I’m shelling out a hefty sum each month for Zapier and Make. My bill ranges from $150 to $200 USD. I use these tools for a few key tasks:
Getting Facebook leads into my Kommo CRM
Linking CloudTalk and Kommo for call logs and task creation
Using webhooks to create PandaDoc contracts
I’m thinking about setting up N8N on my own server to save some cash. But I’m worried about how hard it might be to learn, if it’ll be reliable, and how much work it’ll take to keep running smoothly.
Has anyone here made the switch? Did you actually save money in the long run? How’s N8N been working for you in real-world use?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences! Thanks in advance for any advice you can share.
i switched to n8n few months back. its been a rollercoaster tbh. savedme some $$ but man, the setup was a pain. reliability’s ok, but u gotta babysit it sometimes. if ur tech-savvy and patient, go for it. but if time’s precious, maybe stick with zapier/make. depends on how much u value ur sanity vs cash lol
I’ve been down this road before, and I can tell you it’s not a decision to take lightly. About a year ago, I made the switch from Zapier to self-hosted N8N, primarily to cut costs. Initially, it seemed like a great idea - the potential savings were attractive.
However, the reality was different. While N8N is powerful, it has a steeper learning curve than I anticipated. I spent countless hours troubleshooting and fine-tuning workflows. The reliability wasn’t as rock-solid as Zapier, and I found myself doing more maintenance than I’d like.
In terms of cost savings, it wasn’t as straightforward as I hoped. Yes, I saved on subscription fees, but the time investment and occasional downtime had their own costs. For critical business processes, the peace of mind that comes with a managed service like Zapier or Make might be worth the price.
That said, if you’re tech-savvy and have the time to invest, N8N can be a viable option. It really depends on how mission-critical your automations are and how much you value your time versus money saved.
I’ve been using N8N for about 6 months now, and I can share my experience. The transition from Zapier was challenging at first, but it’s been worth it for me. The learning curve is steep, but once you get the hang of it, N8N is incredibly powerful and flexible.
Reliability has been solid, with only a few hiccups that were quickly resolved. The cost savings have been significant - I’m spending about 70% less than I did with Zapier. However, be prepared to invest time in setup and occasional troubleshooting.
For your specific use cases, N8N should handle them well. I’ve set up similar workflows for CRM integrations and webhook handling without issues. Just ensure you have a robust backup system in place and monitor your server regularly.
If you’re comfortable with technical tasks and value customization, N8N could be a good fit. But weigh the time investment against potential savings carefully.