n8n, Make or Zapier: tool chooser

Answer eight questions and see which automation tool fits your answers best, why, how to host it and which unit drives its cost. The choice is decided not by a feature list but by data location, the shape of the flows and who will maintain them. There are no prices; the rules are on the page.

1 / 8Where does the data in the flows have to stay?

On our own infrastructure, or in a particular countryIt can be in the cloud; we will put the agreements in placeThe flows carry no personal or sensitive data

For flows that carry customer, employee or supplier data.

2 / 8Who will build and maintain the flows?

A developer or a technical teamA non-technical operations teamA small team; we want to start fast

3 / 8What shape are the flows?

Simple: "when this happens, do that"Branching, looping, multi-step, but without codeThey need code steps and custom API calls

4 / 8What is the volume?

Low: a few flows, few runsMediumHigh: many runs and flows with many steps

Monthly runs times the number of steps in a flow.

5 / 8Which apps will be connected?

Mostly common SaaS products (CRM, email, spreadsheets)A mix: ready-made apps and a few custom connectionsInternal systems and our own APIs (ERP, database)

6 / 8Do you need to reach a system on the internal network without opening it to the outside?

YesNo

7 / 8Is there someone who can run a server?

YesNo

Updates, backups, monitoring and security patches.

8 / 8Will you embed the tool in your own product and offer it to your customers?

YesNo

Suggestion

0 / 8 answered

The suggestion builds here as you answer.

The suggestion rests only on your answers and the rules below; plans and prices change often and are not part of it. Corrplus builds with n8n and Make; all three tools are scored by the same rules. Your answers are recorded without your identity.

How is the suggestion made?

In the first five questions each answer gives points to one tool, following the criteria in the comparison post; the points are shown in the result.
The requirement that data stays on your own infrastructure weighs most (3 points), because Make and Zapier run only in the cloud.
The questions on running a server and on embedding give no points; they set the hosting and licence notes.
On a tie, both tools are shown.

Sources

What does this tool not show?

The price. Plans change often; it shows the unit that drives the cost, and the sum is yours to do.
Whether a particular app has a ready-made connection. Check the apps you need one by one before you choose.
Options beyond the three tools (Power Automate, RPA tools, custom software).
The legal assessment for personal data; do that with your legal counsel.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the basic difference between n8n, Make and Zapier?

All three use the same logic: a trigger starts a flow that runs steps. They differ in where they run, how they bill and how much technical flexibility they give: n8n can be installed on your own server, Make is known for its visual editor, Zapier for its wide app catalogue.

Which tools does Corrplus work with? Is the suggestion neutral?

Corrplus builds with n8n and Make. This tool scores all three by the same rules, written on the page, and suggests Zapier when your answers point to it. The result shows how many points each answer gave to which tool.

Why does the suggestion not include prices?

Plans and limits change often, and a figure written today is soon out of date. The tool shows the unit that drives the cost instead: tasks in Zapier, credits in Make, workflow executions in n8n Cloud. You can do the sum with the monthly runs and steps of your own flow.

Are my answers stored?

Yes, without your identity. The answers you choose are recorded so we can see how the tool is used, without your name, email or IP address, and are deleted after 12 months. If you ask for the result by email, the address you type is taken separately for that request and kept as a contact request.

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How we start

A free first callWe pin down the problem and the goal together.
A 2-week discovery sprintWe look at the data, the process and the tools, and decide where to start.
A written proposalScope, architecture and timeline, in writing.