Your automation costs are growing faster than your revenue.
Every new workflow means another operation charge.
Every client you onboard pushes you closer to the next pricing tier.
You love automation. But you're starting to hate the invoices.
Are you watching your Make.com bill climb every month?
Do you worry about hitting operation limits at the worst possible time?
Have you considered self-hosting but think it's too technical?
Are you curious about n8n but unsure if it's worth the switch?
You're not alone. And there's a real alternative worth considering.
The Hidden Cost of Cloud-Only Automation
Here's what nobody tells you:
SaaS automation pricing is designed to scale with your success—and take a cut of it.
When you're small, it feels affordable. But as you grow:
More clients = more workflows = more operations = bigger bills.
Some agencies spend $500-2000/month on automation platforms alone.
That's money that could hire a part-time VA. Or fund your next marketing push.
What if there was another way?
Enter n8n: The Open Source Powerhouse
n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that you can self-host for free.
That means unlimited workflows. Unlimited operations. Zero per-execution charges.
But is it right for you? Let's compare.
01 Pricing Comparison
Make.com: Free tier limited to 1,000 ops/month. Pro plans start at $9/month for 10,000 ops. Teams plan at $29/month. Enterprise scales into hundreds.
n8n: Self-hosted is completely free. Cloud version starts at €20/month. No per-operation charges on self-hosted.
Verdict: If you run 100,000+ operations monthly, self-hosted n8n can save you hundreds per month.
02 Ease of Use
Make.com: Beautiful visual interface. Drag-and-drop is intuitive. Great for beginners. Excellent documentation.
n8n: Node-based visual editor. Slightly steeper learning curve. More powerful once you learn it. Code-friendly for developers.
Verdict: Make.com is easier for beginners. n8n is more powerful for technical users.
03 Integrations & Flexibility
Make.com: 1,500+ pre-built integrations. Covers most popular apps. Limited customization for edge cases.
n8n: 400+ native integrations plus custom code nodes. Write JavaScript/Python directly. API flexibility is unmatched.
Verdict: Make.com has more plug-and-play. n8n wins for custom/complex workflows.
04 Self-Hosting & Data Control
Make.com: Cloud-only. Your data goes through their servers. No self-hosting option.
n8n: Full self-hosting available. Host on your own server, VPS, or Docker. Complete data ownership.
Verdict: For privacy-conscious businesses or those with compliance requirements, n8n is the clear winner.
When to Choose Each Platform
You're just starting, want plug-and-play, or don't have technical resources for hosting.
You run high-volume workflows, need custom code, or want full data ownership.
Many agencies use Make.com for simple automations and n8n for complex, high-volume workflows.
Not Sure Which Platform Fits Your Needs?
Every agency is different.
The right choice depends on your workflow volume, technical resources, and budget.
Let's figure it out together.
Get Your Free Platform AssessmentI'll analyze your current setup and recommend the best path forward.