Make Alternatives: Strong Options Compared
Make alternatives compared: Zapier, n8n and Bardeen on pricing, billing units and best use cases, so you can pick the automation tool that fits your work.
By Galactic News Editorial · Published 2026-11-09T22:29:14+00:00 · Updated 2026-11-09T22:29:14+00:00
Make Alternatives: Strong Options Compared
Make is a visual automation platform that connects apps into workflows called scenarios. But it is not the only option. Zapier suits teams that want the widest app library. n8n suits builders who want self-hosting and per-run billing. Bardeen suits people who automate work inside the browser. The best Make alternative depends on how you work, how much you run, and what you are willing to maintain.
Why people look for Make alternatives
Make charges by the credit. Each module action in a scenario counts as one credit. That model is cheap for short workflows. It gets expensive for long, multi-step scenarios that run often. Make's free plan includes 1,000 credits a month and two active scenarios. Its Core plan is listed at $12 a month for 10,000 credits on Make's pricing page. Some users outgrow the free plan fast. Others want a simpler editor, a bigger app library, or a self-hosted option. Pricing changes often, so check the live pricing page before you buy.
Make alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Billing unit | Free option | Entry paid price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make | Credit per module run | 1,000 credits a month | $12 a month for 10,000 credits | Visual multi-step workflows |
| Zapier | Task per successful action | 100 tasks a month | From $19.99 a month | Widest app library, simple setup |
| n8n | Execution per workflow run | Free self-hosted Community Edition | 20 euros a month billed annually | Self-hosting and code-friendly builds |
| Bardeen | Credit per output row | 100 credits a month, always | $10 a month for Basic | Browser scraping and lead work |
Prices above come from each vendor's own pricing page. They are entry prices. Each tool scales its price as usage grows.
Zapier: the easiest Make alternative
Zapier is the oldest and largest automation platform in this group. It connects to more than 9,000 apps, according to its pricing page. A Zap is a workflow with a trigger and one or more actions. Each successful action counts as one task. Triggers do not count. Built-in tools such as Filter, Formatter, and Paths do not count either. The free plan includes 100 tasks a month and two-step Zaps only. Professional starts from $19.99 a month and adds multi-step Zaps, premium apps, and webhooks. Team starts from $69 a month and adds 25 users and shared workspaces. New accounts get a 14-day trial of the Professional plan. Zapier is the right pick when you want the broadest app coverage and the least setup. It costs more per unit of work than Make for long workflows, because each action step counts as a task.
n8n: the self-hosted power option
n8n is a workflow automation platform with a visual editor, code steps, and AI agent support. Its key difference is the billing unit. n8n charges per execution, which is one full workflow run. A 20-step workflow that runs once costs one execution. That makes n8n cheap for long workflows that run rarely. n8n Cloud Starter costs 20 euros a month billed annually for 2,500 executions. Pro costs 50 euros a month billed annually for 10,000 executions. The Community Edition is a free self-hosted version. Self-hosting removes the monthly fee but adds server setup, updates, and security work. Choose n8n when you are comfortable with technical setup, want to run code inside workflows, or want to keep data on your own servers.
Bardeen: browser-first automation
Bardeen is a browser extension that automates work on the web itself. It scrapes pages, enriches contact data, and moves results into sheets and CRMs. It is built for sales and operations teams. Bardeen charges in credits. Each row an action creates costs one credit. Enrichment rows cost three credits. Importing data and using utilities are free. Every account gets 100 credits free each month. Basic costs $10 a month and adds 100 more credits plus custom scrapers. A Premium tier adds a larger monthly credit allowance, and Enterprise is custom priced. Bardeen is a poor fit for server-side workflows. It is a strong fit for scraping, research, and lead list building that starts in the browser.
How to choose between Make alternatives
Use this short checklist before you commit.
- Count your steps. Long workflows favour n8n's per-run billing. Short ones favour Make or Zapier.
- Count your apps. If a niche app matters, check each platform's library first. Zapier covers the most.
- Decide where work runs. Browser tasks point to Bardeen. Server tasks point to the other three.
- Test the free tier. Make, Zapier, and Bardeen all offer free usage. n8n offers a free self-hosted edition and a trial.
- Watch the meter. Each platform counts usage differently. Run one real workflow for a week and read the usage report before paying.
Bottom line
Zapier is the safest all-round Make alternative, thanks to its app library and simple pricing. n8n is the best value for long, technical workflows, especially self-hosted. Bardeen is the best pick for browser-based scraping and lead work. Make itself still wins for visual, multi-step workflows on a small budget. Pick the tool that matches where your work happens, not the one with the lowest headline price.