Make counts credits. A trigger uses 1 credit each time it checks (or each time an instant trigger fires), and every action uses 1 credit for each item it handles. A 15-minute schedule alone is about 2,880 checks a month, more than the Free plan's 1,000. See Make credits explained.
Zapier counts tasks. Triggers, polling and built-in helpers are free; each successful action is a task. Zapier Free allows two-step Zaps only (one action) and 100 tasks a month. See Make vs Zapier pricing.
n8n counts executions: one per workflow run, however many steps. We count every scheduled check as an execution, which is how n8n's Schedule trigger works; app triggers that poll for new data may count fewer, so check n8n's docs for yours. n8n Cloud has no free plan; the Community Edition is free to self-host. See n8n vs Make.
Simplifications: standard 1-credit actions, one item per run, 30-day months. AI modules and some apps use more. Make prices are at its 10,000-credit setting; higher volumes cost more.