n8n vs Make (Integromat):The Definitive Automation Platform Guide

Why This Comparison Matters for Norwegian Businesses

After implementing automation solutions for over 200 Norwegian companies, from Oslo startups to Bergen enterprises, we've seen firsthand how choosing the right automation platform can save millions of NOK annually. Both n8n and Make (formerly Integromat) are powerful, but they serve different needs.

Comprehensive Feature Comparison

Detailed Platform Analysis

n8n: The Developer-First Powerhouse

// n8n Custom Function Node Example
// Process Norwegian customer data with validation

const norwegianOrgNumber = $input.item.json.orgNumber;
const items = [];

// Validate Norwegian organization number
function validateOrgNumber(orgNum) {
  const cleaned = orgNum.replace(/\s/g, '');
  if (cleaned.length !== 9) return false;
  
  const weights = [3, 2, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2];
  let sum = 0;
  
  for (let i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
    sum += parseInt(cleaned[i]) * weights[i];
  }
  
  const checkDigit = (11 - (sum % 11)) % 11;
  return checkDigit === parseInt(cleaned[8]);
}

// Process and enrich data
if (validateOrgNumber(norwegianOrgNumber)) {
  // Fetch from Brønnøysund API
  const response = await fetch(
    `https://data.brreg.no/enhetsregisteret/api/enheter/${norwegianOrgNumber}`
  );
  
  const companyData = await response.json();
  
  items.push({
    json: {
      valid: true,
      orgNumber: norwegianOrgNumber,
      companyName: companyData.navn,
      address: companyData.forretningsadresse,
      employees: companyData.antallAnsatte,
      industry: companyData.naeringskode1?.beskrivelse,
      registeredDate: companyData.stiftelsesdato,
      status: 'verified'
    }
  });
} else {
  items.push({
    json: {
      valid: false,
      orgNumber: norwegianOrgNumber,
      error: 'Invalid Norwegian organization number',
      status: 'validation_failed'
    }
  });
}

return items;

Make: The Visual Workflow Master

Real-World Implementation Examples

Case Study 1: E-commerce Automation (n8n)

// n8n Workflow: Multi-channel Inventory Sync
{
  "nodes": [
    {
      "name": "Webhook Trigger",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.webhook",
      "position": [250, 300],
      "webhookId": "inventory-update",
      "parameters": {
        "path": "/inventory-sync",
        "responseMode": "onReceived",
        "options": {}
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Transform Data",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "position": [450, 300],
      "parameters": {
        "jsCode": `
          // Norwegian VAT calculation
          const items = $input.all();
          return items.map(item => ({
            json: {
              ...item.json,
              priceWithVAT: item.json.price * 1.25,
              priceExVAT: item.json.price,
              norwegianVAT: item.json.price * 0.25,
              currency: 'NOK'
            }
          }));
        `
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Update Shopify",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.shopify",
      "position": [650, 200]
    },
    {
      "name": "Update WooCommerce",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.wooCommerce",
      "position": [650, 400]
    }
  ]
}

Case Study 2: HR Onboarding (Make)

Pricing Comparison (Norwegian Market)

Security and Compliance Comparison

GDPR and Norwegian Data Protection

Performance Benchmarks

// Performance Test Results (1000 workflow executions)
{
  "n8n": {
    "averageExecutionTime": "287ms",
    "p95Latency": "520ms",
    "p99Latency": "890ms",
    "successRate": "99.8%",
    "memoryUsage": "128MB average",
    "cpuUsage": "15% average",
    "concurrentExecutions": 100
  },
  "make": {
    "averageExecutionTime": "450ms",
    "p95Latency": "980ms",
    "p99Latency": "1420ms",
    "successRate": "99.5%",
    "memoryUsage": "N/A (cloud)",
    "cpuUsage": "N/A (cloud)",
    "concurrentExecutions": "Based on plan"
  }
}

Advanced Implementation Patterns

n8n: Error Handling and Retry Logic

// Advanced n8n error handling pattern
const maxRetries = 3;
const backoffMultiplier = 2;
let retryCount = 0;

async function executeWithRetry() {
  while (retryCount < maxRetries) {
    try {
      // Your main logic here
      const result = await processData($input.item.json);
      
      // Log success to Norwegian monitoring
      await logToMonitoring({
        status: 'success',
        workflow: $workflow.id,
        execution: $execution.id,
        timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
      });
      
      return [{json: result}];
      
    } catch (error) {
      retryCount++;
      
      // Log error
      await logToMonitoring({
        status: 'error',
        error: error.message,
        retryAttempt: retryCount,
        workflow: $workflow.id
      });
      
      if (retryCount >= maxRetries) {
        // Send alert to ops team
        await sendSlackAlert({
          channel: '#ops-alerts',
          message: `Workflow failed after ${maxRetries} retries`,
          error: error.message,
          severity: 'high'
        });
        
        throw error;
      }
      
      // Exponential backoff
      const delay = Math.pow(backoffMultiplier, retryCount) * 1000;
      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, delay));
    }
  }
}

return executeWithRetry();

Make: Complex Router Logic

Make excels at visual routing logic. Here's how to implement complex conditional workflows:

Migration Guide: Switching Platforms

Migrating from Make to n8n

// Make to n8n migration script
import { readFileSync } from 'fs';
import axios from 'axios';

async function migrateMakeToN8n(makeScenarioId) {
  // 1. Export Make scenario
  const makeExport = await exportMakeScenario(makeScenarioId);
  
  // 2. Transform to n8n format
  const n8nWorkflow = {
    name: makeExport.name,
    nodes: [],
    connections: {},
    settings: {
      executionOrder: 'v1'
    }
  };
  
  // 3. Map Make modules to n8n nodes
  for (const module of makeExport.modules) {
    const n8nNode = mapMakeModuleToN8n(module);
    n8nWorkflow.nodes.push(n8nNode);
  }
  
  // 4. Recreate connections
  n8nWorkflow.connections = mapMakeConnections(makeExport.routes);
  
  // 5. Import to n8n
  const response = await axios.post(
    'https://your-n8n-instance.com/api/v1/workflows',
    n8nWorkflow,
    {
      headers: {
        'X-N8N-API-KEY': process.env.N8N_API_KEY
      }
    }
  );
  
  return response.data;
}

function mapMakeModuleToN8n(module) {
  const moduleMapping = {
    'gateway': 'n8n-nodes-base.if',
    'http': 'n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest',
    'google-sheets': 'n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets',
    'slack': 'n8n-nodes-base.slack',
    // Add more mappings
  };
  
  return {
    name: module.name,
    type: moduleMapping[module.type] || 'n8n-nodes-base.noOp',
    position: [module.x || 0, module.y || 0],
    parameters: transformParameters(module.parameters)
  };
}

Decision Framework for Norwegian Businesses

Future-Proofing Your Automation Stack

AI Integration Capabilities

Both platforms are rapidly evolving AI capabilities, but with different approaches:

• n8n AI: Native LangChain integration, custom AI chains, vector database support, OpenAI/Anthropic/local LLM nodes
• Make AI: OpenAI integration, AI-powered data transformation, natural language scenario building (beta)

Expert Recommendations by Use Case

Conclusion: The Verdict for Norwegian Businesses

After implementing both platforms across hundreds of Norwegian organizations, our data shows:

The choice ultimately depends on your specific needs, technical capabilities, and compliance requirements. Both n8n and Make are excellent platforms that can transform your business operations.