Developer models automation costs across n8n, Zapier, and Make using real workflows

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A developer running a 209-node content pipeline on self-hosted n8n built a Python script to compare how billing units affect real-world automation costs across three platforms. The key difference lies in how each tool counts usage: n8n charges per workflow execution, Zapier per task, and Make per operation, meaning node-heavy workflows cost far more on the latter two. Using three real workflows ranging from 27 to 33 nodes, the analysis showed that Zapier's entry-tier plan of 750 tasks would be exhausted by just 22–27 runs of a single workflow per month. By contrast, n8n's self-hosted community edition imposes no execution limits at zero software cost, making it significantly more economical for complex, multi-step automations. The comparison highlights how billing structure, not features, is often the deciding factor when choosing an automation platform.

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