Choose based on the workflow and who will maintain it.
n8n fits when the workflow has several steps and AI handles one or more of them, such as classifying, drafting, or transforming data between systems. It can be self-hosted, which helps with data-sensitive work, and is the most flexible of the visual tools for AI-heavy orchestration. The tradeoff is a steeper learning curve.
Make fits when you need to connect familiar SaaS tools quickly — forms to spreadsheets to email to Slack — with modest logic in between. Its visual builder and connector library make common integrations accessible to non-developers.
Apps Script fits when everything already lives in Google Workspace. It is free, runs inside your Google account, and is useful lightweight glue: processing Gmail, updating Sheets, generating Docs. It requires writing some JavaScript, though AI assistants make that more approachable than it used to be.
Custom code fits when logic or integrations outgrow no-code — complex business rules, unusual APIs, performance needs, or workflows you will maintain for years. You take on hosting and maintenance, so a developer, staff member, or reliable volunteer needs to own it.
A practical tiebreaker: who will maintain this in two years? Pick the option that person can troubleshoot. Prototype before committing; an afternoon in each tool tells you more than any comparison page.
