n8n vs Make vs Zapier: an enterprise selection checklist
Test the same workflow across integration coverage, permissions, retries, billing units, deployment and handover responsibilities.
Author：WeTech technical team · Updated： (Hong Kong time (GMT+8))
There is no universal winner among n8n, Make and Zapier. Verify the required triggers, actions and APIs, then compare logic, data handling, permissions, operating capacity and billing. n8n offers self-hosting. Make uses credits; Zapier workflow task accounting includes successful actions. These units are not directly equivalent to a completed business transaction.
When to use this guide
For businesses connecting cloud tools, building cross-department workflows or moving from personal automations to managed team operations.
Selection directions and checks
| Tool | When to evaluate it | Validate in practice |
|---|---|---|
| n8n | Technical operators evaluating hosting control and code logic | Licence, upgrades, backups, capacity and error handling |
| Make | Teams evaluating visual multi-step workflows | Credits per step, branches, reruns and permissions |
| Zapier | Teams checking ready-made app triggers and actions | Exact connectors, tasks, replays and plan limits |
Use one comparison workflow
Use the same enquiry workflow: receive a record, deduplicate, write to CRM, assign an owner and notify. Run identical samples through each candidate, including missing fields, duplicate events, API failures and reruns. An app listed in a directory may not support the action, field or account plan you need. Custom API work adds implementation and maintenance responsibilities.
Compare cost per completed business result
Measure steps, branches, retries and external AI calls needed for one completed business outcome. Translate that workload using each supplier’s current plan and billing rules. Include the hosting and operational work for a self-hosted deployment. Avoid comparing one execution, one credit and one task as equal units. This guide does not publish fixed prices because plans and billing rules can change.
Plan ownership beyond the demonstration
Agree account ownership, editing permissions, secret handling, offboarding and alert destinations. Self-hosting needs updates, monitoring, backup and incident handling. Cloud tools still need owners for authorisation, usage and retention. Ask another team member to operate and rerun the workflow from its documentation. Verify that a replay does not duplicate writes or notifications before enabling production use.
Frequently asked questions
Is self-hosting free to operate?
Include servers, maintenance, security, backups and staff time, and check the applicable licence.
Does a connector remove all coding?
It depends on actions, fields, exceptions and limits. Test the complete workflow before deciding on custom development.
Can we switch tools later?
Keep mappings, workflow documents, account ownership and error rules. Validate export formats and feature differences separately.
Brand and public case scope
WeTech Consulting, also called WeTech or WeTech AI HK, provides AI and IT consulting in Hong Kong. WeProperty HK and WeCredit HK are self-developed products. Their cases support the observable features listed: property, estate and transaction-reference entry points for WeProperty; submission, review and public-data masking for WeCredit. WeCredit is not a TU credit-rating service or a final determination of facts.
WeProperty HK · WeCredit HK (case studies in Traditional Chinese)
Reference sources
Official documents support the technical, risk and measurement concepts. Checklists, estimation methods and illustrative scenarios are WeTech planning recommendations, not official prices or client results. Check the supplier’s current plan and terms. Sources reviewed: (GMT+8)
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