TL;DR — Quick Verdict
Choose Make.com if you have a non-technical team and need fast no-code deployment. Choose n8n if you self-host for cost savings, need code-level customisation, or handle data that cannot leave Indian infrastructure. At high volumes, self-hosted n8n is 3–5x cheaper than Make.com.
Key takeaways
- Both platforms support AI/LLM nodes — GPT-4o, Claude, embeddings, vector stores
- n8n can be self-hosted at ₹1,500–₹5,000/month vs Make.com cloud from ₹799/month
- Make.com is better for beginners; n8n is better for technical teams and high volumes
- Only n8n supports on-premise deployment for Indian data-residency requirements
- At 100,000+ operations/month, self-hosted n8n is dramatically more cost-effective
Full feature comparison
| Feature | Make.com | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per operation (cloud only) | Per run or self-hosted |
| Self-hosting | No | Yes (Docker / npm) |
| AI/LLM nodes | OpenAI, basic HTTP | OpenAI, Claude, LangChain, agents |
| JavaScript in workflows | Limited | Full JS in every node |
| Visual UI | Polished, beginner-friendly | Functional, developer-friendly |
| Integrations | 1,500+ | 400+ (extensible via HTTP) |
| WhatsApp Business API | Via HTTP / Twilio | Native node available |
| Zoho/HubSpot CRM | Native integration | Native integration |
| Data residency | No (US/EU servers) | Yes (self-hosted) |
| Community / docs | Strong | Very strong (open-source) |
| Free tier | 1,000 ops/month | Community edition (self-host) |
Pricing in Indian Rupees (2026)
Make.com (Cloud only)
Free — 1,000 operations/month
Core — ₹799/month for 10,000 operations
Pro — ₹4,000/month for 100,000 operations
Teams — ₹10,000/month+ for 100,000 operations with team features
n8n
Cloud Starter — ₹1,500/month for 2,500 workflow executions
Cloud Pro — ₹6,000/month for unlimited executions
Self-hosted — ₹0 license; server cost ₹1,500–₹5,000/month
At 100,000+ ops/month: self-hosted n8n costs 90% less than Make.com
Recommendation matrix
Non-technical founder / marketing team
→ Use Make.com
Faster to start, cleaner UI, no server management required.
Technical team or agency managing multiple clients
→ Use n8n (self-hosted)
Code-level control, cost efficiency at scale, client data isolation.
Healthcare / fintech / legal business in India
→ Use n8n (self-hosted)
Data stays on Indian servers; regulatory compliance maintained.
E-commerce or lead-gen with 100k+ monthly operations
→ Use n8n (self-hosted)
Per-operation pricing on Make.com becomes very expensive at this volume.
Early-stage startup, testing automation for the first time
→ Use Make.com or n8n cloud
Either works. Make.com is faster for first workflows; n8n gives you a migration path.
Not sure which platform to build on?
We implement both Make.com and n8n for Indian businesses and recommend the right stack based on your volume, technical team, and data requirements. See our AI automation services.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Make.com or n8n for AI automation?
Use Make.com if you have a non-technical team, need fast no-code deployment, and are running fewer than 50,000 operations per month. Use n8n if you are self-hosting for cost control, need JavaScript customisation inside workflows, run high operation volumes, or require on-premise deployment for data privacy compliance. For Indian businesses with technical teams or agencies, n8n is typically 3–5x more cost-effective at scale.
What is the cost of Make.com vs n8n in India?
Make.com pricing: Free tier (1,000 ops/month), Core plan ₹799/month (10,000 ops), Pro plan ₹4,000/month (100,000 ops). n8n cloud: Starter ₹1,500/month (2,500 runs), Pro ₹6,000/month (unlimited runs). n8n self-hosted: ₹0 license cost; pay only for server hosting (₹1,500–₹5,000/month on AWS/Railway/DigitalOcean). At scale, self-hosted n8n is dramatically cheaper.
Can n8n replace Zapier in India?
Yes. n8n supports 400+ integrations including all major Zapier integrations — HubSpot, Zoho CRM, WhatsApp Business API, Google Workspace, Slack, Notion, and more. The difference: n8n is open-source and can be self-hosted (₹0 license), while Zapier costs ₹12,000–₹80,000+/month at equivalent volumes. Most Indian businesses switching from Zapier to n8n cut their automation costs by 80–90%.
Does n8n support AI agents and LLMs?
Yes. n8n has native nodes for OpenAI (GPT-4o, embeddings), Anthropic (Claude), LangChain integration, vector store operations (Pinecone, Qdrant), and an AI Agent node that supports tool use. You can build fully autonomous agents — with memory, tool calls, and conditional logic — directly inside n8n without writing custom code.
Can Make.com be self-hosted?
No. Make.com is a SaaS-only platform with no self-hosting option. All data flows through Make.com servers. For Indian businesses in healthcare, fintech, or legal sectors where data residency is required, n8n self-hosted on Indian infrastructure (AWS Mumbai or in-house servers) is the compliant option.
Which is easier: Make.com or n8n?
Make.com has a more polished visual interface and is slightly easier for complete beginners. n8n has a steeper initial learning curve but its node-based logic is more explicit and powerful. Most marketers and operations managers find Make.com faster to start; most developers and technical teams prefer n8n's transparency and extensibility. With an automation agency managing the setup, the UX difference becomes irrelevant.
What are the best use cases for n8n in India?
High-volume lead management (WhatsApp + CRM sync), automated invoice and document processing, internal HR automation (Zoho People integrations), AI-powered support ticket routing, and e-commerce order orchestration. n8n is particularly strong for Indian SMEs because of its WhatsApp Business API integration, Zoho suite connectors, and ability to run on cost-effective Indian cloud infrastructure.