The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Zapier, Make and n8n each advertise a headline quota, but those quotas measure different things. Zapier counts successful action tasks, Make counts credits consumed by module actions, and n8n Cloud counts completed workflow executions. The same automation can consume several Zapier tasks or Make credits while registering as one n8n execution, so dividing a plan price by its quota does not give a comparable unit price. The only reliable comparison models one real workflow against each meter, then prices the result at the same billing term and currency.
The figures below are page snapshots taken from the official pricing pages on 7 October 2026. Vendor prices and limits change, and checkout prices can differ by billing term, region and currency, so confirm them on each pricing page before you decide.
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Three meters that sound alike but are not
Each platform sells a monthly allowance, and each allowance is counted differently. The table shows the unit and the entry allowance visible on the snapshot pages.
| Platform | What the quota counts | Entry allowance on the snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Zapier | Successful action steps, called tasks | Free plan: 100 tasks per month |
| Make | Credits consumed by module actions | Free plan: 1,000 credits per month |
| n8n Cloud | Completed workflow executions, regardless of step count | Starter: 2,500 executions per month, €20 per month billed annually; a free tier is not stated on the snapshot |
What each platform actually counts
Zapier
- A successful standard action is typically one task. Triggers and polling checks are not tasks.
- Listed built-in tools are zero-task steps. Per the Zapier help article updated 29 May 2026, Filter, Formatter and Paths steps are free on current plans, and legacy plans may need an update to receive that change.
- Some actions and AI features carry different task rates, so check the current task rates page for the exact step type before counting.
- Zap limits, including how many steps and how often a Zap can run, are described in Zapier’s Zap limits article.
Make
- Most module actions consume one credit. Some advanced or AI features consume more.
- Routers and the listed error-handler modules consume no credits.
- Code execution is listed at two credits per second on the pricing page.
n8n Cloud
- Each completed workflow execution counts once, whether it contains three steps or thirty.
- The listed plans advertise unlimited steps per execution, so a long workflow does not raise the execution count.
A worked example with the same workflow on all three meters
Assume a form submission starts a workflow that runs 1,000 times a month. Each run performs three standard actions: create a CRM record, post a chat message and add a spreadsheet row. Every step succeeds, and the workflow contains no routers, code steps or AI features. This is an illustrative calculation from the metering rules above, not a measured test.
- Zapier: 3 successful actions × 1,000 runs = 3,000 tasks per month. That exceeds the 100-task free allowance and needs a paid tier that covers 3,000 tasks.
- Make: If each of the three action modules costs one credit, the monthly use is 3,000 credits. That fits within the 10,000-credit tier shown on the snapshot.
- n8n Cloud: 1,000 executions per month. That fits within the 2,500-execution Starter allowance.
The n8n count looks smallest, but the numbers are still not directly comparable. Zapier’s price at 3,000 tasks is not stated on the snapshot, Make’s 10,000-credit tiers are priced in US dollars, and n8n’s plans are priced in euros. Convert nothing until each price is confirmed at the same billing term.
Snapshot prices and what they include
| Platform | Plan or tier | Price shown on the snapshot | Quota shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier (USD) | Paid tiers chosen by task volume | Tier prices are not reproduced here. The pricing page advertised 33% savings for yearly billing. | Task quantity selected on the pricing page |
| Make (USD) | Core, Pro, Teams at 10,000 credits per month | $12, $21 and $38 per month, respectively. The snapshot does not specify the billing term for these figures. | 10,000 credits per month |
| n8n Cloud (EUR) | Starter, Pro, Business | €20, €50 and €667 per month, each billed annually | 2,500, 10,000 and 40,000 executions per month |
n8n also lists an Enterprise plan at custom pricing, and a Community Edition for self-hosting. The Make page offers extra-credit purchases, and the snapshot does not state their rate.
Rank #2
What happens when the quota runs out
| Platform | At the limit | Overage option |
|---|---|---|
| Zapier | Without overage enabled, runs are held at the limit, and held runs may be replayed. | Paid-plan overage is opt-in and billed at 1.25× the plan’s task cost, per the May 2026 Zapier help article. |
| Make | Scenarios stop when credits run out until more are added. | Extra-credit purchases are offered. The rate is not stated on the snapshot. |
| n8n Cloud | Not stated on the snapshot reviewed. | Not stated on the snapshot reviewed. |
How to run the comparison
- Choose one real automation. Count its monthly trigger events, successful actions, records processed and full workflow runs. Include retries and branches where they change usage.
- Translate that path into Zapier tasks using the current rates page, into Make credits using the module list and any multi-credit features, and into n8n executions as one per completed run.
- Find the smallest tier that covers ordinary use and a realistic peak. Then price the overage, or note the consequence of pausing at the limit.
- Set every price to the same billing term and currency before comparing totals.
- Check whether the feature you need is included in that tier, because a required feature can force a higher plan on one platform and not another.
Non-price constraints that can force a higher tier
- Required integrations and whether each one is available on your tier
- Workflow complexity, including branching and sub-workflows
- Execution concurrency and how many runs can happen at once
- Logs and run history retention
- Collaboration features such as shared workspaces and roles
- Security and compliance requirements
- Support levels
- Hosted or self-hosted deployment, and who operates it
Self-hosting n8n changes the cost model
n8n’s pricing page lists a Community Edition for self-hosting. A subscription price is not the full cost of running it. Build the total from your own figures:
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
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- Server or cloud infrastructure, sized for your execution volume
- Initial setup and configuration time
- Updates and the testing they require
- Backups and restore testing
- Monitoring and alerting
- Operator time, which is often the largest and least visible item
The n8n pricing snapshot does not provide a universal infrastructure figure, so any self-hosting comparison must come from your own estimates.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
