You’ve decided to automate your business. Now you’re staring at three tools — n8n, Zapier, and Make.com — and every comparison article tells you something different.
This is the version written by someone who has actually used all three on client projects, including WordPress sites in the Philippine market. Here’s what I’ve found.
The Quick Answer
- Zapier: Most integrations, easiest to use, most expensive. Best for simple automations and non-technical users.
- Make.com: Visual canvas builder, complex multi-step logic, far better value than Zapier. Best for most service businesses.
- n8n: Open-source, AI-native, supports code. Best for technical users, AI-powered workflows, or businesses with the volume to justify self-hosting.
For most Filipino small businesses: start with Make.com. Move to n8n when your workflows get complex or you want AI reasoning built in.
Zapier
What It Does Well
Zapier invented the mass-market automation category. It has 6,000+ integrations — more than any other platform. If a SaaS tool exists, it probably has a Zapier integration. Setup is genuinely two clicks for simple automations.
The WordPress Integration
The Zapier for WordPress plugin lets you trigger Zaps from:
- Form submissions (WPForms, Gravity Forms, Elementor Forms, Contact Form 7)
- New posts published
- New user registration
- WooCommerce orders
- Custom post types
The integration is reliable and well-documented. If you’re using a popular WordPress plugin, it probably has a Zapier integration.
Pricing
- Free: 100 tasks/month, 5 Zaps, 15-minute update time
- Starter: $19.99/month — 750 tasks, unlimited Zaps
- Professional: $49/month — 2,000 tasks, multi-step Zaps, filters
- Team: $299/month — 50,000 tasks
The jump from Professional to Team is the problem. At $299/month, you’re spending $3,588/year on automation. For that price, you can self-host n8n and have unlimited automations.
Limitations
- Multi-step logic gets expensive fast — each step uses a task
- No AI reasoning built in (Zapier AI Actions is limited)
- Free plan’s 15-minute update delay is useless for real-time lead handling
- Complex branching logic is clunky compared to Make.com or n8n
Make.com (formerly Integromat)
What It Does Well
Make.com’s canvas interface is genuinely better than Zapier’s linear editor for complex workflows. You can see the entire automation flow at once, which makes debugging and building multi-branch logic much more intuitive.
Make.com also counts scenarios differently from Zapier — one scenario can have unlimited operations within a single run, and you pay per operation, not per step. This means complex automations cost significantly less.
The WordPress Integration
Make.com integrates with WordPress via:
- The official Make.com WordPress module (no plugin required for basic operations)
- Webhooks for real-time triggers
- WooCommerce module
- HTTP module for custom REST API calls
I use Make.com for most client automation projects that involve moderate complexity: lead capture → CRM → email sequence → Slack notification. The canvas interface makes it easy to show clients exactly what the automation does.
Pricing
- Free: 1,000 operations/month, 2 active scenarios
- Core: $9/month — 10,000 operations/month
- Pro: $16/month — 10,000 operations, priority execution, custom variables
- Teams: $29/month — 10,000 operations, team features
At $9/month for 10,000 operations, Make.com is dramatically better value than Zapier at the equivalent tier. Most small businesses fit comfortably in the Core plan.
Limitations
- The interface has a steeper learning curve than Zapier (though lower than n8n)
- Fewer integrations than Zapier (2,000+ vs 6,000+)
- AI capabilities are a newer addition and less mature than n8n
n8n
What It Does Well
n8n is the tool I reach for when the workflow requires AI reasoning, custom code, or when the volume justifies self-hosting.
n8n has native integrations with OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, and Ollama (for local models). You can build workflows that classify data, draft content, make decisions, and route actions based on AI output — all within the same visual builder.
The code node (JavaScript or Python) means there’s effectively no ceiling on what n8n can do. If no-code logic can’t handle it, write five lines of JavaScript inside the node. No external scripting required.
The WordPress Integration
n8n has a native WordPress node that supports:
- Create, read, update, delete posts
- Create and manage users
- Trigger on WordPress webhook events
- WooCommerce order management
Combined with n8n’s HTTP Request node and WordPress’s REST API, you can do virtually anything programmatically: publish posts, update meta fields, manage custom post types, and call third-party APIs mid-workflow.
Pricing
- Self-hosted: Free forever, unlimited workflows
- n8n Cloud Starter: $24/month — 5 active workflows, 2,500 executions
- n8n Cloud Pro: $60/month — 15 active workflows, 10,000 executions
- n8n Cloud Enterprise: Custom
The real value is self-hosting. A VPS on DigitalOcean or Hetzner costs $6–12/month. n8n installs in under 20 minutes with Docker. You get unlimited workflows and unlimited executions for the cost of the server.
Limitations
- Steepest learning curve of the three
- Self-hosting requires server management knowledge
- Fewer pre-built templates than Make.com
- n8n Cloud is more expensive per workflow than Make.com
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Criteria | Zapier | Make.com | n8n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Easiest | Medium | Hardest |
| Integration count | 6,000+ | 2,000+ | 500+ native + HTTP |
| WordPress integration | Excellent | Very good | Very good |
| AI workflows | Basic | Good (developing) | Best-in-class |
| Custom code | No | Limited | Full JS/Python |
| Pricing at scale | Expensive | Good value | Free (self-hosted) |
| Self-hostable | No | No | Yes |
| Best for | Simple flows, non-technical | Most businesses | Technical / AI / volume |
Which Should You Choose for Your WordPress Site?
Choose Zapier if:
- You want the easiest possible setup
- You need an obscure integration that only Zapier has
- You only need 2–3 simple, two-step automations
Choose Make.com if:
- You want complex multi-step logic without the cost of Zapier
- You want a visual canvas interface
- You’re running a service business with moderate automation needs
- You want the best value for a growing business
Choose n8n if:
- You want AI reasoning built into your workflows
- You need custom code logic that no-code tools can’t handle
- Your automation volume makes Zapier or Make.com prohibitively expensive
- You’re comfortable managing a server (or want to learn)
The Philippines Context
For Filipino service businesses, cost matters more than it does in markets with higher average revenues. Here’s the practical breakdown:
- Zapier Professional at $49/month = approx PHP 2,800/month. Justified only if the automation is saving you more than that in time.
- Make.com Core at $9/month = approx PHP 510/month. A near-no-brainer for any active business.
- n8n self-hosted at $6–12/month server cost = nearly free automation at scale, if you can manage the server.
My recommendation for most Filipino entrepreneurs: Make.com to start. When you hit the ceiling of what Make.com can do cleanly, migrate to n8n self-hosted.
Setting Up Automation for Your WordPress Site
The fastest way to see results is to automate one workflow first: contact form → CRM → follow-up email. This single automation typically pays for itself within the first month.
If you want someone to design and build your automation stack — including the WordPress forms, the automation workflows, and the CRM configuration — that’s exactly what I do. I build automation-first WordPress sites for service businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from Zapier to Make.com later?
Yes, but it requires rebuilding your workflows in Make.com. There’s no migration tool. Most workflows take 30–60 minutes each to rebuild. For businesses with 5–10 active Zaps, migration is a half-day project.
Is n8n reliable enough for production automations?
Yes, with proper setup. Use Docker with automatic restarts, set up error notifications, and test every workflow before going live. n8n is used in production by thousands of businesses worldwide including many Fortune 500 companies.
Do I need all three tools?
No. Pick one and go deep on it. Running three automation platforms simultaneously creates maintenance overhead and makes debugging harder. Choose based on your primary use case and scale from there.
What about GoHighLevel? Does it replace these tools?
GoHighLevel has built-in automation (Workflows) that covers most marketing and CRM automation needs. If you’re already on GoHighLevel, you may not need Make.com or Zapier for your client communication flows. You’d still want n8n or Make.com for multi-tool workflows that connect GoHighLevel to other systems.
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