Decision tool

Zapier, n8n, Make, or an AI agent?

Most workflows do not need a fully autonomous agent. They need a reliable trigger, a visible action path, and a human approval where risk is high.

Choose Zapier

• Pick Zapier when the workflow is simple, the apps are common, and speed matters more than custom logic.
• Zapier Agents are a good next step when natural-language instructions should drive app actions.

Choose Make or n8n

• Choose Make when you want a visual scenario builder and multi-step control.
• Choose n8n when you want ownership, workflow visibility, technical control, and AI nodes inside a broader process.

Choose an agent

• Choose OpenClaw or Hermes when the work is conversational, context-heavy, tool-driven, and not just a fixed trigger-action chain.
• Add explicit approvals for sends, deletes, purchases, account changes, and production commands.