What is n8n? The Open-Source Workflow Automation Platform Explained

TL;DR — 3-4 sentence summary covering what n8n is, key differentiators (open-source, self-hosted, fair-code license), who should use it, and primary benefits vs. cloud alternatives n8n is an open-source workflow automation platform that lets you connect apps, APIs, and AI models without writing extensive code. Unlike cloud-only competitors like Zapier or Make.com, n8n operates under a fair-code license and offers self-hosting options, giving you complete control over your data, workflows, and infrastructure costs. It’s ideal for developers who need custom integrations, operations teams managing sensitive data, and organizations wanting to avoid per-execution pricing that scales unpredictably with cloud alternatives. ...

February 21, 2026 · 9 min · AI Flow Lab

Make.com vs Zapier: Which is Better for Small Business Automation

TL;DR Make.com wins for small businesses needing complex, multi-step workflows with visual debugging and better pricing at scale. Zapier is better if you need the fastest setup, the largest app ecosystem (7,000+ vs 2,000+), and don’t mind paying more per task. Pricing Reality: Make.com offers 10,000 operations/month on their $9 Core plan, while Zapier’s $19.99 Starter plan gives you only 750 tasks/month. For a small business running 5,000 monthly automations (syncing Stripe payments to Google Sheets, sending Slack notifications, updating HubSpot contacts), Make.com costs $9/month versus Zapier’s $49/month Professional plan. ...

February 21, 2026 · 8 min · AI Flow Lab