Start with the process type
If the process is simple and already lives in SaaS tools, Zapier may be the fastest path. If more control and self-hosted logic are required, n8n fits better. If the process needs several agent roles, CrewAI can structure a team-style workflow.
When a custom system is needed
When actions involve sensitive data, complex permissions, realtime state or many integrations, a custom layer with Convex, Supabase, Neon or Cloudflare becomes useful. No-code tools then become part of prototyping or integration, not the whole system.
The WebEdge selection rule
First ask: how heavy is a mistake? If a mistake is cheap, automate quickly. If a mistake is heavy, start with a read-only assistant, logs, approvals and tests. Only then add write actions.