Quick framework
**Zapier** — fastest to build · weakest at conditional logic · most expensive at scale.
**Make** — best balance of power and accessibility · my default for most clients.
**n8n** — most powerful (self-hostable, full code escape hatch) · steepest learning curve.
Failure modes
Zapier fails when you need branching logic with multiple outputs. The visual builder gets unwieldy past 5 steps.
Make fails when you need version control. The git-style export exists but is painful for teams.
n8n fails when your team isn't technical enough to debug it. Self-hosted reliability is your problem.
What we use
We use all three depending on the workflow. No religion, just fit.
The Workflow Automation Playbook (£97) breaks down the decision tree. — Arora