Make (formerly Integromat) is one of the most popular workflow automation tools available. Its visual scenario builder and affordable pricing have won over freelancers, agencies, and mid-size teams alike. But Make isn’t for everyone — the learning curve is steeper than competitors, error handling can be frustrating, and some users hit limits on execution time or data throughput.
If you’re evaluating alternatives, here are seven platforms worth considering in 2026.
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Free Plan | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | Beginners, app breadth | ✅ (100 tasks/mo) | $19.99/mo |
| n8n | Developers, self-hosting | ✅ (self-hosted) | $20/mo (cloud) |
| Pipedream | Developers, code-first | ✅ (generous) | $19/mo |
| Activepieces | Open-source simplicity | ✅ (self-hosted) | $10/mo (cloud) |
| Tray.io | Enterprise automation | ❌ | Custom pricing |
| Workato | Enterprise iPaaS | ❌ | Custom pricing |
| Power Automate | Microsoft ecosystem | ❌ | $15/user/mo |
1. Zapier — Best for Beginners and App Coverage
Price: Free (100 tasks/mo) / $19.99/mo (Starter) / $49/mo (Professional)
Zapier is the most widely known automation platform, and its biggest advantage is app coverage. With over 7,000 integrations, Zapier connects to more tools than any competitor — including Make.
The trade-off is flexibility. Zapier’s linear “trigger → action” model is simpler to learn than Make’s branching scenarios, but it’s also less powerful for complex workflows. Multi-step Zaps with conditional logic are possible but feel clunky compared to Make’s visual canvas.
Pricing is another consideration. Zapier charges by task (each action counts), and costs scale quickly. A workflow that costs $10/month on Make might cost $40+ on Zapier depending on volume.
Switch to Zapier if: You need an integration that Make doesn’t support, or you want the simplest possible setup.
Stay on Make if: You build complex, branching workflows and care about per-operation cost.
Read our full Zapier vs Make comparison →
2. n8n — Best for Developers and Self-Hosting
Price: Free (self-hosted) / $20/mo (cloud Starter) / $50/mo (cloud Pro)
n8n is an open-source, self-hostable automation platform. If you have a server (or a $5/month VPS), you can run n8n with no per-execution limits and full control over your data.
The visual builder resembles Make’s canvas, but n8n also lets you write custom JavaScript or Python within any node. This makes it far more flexible for technical users who want to transform data, call APIs, or run custom logic without external tools.
The downside: self-hosting means you’re responsible for updates, backups, and uptime. The cloud-hosted version eliminates that burden but limits some advanced features to higher tiers.
Switch to n8n if: You’re technical, want to self-host, or need code-level control inside workflows.
Stay on Make if: You prefer a fully managed platform with no DevOps overhead.
3. Pipedream — Best for Code-First Automation
Price: Free (10,000 invocations/mo) / $19/mo (Basic) / $49/mo (Advanced)
Pipedream blurs the line between no-code automation and a full development platform. Each step in a workflow can be a pre-built action (similar to Make) or a custom Node.js, Python, Go, or Bash script. You get full access to npm packages, environment variables, and a built-in key-value store.
The free tier is notably generous — 10,000 invocations per month with no watermark or branding restrictions. For developers building internal tools or data pipelines, Pipedream often ends up cheaper than Make or Zapier.
The trade-off: non-technical users will find Pipedream intimidating. There’s no drag-and-drop canvas; workflows are essentially code with a UI wrapper.
Switch to Pipedream if: You’re a developer who wants automation with full code access and a strong free tier.
Stay on Make if: You prefer visual workflow building without writing code.
4. Activepieces — Best Open-Source Alternative
Price: Free (self-hosted, unlimited) / $10/mo (cloud) / $25/mo (cloud Pro)
Activepieces is a newer open-source automation platform that positions itself as a simpler alternative to both Make and n8n. The interface is clean, the learning curve is low, and self-hosting is straightforward with Docker.
The piece library (Activepieces’ term for integrations) is growing but still smaller than Make’s — around 200 pieces compared to Make’s 1,500+ apps. For common tools like Slack, Google Sheets, and Notion, coverage is solid. For niche SaaS tools, you may need to build custom pieces.
Cloud pricing starts at $10/month, which undercuts Make’s paid plans. Self-hosted is completely free with no execution limits.
Switch to Activepieces if: You want open-source simplicity without n8n’s complexity, or you’re on a tight budget.
Stay on Make if: You rely on integrations with less common apps.
5. Tray.io — Best for Enterprise Automation
Price: Custom (typically $600+/month)
Tray.io targets enterprise teams that have outgrown tools like Make and Zapier. It handles complex, multi-branch workflows with conditional logic, loops, and error handling that enterprise IT teams expect.
The platform includes features Make lacks: a built-in data mapper for transforming complex JSON, role-based access control, SOC 2 compliance documentation, and dedicated customer success managers.
The cost reflects the audience. Tray.io is not for freelancers or small teams — pricing starts in the hundreds per month and scales with usage.
Switch to Tray.io if: Your organization needs enterprise-grade automation with compliance, governance, and dedicated support.
Stay on Make if: You don’t need enterprise features and prefer transparent, affordable pricing.
6. Workato — Best for Enterprise iPaaS
Price: Custom (enterprise contracts)
Workato is an integration platform as a service (iPaaS) used by large organizations to connect ERP, CRM, HRIS, and other enterprise systems. Where Make focuses on SaaS-to-SaaS automation, Workato handles on-premise databases, SAP, and legacy systems.
Key differentiators: AI-assisted recipe building, a community library of pre-built recipes, and “Workbot” — a conversational bot that lets employees trigger automations from Slack or Teams.
Like Tray.io, Workato is priced for enterprise budgets. Small businesses and solopreneurs should look elsewhere.
Switch to Workato if: You need to integrate enterprise systems (SAP, Oracle, Workday) with modern SaaS tools.
Stay on Make if: You’re automating between cloud-based SaaS products and don’t need on-premise connectivity.
7. Microsoft Power Automate — Best for Microsoft Ecosystem
Price: $15/user/mo (Premium) / Included with some Microsoft 365 plans
Power Automate is Microsoft’s workflow automation tool, and it has one massive advantage: deep integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. If your organization runs on Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Dynamics 365, and Excel, Power Automate connects to all of them natively.
The platform also supports desktop automation (RPA) — recording mouse clicks and keystrokes to automate legacy Windows applications. Make and most competitors don’t offer this.
The downside: Power Automate’s interface is less intuitive than Make’s visual canvas. Building complex flows involves navigating nested conditions and actions that can get disorienting. And if you’re not in the Microsoft ecosystem, the value proposition weakens considerably.
Switch to Power Automate if: Your organization is deeply invested in Microsoft 365 and needs RPA capabilities.
Stay on Make if: You work primarily with non-Microsoft tools and prefer a cleaner visual builder.
Who Should Stay on Make?
Make remains a strong choice if you:
- Build complex, branching workflows with routers and error handlers
- Need affordable pricing based on operations rather than tasks
- Want a visual canvas that handles multi-step logic clearly
- Use a wide variety of SaaS tools (Make supports 1,500+ apps)
For a deeper look at Make’s strengths and weaknesses, check our Make review.
Bottom Line
The right alternative depends on what Make isn’t giving you. If it’s app coverage, try Zapier. If it’s code-level flexibility, try n8n or Pipedream. If it’s enterprise governance, look at Tray.io or Workato. And if you’re deep in the Microsoft stack, Power Automate is the natural fit.
Compare Make and Zapier side by side → Zapier vs Make