Updated June 2026 · Real pricing data
7 tools · verified June 2026

Automation tool pricing & limits compared

The numbers that actually matter — workflow caps, execution timeouts, log history, and free tier limits for every tool.

I need:
Sort:
Tool Free ops/mo Free workflows Max steps Timeout Log history (free) Self-host AI nodes
n8n Unlimited* Unlimited* Unlimited No limit* 7 days (cloud) ✓ Free ✓
Make 1,000 Unlimited Unlimited 40 min 30 days ✗ ✓
Pipedream 100 credits 3 Unlimited 30 sec (free) 24 hours ✗ ✓
Zapier 100 tasks 5 2 steps only 15 min 15 min delay ✗ ✓
Activepieces Unlimited* Unlimited* Unlimited No limit* 7 days (cloud) ✓ MIT ✓
Automatisch Unlimited* Unlimited* Unlimited No limit* Full history* ✓ Free ✗
Node-RED Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited No limit Full history ✓ Free ✗

* When self-hosted. Cloud plans have different limits. Data verified June 2026.

Which tool for your situation?

Skip the comparison paralysis — here's the short answer based on your actual needs.

I want the cheapest option

Budget is the #1 constraint. You're okay with some setup work.

→ n8n self-hosted (~$8/mo VPS) or Activepieces self-hosted (MIT, truly free)

I want cloud, no setup

Don't want to manage servers. Happy to pay for convenience.

→ Make at $9/mo for 10k ops — best cloud value by far

I'm a developer

You write code, want full control, and need to run custom scripts inside workflows.

→ Pipedream for cloud code steps, or n8n self-hosted for unlimited control

I need AI / LLM nodes

Building AI workflows — connecting GPT, Claude, or local models into automations.

→ n8n has the most mature AI nodes; Make and Pipedream also support it

I need max integrations

You use a lot of obscure apps and need them all connected out of the box.

→ Zapier (7,000+ apps) — but you'll pay a premium for it

GDPR / EU data control

Data must stay in EU, no US cloud, full control over where it's stored.

→ Automatisch (EU-friendly, self-host on Hetzner) or n8n self-hosted

I'm just starting out

New to automation, want to learn without paying upfront or breaking anything.

→ Make free tier (1,000 ops, unlimited scenarios) — best free plan for beginners

I run a small agency

Managing automations for multiple clients, need team access and separate workspaces.

→ Make Teams ($29/mo) or n8n Cloud Pro for multi-user workflows

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Frequently asked questions

What counts as an "operation" or "task"?
Each tool counts usage differently. In Zapier, one task = one action step (a 3-step Zap triggered 100 times = 300 tasks). In Make, one operation = one module execution. In n8n, one execution = one full workflow run regardless of steps. In Pipedream, credits are consumed per compute time. Self-hosted tools like n8n, Activepieces, and Automatisch have no operation limits at all.
Is n8n really free to self-host?
Yes — n8n's Community Edition is free to self-host with unlimited workflows and executions. You only pay for the server (typically $5–12/mo on DigitalOcean or Hetzner). The catch: n8n uses a "Sustainable Use License" (not MIT), which restricts commercial SaaS use. For running your own automations, it's fully free.
Make vs Zapier — why is Make so much cheaper?
Make counts multi-step workflows more efficiently. A 5-step scenario triggered 1,000 times = 5,000 operations in Make at $9/mo. The same in Zapier = 5,000 tasks, which requires the $49/mo Professional plan. For anything beyond simple 2-step automations, Make is 70–80% cheaper than Zapier.
What's the difference between n8n and Activepieces?
Both are open-source and self-hostable, but key differences: n8n has more integrations (~400 vs ~200), more mature AI nodes, and a larger community. Activepieces uses the MIT license (completely unrestricted), while n8n uses Sustainable Use License. Activepieces has a more Zapier-like no-code UI; n8n is more developer-oriented.
How accurate is this pricing data?
All prices were verified directly from each tool's pricing page in June 2026. SaaS pricing changes frequently — we update this page whenever a tool changes its plans. If you spot an error, the source links on each tool go directly to their official pricing pages.