Make, n8n, or custom code? When to reach for which
Three approaches to automation differ in deployment speed, cost, and where your data lives. An overview of when to reach for which.
01
Make and Zapier: the fastest start
Visual tools like Make or Zapier are a good fit when you need to connect common SaaS apps quickly without writing code. Deployment takes days, not weeks, and your team can learn to manage it themselves after a short handover.
The downside is that data flows through the provider's infrastructure, and for genuinely complex logic you'll hit the limits of a visual editor.
02
n8n: a compromise between speed and control
n8n offers similarly fast visual deployment to Make, but can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure. It's our default choice when a client wants low development cost but also needs to keep data under their control.
03
Custom code: when scale or specific logic matters
Custom-coded solutions make sense for high data volumes, complex decision rules, or when deep integration with an internal system is needed that a visual tool can't reach. Development takes longer, but the result can handle volume and logic a low-code tool couldn't.
04
How we choose at the start of a project
We don't start with a tool — we start with a number. We calculate the payback for both a low-code and a custom-coded option and recommend whichever pays back faster and scales more easily with your company's volume going forward.
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