The verdict in three sentences
For a Dublin services SME, Make offers the best cost-to-speed ratio up to roughly 50,000 operations a month, self-hosted n8n becomes the cheapest option beyond that, and Zapier mostly makes sense for non-technical teams that want everything connected in a day. Custom development (10,000 to 40,000 EUR) only pays off on 2 or 3 critical workflows with high volume or strict reliability needs, such as invoicing. The line item that really matters over 3 years is not the subscription, it is setup and maintenance: budget 3,000 to 15,000 EUR plus VAT with an integrator.
The four options compared in 2026
| Criterion | Zapier | Make | Self-hosted n8n | Custom development |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | 20 to 600 USD by tasks | 9 to 300 EUR by operations | 10 to 40 EUR server (free community licence) | 20 to 150 EUR hosting |
| Billing model | Per task run | Per operation (credits) | Unlimited, bounded by server | No volume billing |
| Ready-made connectors | 7,000+ | 2,000+ | 400+ native, plus HTTP requests | Built as needed |
| Learning curve | Very easy | Moderate | Technical | Developers only |
| Data hosting | Mostly United States | EU available | Your own server, in Ireland | Your own server |
| Error handling and retries | Basic | Good | Very good | Full control |
| Vendor lock-in | High | High | Low (open code) | None, but supplier dependency |
Dublin services SMEs (accountancy practices, IT consultancies, engineering firms, agencies) usually run a mix of tools: Pipedrive or HubSpot, Xero or Sage, Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, an e-signature tool. The 10 to 30 typical workflows are quote generation, client onboarding, invoice reminders, folder creation and weekly reporting.
Total 3-year cost by volume
Assumptions: 20 workflows, integrator setup included, maintenance not included (2 to 6 hours a month at 90 EUR an hour, or 6,500 to 19,500 EUR over 3 years to add).
| Monthly volume | Zapier (3 years) | Make (3 years) | Self-hosted n8n (3 years) | Custom (3 years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000 operations | 9,500 EUR | 7,800 EUR | 9,000 EUR | 22,000 EUR |
| 20,000 operations | 16,000 EUR | 9,500 EUR | 9,300 EUR | 22,500 EUR |
| 50,000 operations | 24,000 EUR | 12,500 EUR | 9,800 EUR | 23,000 EUR |
| 150,000 operations | 32,000 EUR and up | 18,000 EUR | 10,500 EUR | 24,000 EUR |
| Setup included | 3,000 to 6,000 EUR | 4,000 to 8,000 EUR | 6,000 to 12,000 EUR | 10,000 to 40,000 EUR |
| Tolerated downtime | A few hours | A few hours | Depends on your monitoring | Depends on your contract |
These are 2026 estimates excluding VAT. n8n setup costs more because it includes the server, backups, monitoring and documentation. On the other hand its marginal cost per operation is close to zero, which gives it the edge as volumes grow.
How to choose without getting it wrong
Three questions settle most cases. First, can your client data transit through US servers? If your DPO says no, Zapier is out. Second, does anyone in-house know how to read an error log? Without that skill, n8n requires a maintenance contract. Third, which workflow is expensive when it fails? An unsent invoice or contract often justifies dedicated code, with automated tests and alerts.
The most common strategy in 2026 is hybrid: Make or n8n for 80 % of workflows, a small custom service for invoicing or ERP sync, and centralised monitoring that alerts by e-mail or Slack.
Mini case study
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Aoife, managing director of a 45-person engineering consultancy in Dublin (Grand Canal Dock), wants to automate 22 workflows, about 35,000 operations a month. With Zapier, the required plan costs about 450 USD a month, close to 15,000 EUR over 3 years, plus 5,000 EUR setup: 20,000 EUR. With self-hosted n8n: 9,000 EUR setup, 25 EUR a month for the server (900 EUR) and 3 hours of monthly maintenance at 90 EUR (9,700 EUR), or 19,600 EUR over 3 years, with data kept in Ireland. Aoife picks Make to start (6,000 EUR setup, 120 EUR a month, or 10,300 EUR over 3 years before maintenance) and plans a move to n8n if volume doubles. Estimated time saved: 2.5 days of admin work a week, worth about 45,000 EUR a year.
FAQ
Is n8n really free?
The self-hosted community edition is free, but you pay for a server (10 to 40 EUR a month) and someone to maintain it. n8n Cloud starts around 24 EUR a month with an execution quota.
Can we migrate from Zapier to Make or n8n later?
Yes, but each workflow has to be rebuilt, at 2 to 6 hours per flow. For 20 workflows, migration costs 3,000 to 8,000 EUR.
How long does it take to automate 20 workflows?
Between 3 and 8 weeks depending on connected tools and data quality. Invoicing workflows always need a 2-week parallel test phase.
Is GDPR a problem with these tools?
Make offers EU hosting and self-hosted n8n keeps everything in Ireland. With Zapier, you sign the DPA and document transfers outside the EU in your records of processing.
Do we need an in-house developer?
Not for Zapier or Make. For n8n or custom code, a maintenance contract of 200 to 600 EUR a month usefully replaces a hire.
Let's scope your project. List your 10 to 30 workflows and tools: we will recommend the right platform and price setup between 3,000 and 15,000 EUR, deliverable in 3 to 8 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.