Blog · Tools
n8n, Make or Power Automate? Just get started.
The choice of tool matters less than you might think. Power Automate suits companies on Microsoft 365, Make is best for a quick start and n8n for more complex logic, AI and data on your own server in the EU. All three handle most everyday automations. What matters more than the tool is getting started: pick one specific task and automate it.
Power Automate: when you work in Microsoft 365
Power Automate is part of the Microsoft ecosystem. It integrates very well with Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Excel and Dynamics, and permissions are managed through Entra ID, which you already have. For approval processes, notifications and working with documents in SharePoint, it is the natural choice.
It is weaker when it comes to connecting non-Microsoft systems, more complex logic and the cost of premium connectors. Debugging more complex flows can be laborious.
Make: a quick start and a clear interface
Make (formerly Integromat) has a visual editor that non-technical users also find easy to navigate. It offers hundreds of ready-made integrations and is very quick for simple and moderately complex scenarios.
You pay by the number of operations, so the cost rises with large data volumes. It runs only in the vendor's cloud, so you cannot keep your data on your own server.
n8n: flexibility, self-hosting and AI
n8n is an open-source tool that you can run in the cloud or on your own server, for example in the EU or directly within your network. This matters for companies with sensitive data. Besides visual nodes, it lets you write your own code and has strong support for AI: agents, document processing and integration with Claude, GPT or local models.
It requires more technical knowledge and, if self-hosted, server administration too. That is why we often run it on the client's behalf as part of our operations support.
Quick comparison
| Power Automate | Make | n8n | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Microsoft 365 | A quick start | Complex logic and AI |
| Self-hosting | No | No | Yes |
| Data in the EU | Depends on tenant | Choice of region | Full control |
| AI capabilities | Copilot, Azure OpenAI | AI modules | Agents, RAG, any model |
| Difficulty | Low to medium | Low | Medium |
| Price | Per-user licence | Per operation | Free (self-hosted) or cloud |
Just get started
The most expensive option is to keep comparing and never start. Companies often spend months comparing tools while their people keep retyping data by hand. Yet the first workflow usually runs within a few days, and switching tools later is possible.
We are not tied to any vendor and choose by task: Power Automate for simple tasks in Microsoft 365, Make for quickly testing an idea, n8n for workflows with AI and sensitive data. The tools are often combined. Not sure where to start? An AI assessment helps, or see how we automate processes.
Frequently asked questions
Is n8n free?
You can run the community edition on your own server for free; you only pay for hosting and administration. The cloud version and enterprise features are paid.
Can we switch from one tool to another later?
Yes, but the workflows have to be rebuilt. That is why it is worth choosing a tool based on your long-term needs from the outset.
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