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Automation 24 August 2026
4 min read
n8n or Make: how we choose for a client
Both tools can build the same workflow. Where the data lives, who maintains it and how much it runs decide which one.
We use both every week. The choice is rarely about features.
Choose Make when
The team will edit workflows themselves, volumes are modest, and the tools involved all have native connectors. Make is friendlier and faster to start.
Choose n8n when
Data must stay on your own servers, volumes are high enough that per-operation pricing hurts, or you need custom code steps and AI agents inside the flow. Self-hosted n8n costs a server, not a subscription.
Choose custom code when
The workflow is part of your product, needs to scale with users, or must be tested like software. At that point a no-code tool becomes technical debt.