If your agency runs on Zapier, you are paying a "Knowledge Tax" on every execution. If you run on Make, you are renting a slightly cheaper apartment. But if you run on n8n, you own the land.
1. The Data Sovereignty Crisis
Client data agreements in 2026 are strict. Sending sensitive PII through a third-party black box like Zapier is a compliance nightmare waiting to happen. n8n allows us to self-host the entire automation stack on our own rigid architecture (Railway/Hetzner), ensuring data never leaves our controlled environment.
2. Cost Per Execution
We ran a simulation processing 100,000 monthly operations for a mid-sized e-commerce client. The difference is mathematical violence.
| Platform | Cost/Month | Data Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| Zapier | $899+ | Rented |
| Make.com | $150+ | Rented |
| n8n (Self-Hosted) | $20 (Server Cost) | Sovereign |
3. Visual Logic vs. Linear Triggers
Zapier is linear. Make is bubbly. n8n is programmatic. The ability to write raw JavaScript in Code nodes, execute complex merge logic, and handle binary data natively makes n8n a developer's weapon, not just a no-code toy.
// n8n Function Node Power
const items = $input.all();
return items.map(item => {
return {
json: {
...item.json,
calculated_ltv: item.json.orders * item.json.aov,
risk_score: item.json.refunds > 2 ? 'HIGH' : 'LOW'
}
}
});
4. Conclusion
If you are building a toy, use Zapier. If you are building a Machine, use n8n.
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