If you're picking an automation tool on a solo budget, don't start with Zapier's free plan expecting to run your business on it. It caps you at 100 tasks a month and single-step Zaps only, one trigger, one action, no multi-step workflows (source: workflowpick.com, Zapier free plan limits, 2026). Make's free plan gives you 1,000 operations a month across 2 active multi-step scenarios, a genuinely usable starting point, and its cheapest paid plan at $9 a month unlocks 10,000 operations, less than half of Zapier's $19.99 Starter plan for over 13 times the volume (source: digitalapplied.com, Zapier vs Make vs n8n, 2026).
Why the default answer needs correcting
Zapier is the name most people reach for first, because it was early and its app library is enormous. Both of those are still true. What's not true anymore is that its free plan is a reasonable way to actually run automation for a solo business. 100 tasks a month sounds workable until you realize a single new-lead-to-welcome-email workflow can burn through that in days, and the single-step restriction means you can't even chain "new form response" to "add to spreadsheet" to "send Slack message" without upgrading (source: workflowpick.com, 2026). The free plan works as a demo of what Zapier does. It doesn't work as a tool you build a workflow on.
What each tool actually gives you
Zapier Free. 100 tasks a month, 5 single-step Zaps maximum, 15-minute polling interval instead of real-time triggers (source: workflowpick.com, 2026). Fine for testing whether an integration exists; not enough to run a real workflow.
Zapier Starter ($19.99/mo). 750 tasks a month and multi-step Zaps unlocked. Most users who outgrow this actually need the $49-a-month Professional plan for paths, custom logic, and webhooks (source: workflowpick.com, 2026).
Make Free. 1,000 operations a month across 2 active scenarios, with multi-step workflows included from the free tier, not locked behind a paid plan (source: digitalapplied.com, 2026).
Make Core ($9/mo). 10,000 operations a month. At this price point, a modest 3-step workflow can run roughly 3,300 times a month, well past what Zapier's $19.99 plan gives you at twice the price (source: digitalapplied.com, 2026).
n8n Self-Hosted (free). Unlimited executions, since you're running it on your own server rather than n8n's infrastructure. The tradeoff is setup and maintenance work, not a subscription fee (source: digitalapplied.com, 2026).
n8n Cloud Starter ($20/mo). 2,500 executions a month if you'd rather not self-host. Priced close to Zapier's Starter plan but with a different execution model worth comparing directly against your actual workflow volume.
Comparison
| Tool | Free tier | Cheapest paid plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | 100 tasks/mo, single-step only | $19.99/mo (750 tasks) | Huge app library, simple one-off triggers |
| Make | 1,000 ops/mo, multi-step included | $9/mo (10,000 ops) | Best operations-per-dollar for solo workflows |
| n8n | Unlimited (self-hosted) | $20/mo (2,500 executions, cloud) | Technical users comfortable self-hosting |
The one thing most comparisons skip
"Tasks," "operations," and "executions" aren't the same unit across these three tools, so a raw price comparison without checking how each platform counts usage is misleading. Before picking based on this table, run through this in under 5 minutes:
- Write down your workflow's actual steps, start to finish.
- Count how many steps it has (this is roughly your "operations" per run on Make).
- Estimate how many times a month it realistically triggers.
- Multiply steps by monthly runs, then compare that number against each plan's cap above.
A 3-step workflow running 500 times a month fits Make's $9 plan comfortably and would burn through Zapier's free tier in days.
FAQ
Can I actually run a real automation on Zapier's free plan?
Only a single trigger-to-action workflow, and only up to 100 executions a month. Anything requiring more than one step or higher volume needs a paid plan.
Which tool gives the most automation for the lowest price?
Make's $9-a-month Core plan, at 10,000 operations, delivers substantially more usable volume per dollar than Zapier's $19.99 Starter plan at 750 tasks (source: digitalapplied.com, 2026).
Is n8n worth the self-hosting effort for a solopreneur?
Only if you're comfortable with basic server setup and want to avoid a recurring subscription entirely. If you'd rather not manage infrastructure, n8n's cloud plan or Make are simpler starting points.
How do I know which plan I'll actually need?
Count your workflow's steps and estimate monthly volume before comparing prices. The plan that fits your actual usage, not the plan with the most familiar name, is the one worth paying for.
If you take one thing from this: Zapier's brand recognition doesn't make its free plan more usable, and the cheapest real automation tool for a solo budget right now is very likely not the first name you think of.
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