Automation can save 25,000 hours in year one and 225,000 hours in year three. That’s a lot of time you and your team can spend on strategic tasks instead. But where do you start?
n8n and Make are two of the most talked-about automation tools out there. At first glance, they might seem pretty similar since they both let you build workflows. But dig a little deeper, and the differences start to show.
n8n is open-source and highly flexible, which is great if you want complete control. On the other hand, Make leans into simplicity with a clean, drag-and-drop interface.
So, which one better suits your workflow? Let’s compare features, ease of use, and more to help you decide. And if neither seems quite right, we detail ClickUp as an alternative that beats them both!
n8n vs. Make: Which Automation Tool Works Best for You?
Summarize this article for me pleasen8n vs. Make at a Glance
Before we dive into the details, here is a brief rundown on how n8n vs. Make stack up against each other.
| Feature | n8n | Make | Bonus: ClickUp 🥇 |
| Interface and user experience | Functional but technical UI; best suited for tech-savvy users | Clean, visual interface with drag-and-drop builder; easier for non-technical users | Intuitive, modern UI combining tasks, docs, and workflows in one space; ideal for all user types |
| Workflow flexibility and logic | Highly flexible; supports complex, branching workflows with full logic | Great for linear or modular automations; less control over conditional branching | Visual workflow builder with custom automations, conditions, and AI suggestions for dynamic flows |
| Integrations and extensibility | Wide range of integrations, especially via community nodes | Extensive library of pre-built integrations; easy setup | 1,000+ integrations, API support, native tools like Docs, Dashboards, and Automations |
| AI capabilities and automation | Offers some AI agents, but limited out-of-the-box AI tools | Focuses on agentic automation, but AI is task-specific | ClickUp Brain helps automate, summarize, and enhance workflows with natural language |
| Collaboration and teamwork | No built-in collaboration; separate tools needed | Lacks native collaboration tools | Built-in Docs, Chat, comments, and real-time editing for seamless teamwork |
| Self-hosting and control | Fully open-source and self-hostable | Cloud-based; no self-hosting options | Not self-hosted, but secure cloud infrastructure with granular access controls and admin settings |
How we review software at ClickUp
Our editorial team follows a transparent, research-backed, and vendor-neutral process, so you can trust that our recommendations are based on real product value.
Here’s a detailed rundown of how we review software at ClickUp.
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Is n8n?
n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that lets you connect apps, pass data between them, and build custom automations, with or without coding. It’s designed for users who want more control and flexibility than traditional automation platforms usually allow.
This automation platform stands out with its completely visual workflow editor. You can build workflows using logic, conditions, and loops; add custom JavaScript code where needed; and even self-host the entire setup for complete data ownership and control.
With support for 400+ integrations, n8n makes automating everything from simple daily tasks to complex business processes easy. You can also use workflow templates to deploy automations quickly.
The flexibility and ability to handle complex workflows of this task automation software makes it a favorite among teams handling highly technical projects.
👀 Did you know? Generative AI agents could cut review cycle times by 20 to 60%. That’s hours (or even days) saved across processes like credit risk assessments or software modernization.
n8n features
n8n is packed with features to support robust and customizable automations for teams, tech users, and solo operators. From handling complex workflows to giving you complete control over where and how your data moves, here is a breakdown of what it offers:
Feature #1: Workflow automation
n8n’s visual workflow builder is centered around connecting trigger nodes to tasks, forming automated workflows that match your logic. Each node represents a specific action—sending an email, querying a database, or formatting output. You can map multi-step workflows using loops, conditional logic, or even pauses until certain conditions are met.
The code node lets you write custom JavaScript or Python for complex data transformations. It also allows you to manage intricate workflows with switches, merges, and data cleanup.
Technical users can build advanced workflows with custom API integrations or HTTP request nodes while still using a drag-and-drop interface.
n8n also includes AI workflow generators, with support for models like OpenAI and Hugging Face—useful for tasks like text analysis or summarizing content.
Feature #2: Self-hosting
n8n lets you run the entire automation platform on your own server or cloud setup, giving you complete control over data and workflow executions. With this setup, you can:
- Control updates and customize the platform to fit your needs
- Remove limits on workflows, executions, and integrations
- Connect securely with internal systems and private databases
- Deploy n8n on your local machine, private cloud, or Kubernetes environment
- Set your own security and access policies
- Modify the open-source code to add features or adjust functionality
Feature #3: Workflow templates
If you don’t have the technical knowledge to build from scratch, n8n offers ready-made workflow templates for faster AI workflow automation. These pre-built integrations are fully customizable and work with popular apps. You can:
- Browse templates for engineering, marketing, sales, and operations
- Connect tools like Slack, Google Sheets, Airtable, and GitHub
- Edit workflows using a no-code interface—add, remove, or tweak nodes
- Explore complex automations through step-by-step examples
- Share custom integrations with others or reuse them across projects
n8n pricing
- Custom pricing
👀 Did you know? McKinsey research notes that you can automate up to 50% of your work with currently available technology, even in industrials.
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhat Is Make?
Make is a no-code automation tool built for non-technical users who want to connect apps and streamline work, without needing advanced technical skills. It offers a clean, visual interface where you build scenarios by dragging and dropping steps on a canvas.
It’s great for workflow management across marketing, operations, and customer support verticals. You can connect everything from Google Sheets and Slack to CRMs and AI tools, including those that support retrieval augmented generation, for smarter and more dynamic automations.
What sets Make apart is how easy it is to learn and use. You can see data move through each step in real time, tweak actions as you go, and create powerful workflows with almost no learning curve.
Make features
Even if you don’t have the technical skills to build your own workflows, Make makes the process approachable and flexible. Whether setting up a simple one-step action or building a multi-layered process across several apps, it adapts to your workflow.
Here’s a breakdown of its key features:
Feature #1: AI automation
Make lets you integrate AI tools for automation without writing code. You can connect services like OpenAI, Hugging Face, Gmail, and Slack to summarize emails, categorize tickets, translate messages, and generate content.
Its drag-and-drop interface works well for non-technical users, while advanced users can customize API inputs and build complex data transformations.
Make also supports agentic automation, where AI can reason and act independently, not just respond to triggers. Whether you’re automating basic workflows or creating intricate setups, Make combines a user-friendly interface with deep technical capabilities for flexible, scalable workflow automation.
Feature #2: AI agent builder
Make’s AI Agent Builder lets you build custom AI agents that think, decide, and act within automated workflows, helping streamline workflow execution.
Unlike standard automation, these agents can manage complex goals by following instructions, accessing data, and choosing the best next steps without manual input. It is built for non-technical users and advanced users. The drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to design agents with human-like logic.
You can:
- Define your agent’s role, goal, and personality using plain language
- Connect agents to any supported app, like Gmail, Notion, or Google Sheets
- Equip AI agents with tools like web search, retrieval, augmented generation, and file handling
- Adjust agent behavior by editing prompts, input data, or connected tools
- Set up error management paths to catch and resolve issues automatically
Feature #3: Integrate AI apps
Make offers a wide range of AI apps you can plug directly into your workflows. Use pre-built integrations with tools like OpenAI, Anthropic, Hugging Face, CRMs, and customer support platforms to automate complex tasks, enhance data, and bring intelligence into your workflows—without starting from scratch.
These extensive AI integrations let you:
- Enrich your data using language models for tasks like classification, summarization, and sentiment analysis; perfect for quick data enrichment
- Automate complex tasks such as generating emails, translating text, analyzing support tickets, and more with minimal setup
- Use custom functions to tailor how AI apps behave inside your workflows
- Combine AI apps with other business tools across marketing, operations, and support
Make pricing
- Free forever (Up to 1,000 Ops/month)
- Core: $10.59/month (For 10,000 Ops/month)
- Pro: $18.82/month (For 10,000 Ops/month)
- Teams: $34.12/month (For 10,000 Ops/month)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
🧠 Fun fact: You can automate Spotify playlist generation and playback with tools like Zapier and GitHub for scheduling playlists to play at specific times.
Summarize this article for me pleasen8n vs. Make: Features Compared
Both tools are powerful automation platforms that serve different user needs. But how do they stack up? Let’s compare n8n vs. Make to see how they differ in real-world usage.
1. User experience and interface
n8n uses a node-based builder that works well for teams with technical skills and more complex automation needs. It’s flexible and powerful, but if you’re new to workflow automation, the learning curve can be a bit steep. Templates are available, though they usually need some technical tweaking to match your setup.
On the other hand, Make takes a different approach with a clean, no-code interface and a simple drag-and-drop system. Make stands out with its clean, no-code interface and intuitive drag-and-drop system. It’s designed for non-technical users, making building and managing workflows simple without feeling overwhelmed.
The platform displays data in real-time as it moves through each step, allowing you to track progress for each automated task. Its user-friendly interface lets anyone, from beginners to advanced users, quickly get started and scale their automations.
🏆 Winner: Make. It takes the lead when it comes to ease of use and smooth onboarding.
2. Workflow flexibility and complexity
n8n shines in building intricate and visual workflows. It supports loops, branching with switches and if nodes, merging data streams, and allows custom code to transform data exactly as you need.
Error handling and detailed routing are built in, making it easy to manage complex, multi-step automations without limits. This flexibility makes it a favorite for technical users who want complete control over their automation logic.
Make offers solid workflow capabilities, but can be less flexible when handling highly complex scenarios.
🏆 Winner: n8n. It’s the better choice for creating advanced, customized workflows.
3. Integrations and extensibility
n8n provides a strong range of integrations and is open source, letting users build custom nodes and extend functionality as needed. This is ideal for those who want to self-host and tailor integrations closely to their unique workflows. In short, it offers a more hands-on approach that rewards users who are comfortable with customization and technical setup.
Make has many integrations with numerous AI apps. However, you will be tied up in proprietary systems. It is also more restrictive in customization compared to n8n’s open platform.
🏆 Winner: n8n, if you want unlimited extensibility and total control over integrations and deployment, n8n offers a significant advantage
📖 Also Read: Process Map Templates for ClickUp, Excel, and Word
Summarize this article for me please4. AI capabilities and automation intelligence
Make offers more advanced AI automation tools, including AI agents, retrieval augmented generation, and agentic automation, enabling workflows to reason and adapt. The platform’s AI features are built right into its intuitive interface, making it accessible to non-technical users while still powerful enough for tech-savvy users.
n8n also supports AI through integrations and lets you create your own APIs. However, this workflow automation platform focuses more on flexibility and self-hosting rather than on built-in AI.
🏆 Winner: Make. It’s the clear winner for built-in AI automation and intelligent workflows.
🧠 Fun fact: There are AI-powered systems that can track your cat’s litter box habits by monitoring how often it goes, the type of waste, its weight, and overall elimination patterns!
Summarize this article for me pleasen8n vs. Make on Reddit
User opinion about n8n vs Make is split on Reddit.
While some users appreciate Make’s beginner-friendly setup and scalability, others highlight n8n’s flexibility and power, especially for handling complex data-heavy workflows and custom automations.
For example, jsreally, a Redditor, shared on r/n8n:
Others prefer Make for its simplicity. For example, Admirable_Shape9854 comments on a thread in r/automation:
Then there are folks who like using both, depending on the task. As Reddit user CompetitiveChoice732 puts it:
📮 ClickUp Insight: Nearly 88% of our survey respondents now rely on AI tools to simplify and accelerate personal tasks. Looking to generate those same benefits at work? ClickUp is here to help!
ClickUp Brain, a built-in AI assistant, can help you improve productivity by 30% with fewer meetings, quick AI-generated summaries, and automated tasks.
Summarize this article for me pleaseMeet ClickUp—The Best Alternative to n8n vs. Make
While both n8n and Make are great for automating tasks, they can take some time to get used to, especially if you are building complex workflows and juggling multiple tools. Want the same power and flexibility without the learning curve?
Say hello to ClickUp, the everything app for work.
It offers a one-stop platform for automating tasks, building custom AI agents, managing projects, collaborating with your team, and even building your own AI workflows for project management automation.
It’s incredibly easy to use, whether your team has the technical knowledge or not.
📖 Also read: Workflow Automation Examples and Use Cases
ClickUp’s One-Up #1: ClickUp Autopilot and Custom AI Agents
Autopilot Agents are intelligent, no-code assistants built into ClickUp that help teams automate more complex, context-aware workflows. Unlike traditional automations, which follows fixed rules, Autopilot Agents can analyze information, respond to changes in real time, and carry out multi-step actions based on your instructions.
They can be added to any Space, Folder, List, or Chat Channel and work across tasks, Docs, forms, and conversations.
You can:
- Turn meeting notes into action items
- Post daily or weekly reports in team Channels
- Summarize Docs or updates for stakeholders
- Answer questions using info from your Workspace
Autopilot Agents handle repetitive tasks so your team can focus on higher-impact work.
💡 Pro Tip: Want to automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows by leveraging AI agents tailored to your unique business needs? ClickUp’s Custom Agents can be configured to handle a wide range of actions suitable for your team, vertical:
ClickUp’s One-Up #2: ClickUp Automations
n8n offers deep control but requires technical know-how, while Make is beginner-friendly but can get messy with complex workflows.
ClickUp Automations bridges this chasm by being both powerful and easy to use. You get 100+ action triggers, automation templates, and the freedom to build your own without any coding. Whether you are moving tasks across stages, assigning team members, or sending updates, it all runs smoothly in the background.
With Automations, you can:
- Assign tasks automatically when a status changes
- Move tasks to the next stage when due dates arrive
- Notify team members when specific fields are updated
- Trigger actions across different Spaces and Folders
ClickUp’s One-Up #3: ClickUp Brain and Brain Max
n8n gives you complete control over AI model connections, but the setup is manual and not ideal for beginners. Make is easier to start with, though its AI tools are spread out and take effort to piece together.
ClickUp Brain skips the hassle.
It’s built into your workspace—no setup needed. You can ask it to summarize tasks, update statuses, draft responses, and even create entire workflows from natural language prompts. It can also review and refine your existing automations. The result? More intelligent, faster workflow automation without hopping between tools or writing a single line of code.
✨ What’s more, ClickUp Brain users can choose from multiple external AI models, including GPT-4o, Claude, DeepSeek, and Gemini for various writing, reasoning, and coding tasks!
💡 Bonus: If you want to speak your workflows to life AND:
- Instantly and intuitively search ClickUp, Google Drive, GitHub, OneDrive, SharePoint, and ALL your connected apps + the web for work context
- Use Talk to Text to ask, dictate, and execute work by voice—hands-free, anywhere
- Leverage AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and DeepSeek with a single, LLM-agnostic, enterprise-ready solution
Try ClickUp Brain MAX—a superpowered desktop AI companion that truly understands you, because it knows your work. Ditch the AI tool sprawl, use your voice to build custom workflows, create documentation, assign tasks to team members, and more.
ClickUp’s One-Up #4: ClickUp Docs
n8n and Make are solid for building automations—but not for planning, documenting, or collaborating on them. There’s no shared space to outline ideas, track details, or work with your team in real time.
That’s where ClickUp Docs comes in.
You can map out workflows, document SOPs, tag teammates, and embed dashboards—all in one place. Turn any bullet into a task, chat in-doc, and link every conversation to your work. With built-in AI agents, you also get suggested responses, smart summaries, and instant task creation.
Summarize this article for me pleaseAutomate Smarter, Collaborate Better, and Scale Faster With ClickUp
n8n gives you deep control over complex workflows. Make offers an intuitive setup for quick automations. But both fall short when it comes to built-in collaboration and scaling with ease.
ClickUp unifies it all—automated workflows with ClickUp Automations, brainstorm and document your processes in ClickUp Docs, and manage it all with the help of ClickUp Brain’s AI support. No context switching. No piecing together separate tools.
If you’re ready to simplify automation and stay in sync, ClickUp is the more innovative, all-in-one solution.
Sign up with ClickUp for free today and simplify how you automate, manage, and collaborate without learning curves and configuration headaches.
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
