Winner when the agent has to live inside real business systems — AI Agent node, 400+ integrations, JavaScript/Python steps, and a self-host option so you own the runs.
Best for
Technical builders and small teams who want agents with triggers, CRMs, webhooks, custom code, any LLM provider, and execution logs they can debug step by step.
Skip when
Nobody on the team wants to touch a workflow canvas or JSON, or you only need a chatty teammate inside apps you already wired in Zapier.
Pricing (approx.): Self-hosted Community edition free; Cloud from ~€20/mo (execution-based) · check vendor for current pricing
Try n8n →
Worked use case
Support triage agent that drafts replies and never auto-sends
- Trigger on new helpdesk or Gmail messages.
- Add an AI Agent node with triage rules and your preferred model.
- Give it tools: CRM lookup, knowledge-base search, and a "create draft" action only.
- Log every tool call in the execution view and pin sample tickets for regression tests.
- Activate, then review drafts daily for a week before widening autonomy.
Best visual no-code canvas for teams that want AI modules and routers on a single scenario map — strong when ops owns the automations, not engineering.
Best for
No-code operators connecting SaaS apps (CRM, sheets, Slack, forms) who want to drop AI summarize/classify steps into scenarios they can see and edit without code.
Skip when
You need self-hosting, heavy custom code, or very high run volumes — n8n is usually cheaper and more flexible at scale, and Make's operation-based billing can climb on chatty agents.
Pricing (approx.): Free plan with a monthly operations allowance; paid plans from ~$9–11/mo, billed by operations/credits · check vendor for current pricing
Try Make → (affiliate link)
Worked use case
Form-to-CRM lead router with an AI summary
- Trigger from Typeform, Google Forms, or a webhook.
- Add an AI module that summarizes the submission and tags intent.
- Router: sales → CRM + Slack; support → helpdesk ticket.
- Run once with sample data and inspect each module bubble.
- Schedule it and check operation usage after the first week.
Easiest "AI teammate" path if you already live in Zapier — specialize agents with company knowledge and let them act across 9,000+ apps with the least plumbing.
Best for
Teams already deep in Zapier who want meeting prep, lead enrichment, support drafts, or content agents without rebuilding their stack on another canvas.
Skip when
You need self-hosting, multi-model freedom, or code-level control over every step — n8n wins there. If you are starting greenfield and care about cost at volume, compare Make and n8n first.
Pricing (approx.): Included with Zapier plans / Agents usage limits — check zapier.com/pricing for current Agent allowances
Try Zapier Agents →
Worked use case
Lead enrichment agent on new form submissions
- Create an agent from a lead-enrichment template (or with Zapier Copilot).
- Connect your form or CRM as the trigger source of truth.
- Add company knowledge (FAQs, ICP notes, public docs) so scores stay grounded.
- Have it enrich the lead, score fit, and notify Slack — with a human review step at first.
- Monitor activity, then widen autonomy once false positives drop.