Automation cost calculator: Zapier vs Make vs n8n
By the serverserv team · 4 min read · Updated
Zapier charges per task, Make per credit and n8n Cloud per execution, so the same automation can cost very different amounts. Enter how often your workflows run and how many steps they have, and the calculator shows the units each tool would bill, the plan you would need and the monthly price.
The calculator
How many times your automations run in total.
Steps after the trigger: create a row, send an email, call AI...
How each tool counts usage
- Zapier: one task for each action step that completes. The trigger, filters, formatters and delays are free. Plans step up through task tiers.
- Make: one credit for most modules each time they run, including the trigger check, so a run uses steps plus one. Routers and error handlers are free.
- n8n Cloud: one execution per full workflow run, however many steps it has.
- Self-hosted n8n: no per-run charge. You pay a flat price for the server.
The calculator assumes each item is processed once per run. Workflows that loop over many items, such as rows in a spreadsheet, use more Zapier tasks and Make credits than shown, because each item counts at each step. n8n still counts one execution per run.
Three common examples
| Workflow | Runs and steps | Zapier (yearly billing) | n8n Cloud | Self-hosted n8n |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form lead to CRM, sheet, Slack and email | 500 runs, 4 steps | 2,000 tasks: $49 a month | Starter: $20 a month | $14.99 a month |
| AI email triage | 3,000 runs, 6 steps | 18,000 tasks: $189 a month | Pro: $50 a month | $14.99 a month |
| Order sync between shop and accounting | 20,000 runs, 3 steps | 60,000 tasks: $489 a month | Business licence: $667 a month | $14.99 a month |
At low volume all the options are affordable. The gap opens once runs reach the thousands, or workflows get long, which is why many teams move their busiest automations to self-hosted n8n. More detail in n8n vs Zapier and n8n vs Make.
How to cut your automation bill
- Filter early. Stop runs that do not need to continue with a filter right after the trigger.
- Combine steps. One API call that updates several fields beats several separate steps.
- Batch where you can. Process records in groups on a schedule rather than one run per record.
- Move the busiest workflows first. Keep simple automations where they are and move the few that use most of your tasks to self-hosted n8n.
Questions
How accurate is the automation cost calculator?
It uses each company's published plan prices as of October 2026 and assumes one item per run. Loops over many items raise Zapier and Make usage, so treat the result as a minimum and check the vendor's pricing page before buying.
Why are Make credits higher than Zapier tasks for the same workflow?
Make counts the trigger module as well as each action, while Zapier does not charge for the trigger. Make's credits are much cheaper per unit, so its total is often still lower.
Is self-hosted n8n really unlimited?
There is no per-run charge, so the limit is your server. A 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM server handles many thousands of typical runs a month; very heavy workflows may need more RAM.
Which is cheapest, Zapier, Make or n8n?
For a few simple automations, Zapier's and Make's free or entry plans. For thousands of runs or long workflows, n8n Cloud or self-hosted n8n is usually far cheaper.
Sources
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