It is a credential war
Zapier, Make, and n8n are not really competing on features. They are competing on connections.
Whoever has the most integrations that are easy to plug in wins. That is the whole game. The platform that lets you connect your tools in two clicks is the one you will reach for, and the one that keeps you.
How they bill
The cloud tools mostly bill you by execution, and sometimes by connection. Every run costs you, which is exactly how they make their money.
Self-hosting n8n sidesteps that. It is your server, so you are not billed per run, and you keep full control.
Honestly, though, I have never seen a business actually held back by those cloud billing limits. For most people it is a non-issue.
The real catch is lock-in
The thing to worry about is migration. Build a big operation on one of these, say a whole sales organization, and moving out becomes painful. The deeper you go, the harder it is to leave.
So pick with that in mind. Going all-in on one tool is a one-way door.
It is not a big decision
Do not overthink it. You can run more than one at the same time, and the right tool for one job is not always the right tool for the next.
Start with whichever makes the most sense for you today. You can always add another later.
Not sure which one fits your business? Book a free Gap Assessment and we will help you choose and set it up.
