Automation tool comparisons, with current prices
These are side-by-side comparisons of the automation and AI tools we actually deploy for clients: n8n, Make, Zapier and the stack around them. Every page carries a priced feature table with sources, a dated "data checked" stamp and a verdict for specific scenarios, not a diplomatic tie.
Most tool comparisons are written from pricing pages alone. Ours start there too, but the verdicts come from production: we run these platforms daily inside client automations, so we know which one breaks at volume, which one surprises you on the invoice, and which one your team will actually learn. Prices are re-checked monthly and each page shows the date we last verified them; the source links sit right under the table. Start with the three-way overview in Make vs n8n vs Zapier, see what we build with these platforms on the business automations page, or skip the reading and book a free audit: we will tell you which tool fits your volume, with the maths shown.
Automation platforms
Make vs n8n: which automation platform in 2026?
Make from $9 a month for 10,000 operations, n8n free self-hosted with a flat server cost. Where the real difference sits and which fits your volume.
Read articleMake vs Zapier: is the app catalog worth the price?
Zapier Professional starts at $19.99 a month, Make Core at $9 for 10,000 operations. The catalog-versus-value trade-off, priced with sources and dates.
Read articlen8n vs Zapier: flat-cost automation vs per-task billing
Zapier bills every step as a task from $19.99 a month; self-hosted n8n runs unlimited executions on a ~€5 server. The maths, the catch and the verdict.
Read articleFAQ
Frequently asked
Which automation platform is best in 2026?
There is no single best. For most small and mid-sized companies Make wins on value, Zapier wins on simplicity and app coverage, and self-hosted n8n wins once volume or data control matters. Each comparison below ends with a verdict per scenario, so you can match one to your situation.
How current are the prices in these comparisons?
Every page shows a "data checked" date and links the vendor pricing pages the numbers came from. We re-verify comparison prices monthly; if a vendor changes plans between checks, the source link will show it first.
Does Dobify earn commission on any of these tools?
No. Dobify is an independent agency: we deploy n8n, Make and Zapier for clients, and no vendor pays us. The recommendation you get in a free audit is based on your volume and team, not a referral fee.
Which process is costing you the most?
Book a free 30-minute audit. We map your biggest bottleneck, estimate the ROI of fixing it, and show you exactly how to fix it, whether you hire Dobify or not.
Book your free audit