Self-hosting means you run updates, backups and security yourself; its license is “fair-code” rather than classic open source.
Best for: technical teams who want full control and do not mind operating it.
W flow — cloud or your own server, with your own AI
W flow is a visual workflow and AI agent builder you can use as a hosted workspace or run on your own machine. What sets it apart:
- Bring your own model — OpenAI-compatible, Anthropic, Gemini, local or custom endpoints; no AI markup.
- One-click Google and Microsoft sign-in on the nodes instead of pasting passwords or tokens.
- Inspectable runs — input, output, duration and a classified error code for every node.
- Encrypted credentials in your own database (SQLite or PostgreSQL) when self-hosted.
W flow is in open beta: its catalogue is smaller than Zapier's and some triggers still run with sample data. The generic HTTP Request node covers most APIs that have no dedicated node yet.
Best for: individuals and small teams who want a visual builder with strong AI features, and the option to move to their own server later.
How to decide
- Need a rare app connected in five minutes? → Zapier.
- Complex data transformations, happy with cloud? → Make.
- Developer team, want to self-host and extend with code? → n8n.
- Visual builder + your own AI models, cloud now and self-hosted later? → W flow.
Try it yourself
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