Make: No-Code Workflow Automation Platform

In today’s fast-paced digital world, inefficiency is a major roadblock. How much time do you or your team spend on repetitive, manual tasks? Copying data between apps, sending standard emails, updating spreadsheets – it all adds up. What if you could reclaim that time and focus on what truly matters? Enter Make (formerly Integromat).

Make is a powerful, visual automation platform designed to let anyone design, build, and automate workflows without needing extensive coding knowledge. It acts like a digital connector, enabling seamless communication and task execution between the various web applications you use every day. With an impressive library of over 2,000 pre-built app integrations and growing, Make aims to be the central hub for your business process automation.

This post dives into what Make offers, who can benefit most, and its key strengths and potential drawbacks.

What is Make?

At its core, Make tackles the problem of disconnected digital tools and time-consuming manual processes. It provides a visually intuitive environment where you can map out automated sequences, called “Scenarios.” Think of it like building with digital Lego blocks: you choose the apps you want to connect, define a trigger event (like a new email arrival or a submitted form), and then chain together a series of actions that should automatically follow.

The platform’s main goal is to empower users – from individuals to large enterprises – to automate complex processes that might otherwise require custom development. By visualizing the workflow, Make makes automation more accessible and manageable.

Key Features

Make comes packed with features designed for flexibility and power:

• Intuitive Visual Builder: The drag-and-drop interface is central to Make. You visually connect modules (representing app actions or logic) to build your Scenarios. This makes understanding the flow of data and actions much easier than looking at code.
• Extensive App Integration Library: With connections to thousands of popular apps (the exact number varies, but sources mention over 1,500 to 2,000, including major SaaS platforms, social media, CRMs, and databases), chances are Make connects to the tools you already use. It also offers generic connectors like HTTP/Webhooks and JSON modules for linking to almost any web service.
• Complex Workflow Capabilities: Unlike simpler automation tools that often focus on linear sequences, Make excels at handling complexity. It supports features like:
  • Routers: To branch your workflow down different paths based on conditions.
  • Iterators & Aggregators: To process multiple items (like email attachments or spreadsheet rows) individually or combine them.
  • Error Handling: Define custom steps to manage errors gracefully, ensuring your automations don’t break unexpectedly.
  • Scheduling & Instant Triggers: Run Scenarios on a schedule (down to the minute on paid plans) or trigger them instantly when an event occurs.
• Data Manipulation: Make allows you to transform data as it passes through your workflow using built-in functions, without needing external tools.
• Templates: Get started quickly with pre-built Scenario templates for common use cases.
• Team Features & Collaboration: Higher-tier plans offer role-based access, scenario sharing, and audit logs for team environments.
• AI Integration: Make actively incorporates AI, offering integrations with various AI apps and features like Make AI Agents designed for adaptive automation.

How Does It Work?

Building an automation in Make involves:

1. Choosing a Trigger: What starts the Scenario? (e.g., New email in Gmail, New row in Google Sheets, New Shopify order).
2. Adding Modules: Drag and drop modules representing the apps and actions you want to perform.
3. Connecting Modules: Draw lines between modules to define the flow of execution and data.
4. Mapping Data: Specify which data fields from one module should be used in subsequent modules.
5. Testing & Activation: Test your Scenario and then activate it to run automatically.

Common Use Cases Include:

• Marketing Automation: Sync leads from web forms to CRM, automate social media posting, manage email campaigns.
• Sales Operations: Automate lead assignment, update CRM records based on interactions, generate reports.
• Data Synchronization: Keep data consistent across different platforms (e.g., sync customer info between your e-commerce store and accounting software).
• IT & Operations: Automate incident reporting, manage user provisioning, monitor services.
• HR Processes: Streamline employee onboarding or offboarding tasks.
• Personal Productivity: Automate file organization, manage notifications, sync calendars.

Who Is Make For?

Make’s flexibility caters to a broad audience:

• Businesses of all sizes: From solopreneurs and small businesses automating simple tasks to large enterprises managing critical, complex workflows.
• Marketers, Sales Teams, and Operations Managers: Who need to connect disparate tools and eliminate manual data entry.
• IT Professionals: For integrating systems, automating infrastructure tasks, and managing data flows.
• Developers & Technically-Minded Users: While marketed as no-code, Make’s power truly shines for those comfortable with concepts like APIs, data structures (arrays, JSON), and logical conditions, allowing for highly customized solutions.
• Agencies: Managing automation workflows for multiple clients.

Pricing & Availability

(Key Pricing Factor: Make’s pricing is primarily based on the number of “Operations” consumed per month. An operation generally corresponds to a single action performed by a module in your Scenario (e.g., reading a row, sending an email). Complex scenarios that process lots of data or run frequently can consume operations quickly, which is an important factor to consider when choosing a plan. Overage charges can apply if you exceed your plan’s limit.)

Pros and Cons of Make

Based on its features and user feedback, here’s a balanced look at Make:

Pros:

• Powerful Visual Workflow Builder: The interface allows for creating complex, multi-path automations visually.
• High Degree of Flexibility & Control: Offers extensive customization options, data manipulation tools, and logic functions (routers, error handling).
• Vast Integration Library: Connects with thousands of apps, plus generic connectors for broader compatibility.
• Competitive Pricing & Generous Free Tier: The free plan is quite functional for basic needs, and paid plans offer significant value compared to some competitors, especially regarding the number of operations included at lower tiers.
• Handles Complex Scenarios Well: Excels where simple linear automation tools might fall short.
• Real-time Execution: Supports instant triggers for immediate workflow execution.

Cons:

• Steeper Learning Curve for Complexity: While visually intuitive for simple tasks, mastering advanced features, complex data structures, and functions requires time and can be challenging for true non-technical beginners. Some users note it feels more like low-code than purely no-code for intricate scenarios.
• Operations-Based Pricing Can Be Unpredictable: Estimating monthly operation usage can be tricky initially, especially for complex or high-volume workflows. Trigger checks (polling) can also consume operations, potentially leading to higher costs than anticipated.
• User Interface Can Feel Complex: The sheer number of options and the visual builder’s density can sometimes feel overwhelming, particularly compared to simpler interfaces like Zapier’s.
• Limited Support on Lower Tiers: Priority support is reserved for higher-paying customers.
• No Native Mobile App: Managing workflows must be done via the web interface.

Automate Smarter, Not Harder

Make stands out as a remarkably powerful and flexible automation platform. Its visual approach democratizes the ability to build sophisticated workflows, connecting the tools you rely on and eliminating soul-crushing repetitive tasks. While it might present a steeper learning curve than some alternatives for its most advanced capabilities, the potential payoff in efficiency and scalability is significant.

Automate Workflows Visually with Make

If you’re looking for a tool that goes beyond basic point-to-point automations and offers deep control over your workflows, Make is definitely worth exploring. Its generous free plan provides an excellent opportunity to test its capabilities for your specific needs.

Ready to see what you can automate? Visit Make to learn more and get started for free.