⚡ Automation Cost Calculator
Compare what you'd actually pay on n8n, Make.com, and Zapier at your operation volume. Updated May 2026 with current pricing.
📊 Your Monthly Volume
💰 Monthly Cost Comparison
n8n (self-hosted)
€10
+ server cost
Best value at scale
Make.com
$99
+ overage if exceeded
Zapier
$1,500
+ task bundles if exceeded
📋 Detailed Pricing Breakdown
| Component | n8n (self-hosted) | Make.com | Zapier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base plan | €0 (open source) | $9/mo (Core) | $19.99/mo (Starter) |
| Ops included | Unlimited | 10,000 (Core) | 750 (Starter) |
| Server cost | €4-10/mo VPS | $0 (cloud) | $0 (cloud) |
| Extra ops cost | $0 | $0.001-0.003/op | $0.05-0.15/op |
| Data retention | Unlimited | 30-90 days | 90-180 days |
| Self-host option | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
💡 How the Math Works
| Operations/month | n8n | Make.com | Zapier | Savings with n8n |
|---|
⚠️ Important: Operation counting differs per platform. A multi-step workflow on n8n counts as 1 execution. On Make, each module in a scenario counts as 1 operation. On Zapier, each step counts as 1 task. The numbers above use each platform's native counting method — your actual costs may vary based on workflow complexity.
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