Zapier alternatives with EU data processing: n8n, Make and your own server
Zapier is convenient, but processes data mainly in the US and gets expensive as workflows grow. Many European businesses therefore want an alternative that keeps customer data in the EU and keeps costs predictable. The two obvious candidates are n8n and Make, with very different strengths.
n8n: self-host, full control
n8n comes from Berlin and can run on your own server, for example with a hosting provider in Germany. Workflow data then leaves your infrastructure only where you decide, such as when calling a language model or an external API. There is also a cloud version if you do not want to run a server.
The price of control is responsibility: updates, backups, monitoring and security sit with you or your provider. For teams without technical support that is real effort and belongs in the calculation.
Make: cloud with an EU data centre
Make is a cloud service with a visual editor and offers an EU data centre. It suits teams that do not want to run a server and prefer to build workflows themselves. As with any cloud, you need a data processing agreement and should check which sub-processors are involved. Note: according to Make, some AI features are processed in the US even with an EU data zone, so check this for every workflow that handles personal data.
How to choose: four questions
Answer these before committing to a tool:
- What data flows through the workflows? Health, financial or HR data strongly favours self-hosting.
- Who looks after the technology? Without support, an EU-hosted cloud is often safer than a neglected own server.
- How many runs per month? Usage-based pricing grows with volume; your own server is a largely fixed cost.
- Which integrations do you need? Check that your CRM, accounting and store are supported directly.
Moving off Zapier: effort and process
Workflows cannot be transferred automatically; they are rebuilt in the new tool. That is a good moment to clean up, because many Zapier accounts hold workflows nobody needs any more. List all active workflows with trigger, target system and owner, rebuild them, run old and new in parallel, and only then switch the old one off.
At Onravetoni automating or rebuilding one process starts at €600, a package of three to five processes at €2,000. If you wish, we set up n8n on an EU server and hand over access and documentation to you.
Frequently asked questions
- Is n8n free?
- The self-hosted version can be used without a licence fee under n8n's licence terms; you pay for the server and upkeep. Certain features and the cloud have paid plans. Check the current licence terms for your use case.
- Can Zapier be used in a GDPR-compliant way?
- That depends on your data, contracts and the legal basis for transfers. If in doubt, have your data protection officer assess it.
- Which tool is easiest to start with?
- For non-technical teams usually a cloud tool such as Make. Our comparison of n8n, Make and Zapier covers the differences in detail.
Sources
Send us the list of your active Zapier workflows. We tell you which are worth keeping, where they should move and what the migration costs.
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