Top 10 Make Alternatives: Simpler Automation

Quick Answer: The Best Make Alternatives in 2026

Looking for a Make alternative that actually simplifies your workflow instead of replacing one visual builder with another? Here are the 10 best options: Clarilo AI (plain English automation with 900+ integrations), Zapier (the biggest integration library), n8n (self-hosted and open-source), Pipedream (developer-first workflows), Bardeen (browser-based scraping and automation), Tray.io (enterprise iPaaS), Activepieces (open-source Make clone), Power Automate (Microsoft ecosystem), IFTTT (simple if-then triggers), and Automatisch (self-hosted Zapier alternative). Our top pick is Clarilo AI because it eliminates the visual builder entirely -- you describe what you want in plain English, and it handles the rest with human-in-the-loop approval on every action.

Why People Leave Make

Make -- formerly Integromat -- is a powerful automation platform. Nobody disputes that. But power and usability are not the same thing. Here is why thousands of users are actively searching for a Make alternative in 2026.

The visual builder is not as intuitive as it looks

Make's scenario builder looks beautiful in screenshots. Colorful modules, clean lines connecting them, a canvas you can zoom and pan. But the moment you try to build anything beyond a two-step automation, reality hits.

You are dragging modules, connecting outputs to inputs, configuring filters, mapping data fields, handling arrays, and managing error paths -- all inside a visual interface that becomes cluttered fast. A 10-step workflow turns into a tangled web of nodes that is hard to read, harder to debug, and nearly impossible to hand off to a teammate who did not build it.

The visual metaphor suggests simplicity. The experience delivers complexity.

Debugging scenarios is painful

Something breaks in your 15-module scenario. Make shows you which module failed. Great. But understanding why requires clicking into each module, inspecting input and output bundles, tracing data transformations across multiple steps, and often rebuilding portions of the scenario just to test a fix.

There is no plain-language error explanation. No "here is what went wrong and here is how to fix it." Just raw data bundles and cryptic error codes that send you to the documentation or community forums.

Pricing per operation adds up

Make charges based on operations -- each action a module performs counts against your quota. A single scenario execution can consume dozens of operations if it involves loops, iterations, or multi-step data processing.

The free plan gives you 1,000 operations per month. That sounds reasonable until you realize a single workflow run might use 20-50 operations. Run it daily and you blow through your free tier in a week. The Core plan starts at $10.59/month for 10,000 operations, but heavy users routinely land on the $29.99 or $59.99 tiers.

The per-operation model makes costs unpredictable. You do not know what your bill will be until the month ends.

The learning curve is real

Make markets itself as "no-code." That is technically true -- you do not write code. But you do need to understand data structures, JSON formatting, array aggregation, iterators, routers, error handlers, and webhook configurations. The visual interface abstracts away syntax, not concepts.

For technical users, this is manageable. For the solopreneur who just wants their CRM to talk to their email tool, it is a wall. And it is the main reason people search for a Make alternative.

The 10 Best Make Alternatives

1. Clarilo AI -- Best Make Alternative for Non-Technical Users

Clarilo AI takes a fundamentally different approach to automation. Instead of dragging modules on a canvas, you describe what you want in plain English. "When a new lead comes in from my website form, add them to my CRM, send a welcome email, and schedule a follow-up task for next Tuesday." Clarilo handles the rest.

This is not a chatbot pasted onto a workflow builder. Clarilo is an AI executive assistant that connects to 900+ business tools via OAuth, understands context across your connected apps, and executes multi-step workflows autonomously -- with one critical safeguard. Every write action requires your approval before it executes. You see exactly what Clarilo plans to do, approve or modify it, and then it acts.

That human-in-the-loop model solves the trust problem that plagues both traditional automation (did I configure this correctly?) and autonomous AI agents (what did it just do without asking?).

How it differs from Make: No visual builder. No modules. No data mapping. You talk to it like a human assistant. Clarilo handles the technical translation between your apps. If something goes wrong, it explains the issue in plain English and suggests a fix.

Pricing: Starter at $19/month, Pro at $39/month, Premium at $99/month. All plans include a 7-day free trial with no credit card required.

Best for: Solopreneurs, small business owners, and non-technical founders who want automation without the learning curve. If you have been looking for a Zapier alternative for the same reasons, Clarilo solves those problems too.

2. Zapier -- Best for Integration Breadth

Zapier is the name most people think of when they think automation. With 7,000+ app integrations, it has the largest library in the space. Its "Zaps" follow a trigger-action model that is easier to grasp than Make's visual scenarios.

Zapier recently added AI features including natural language workflow creation and an AI chatbot assistant. These are helpful additions, but Zapier remains fundamentally a traditional automation builder with an AI layer on top -- not an AI-native tool.

How it differs from Make: Simpler interface with a linear trigger-action flow instead of a visual canvas. More integrations. Higher pricing. Less flexibility for complex branching logic.

Pricing: Free plan with 100 tasks/month. Starter at $29.99/month for 750 tasks. Professional at $73.50/month for 2,000 tasks.

Best for: Users who need the widest possible integration library and prefer a simpler builder than Make. Read our full Zapier vs AI executive assistant comparison to see how traditional automation stacks up against the AI-native approach.

3. n8n -- Best for Self-Hosted Automation

n8n is an open-source workflow automation tool that you can self-host for free. Its visual builder is similar to Make's but with a cleaner interface and better developer ergonomics. You get full control over your data and infrastructure.

The self-hosted version is genuinely free with no operation limits. The cloud-hosted version starts at $24/month. n8n has a strong community and a growing library of 400+ integrations.

How it differs from Make: Open-source and self-hostable. No per-operation pricing on the self-hosted version. Slightly smaller integration library. Requires technical comfort to self-host and maintain.

Pricing: Self-hosted is free. Cloud Starter at $24/month for 2,500 executions. Cloud Pro at $60/month for 10,000 executions.

Best for: Technical users and small dev teams who want Make-like functionality without vendor lock-in or per-operation billing.

4. Pipedream -- Best for Developers

Pipedream is a developer-first automation platform. You can build workflows using a visual interface, but the real power is in writing custom Node.js, Python, Go, or Bash steps directly in the workflow. It connects to 2,300+ APIs with pre-built actions and triggers.

The developer experience is excellent. You get built-in version control, testing tools, and the ability to deploy workflows as API endpoints. Pipedream also offers a generous free tier.

How it differs from Make: Code-first rather than visual-first. Far better for developers who want to mix pre-built integrations with custom logic. Less suitable for non-technical users.

Pricing: Free plan with 10,000 invocations/day. Basic at $29/month. Advanced at $79/month for teams.

Best for: Developers and technical teams who want automation with the flexibility to write custom code when needed.

5. Bardeen -- Best for Browser-Based Automation

Bardeen runs as a Chrome extension and excels at automating browser-based tasks -- scraping data from websites, filling forms, extracting information from web apps that do not have APIs. It combines browser automation with traditional app integrations.

Bardeen also includes AI features for generating automations from natural language descriptions. The browser-native approach means it can automate apps that traditional iPaaS tools cannot touch.

How it differs from Make: Browser-first instead of API-first. Excels at web scraping and browser automation. Smaller integration library for traditional API-based workflows. Runs locally in your browser.

Pricing: Free plan with limited credits. Professional at $10/month per user. Business pricing on request.

Best for: Users who need to automate browser-based tasks, scrape websites, or work with apps that lack API integrations.

6. Tray.io -- Best for Enterprise Teams

Tray.io is an enterprise integration platform (iPaaS) designed for mid-market and enterprise companies. It offers a visual builder similar to Make but with enterprise-grade features: SOC 2 compliance, role-based access control, audit logs, and dedicated support.

The platform handles complex data transformations and high-volume workflows that would choke consumer-grade tools. It is overkill for solopreneurs but exactly right for companies processing millions of records.

How it differs from Make: Enterprise-focused with compliance certifications, team collaboration features, and higher throughput. Significantly more expensive. Better suited for complex, high-volume integrations.

Pricing: Custom pricing only. Typically starts around $600/month for small teams. Enterprise plans scale from there.

Best for: Mid-market and enterprise companies that need compliance certifications, team features, and high-volume processing.

7. Activepieces -- Best Open-Source Make Clone

Activepieces is the closest open-source alternative to Make. Its visual builder looks and feels similar, with a drag-and-drop canvas, modular triggers and actions, and branching logic. If you like Make's approach but want open-source flexibility, Activepieces is your best bet.

The project is growing fast with 200+ integrations and an active community building custom pieces (their term for integrations). You can self-host it or use their cloud offering.

How it differs from Make: Open-source with a self-hosted option. Smaller integration library. Community-driven development. No per-operation pricing on self-hosted.

Pricing: Self-hosted is free. Cloud Free plan with 1,000 tasks/month. Cloud Pro at $12/month for 5,000 tasks.

Best for: Users who like Make's visual approach but want open-source flexibility and lower costs.

8. Microsoft Power Automate -- Best for Microsoft Ecosystem

If your business lives inside Microsoft 365, Power Automate is the natural automation choice. Deep integration with Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Excel, and the rest of the Microsoft stack. It also connects to hundreds of third-party apps via pre-built connectors.

Power Automate includes both cloud flows (similar to Make scenarios) and desktop flows (robotic process automation for local apps). The desktop automation capability is a genuine differentiator.

How it differs from Make: Native Microsoft 365 integration. Includes desktop automation (RPA). Part of the Microsoft ecosystem pricing. Steeper learning curve for non-Microsoft workflows.

Pricing: Included with some Microsoft 365 plans. Standalone at $15/user/month for cloud flows. $40/user/month with desktop flows included.

Best for: Businesses heavily invested in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem who want automation that integrates natively with their existing tools.

9. IFTTT -- Best for Simple Personal Automation

IFTTT (If This Then That) is the simplest automation tool on this list. One trigger, one action. That is it. No branching, no complex logic, no visual builders. Connect App A to App B with a single rule.

That simplicity is both its strength and limitation. IFTTT is perfect for straightforward automations like "when I get an email with an attachment, save it to Google Drive." It falls apart when you need multi-step workflows.

How it differs from Make: Radically simpler. One trigger, one action. No visual builder or complex logic. Far fewer capabilities but much easier to use. Consumer-focused.

Pricing: Free plan with 2 applets. Pro at $3.49/month for unlimited applets. Pro+ at $14.99/month with multiple actions per applet.

Best for: Non-technical users who need simple, single-step automations. Not a replacement for Make if you need multi-step workflows.

10. Automatisch -- Best Free Self-Hosted Option

Automatisch is an open-source, self-hosted automation tool that positions itself as a free Zapier and Make alternative. It uses a clean visual flow builder and supports 200+ integrations. The project is relatively new but growing steadily.

The interface is approachable and the documentation is clear. If you want a self-hosted Make alternative without n8n's complexity, Automatisch is worth evaluating.

How it differs from Make: Fully open-source and self-hosted. No usage-based pricing. Smaller integration library. Younger project with a less mature ecosystem.

Pricing: Self-hosted is completely free with no limits. No cloud-hosted option currently available.

Best for: Budget-conscious users comfortable with self-hosting who want a straightforward visual automation builder.

Make Alternatives Comparison Table

Tool	Type	Free Tier	Starting Price	Integrations	Best For
Clarilo AI	AI assistant	7-day trial	$19/mo	900+	Non-technical users
Zapier	No-code builder	100 tasks/mo	$29.99/mo	7,000+	Integration breadth
n8n	Self-hosted builder	Unlimited (self-host)	$24/mo (cloud)	400+	Self-hosted automation
Pipedream	Developer platform	10K invocations/day	$29/mo	2,300+	Developers
Bardeen	Browser extension	Limited credits	$10/mo	100+	Browser automation
Tray.io	Enterprise iPaaS	None	~$600/mo	600+	Enterprise teams
Activepieces	Open-source builder	1,000 tasks/mo	$12/mo (cloud)	200+	Open-source fans
Power Automate	Microsoft tool	With M365 plans	$15/user/mo	500+	Microsoft ecosystem
IFTTT	Simple triggers	2 applets	$3.49/mo	800+	Simple personal use
Automatisch	Self-hosted builder	Unlimited (self-host)	Free	200+	Budget self-hosting

Which Make Alternative Is Right for You?

The answer depends on where you fall on the technical spectrum and what you actually need.

If you are non-technical and want things done without learning a platform: Clarilo AI. You describe tasks in plain English, approve the actions, and move on with your day. No builder to learn. No modules to configure. This is the Make alternative that does not feel like a Make alternative -- it feels like hiring an assistant. You can check out our list of tasks solopreneurs should automate to see what is possible.

If you are technical and want full control: n8n or Pipedream. Both give you power and flexibility. n8n if you want a visual builder. Pipedream if you prefer writing code.

If you just want something that works with more apps: Zapier. The integration library is unmatched. The interface is simpler than Make. You will pay more, but you will connect to almost anything.

If you are in a Microsoft shop: Power Automate. The native integration with Microsoft 365 is genuinely useful and the desktop automation features are a bonus.

If budget is everything: Automatisch or Activepieces self-hosted. Both are free with no operation limits when you run them on your own server.

If you need enterprise compliance: Tray.io. It is expensive but it checks the compliance boxes that procurement teams require.

The AI-Native Approach: Why It Matters

Here is the thing about every tool on this list except Clarilo -- they all assume you want to build automations. They give you better or worse tools for building, but the fundamental model is the same: you design a workflow, configure the steps, map the data, and deploy it.

Clarilo AI asks a different question: what if you did not have to build anything?

Instead of learning a platform, you describe the outcome you want. Instead of debugging a broken scenario, you read a plain-English explanation of what went wrong. Instead of mapping data fields between modules, you let AI handle the translation.

This is not a marginal improvement. It is a category shift. The same shift that happened when we went from command-line interfaces to graphical interfaces, and from graphical interfaces to voice assistants. Each transition made technology accessible to a larger group of people.

Make's visual builder was a step forward from writing code. Clarilo's plain-English interface is the next step forward from visual builders.

And the human-in-the-loop approval system means you get the speed of AI without the risk of autonomous agents going rogue. Every action Clarilo takes on your behalf -- sending an email, updating a record, scheduling a meeting -- requires your explicit approval first. You stay in control without doing the work.

Get Started with Clarilo AI

Ready to stop building automations and start delegating them? Clarilo AI connects to 900+ business tools, understands your instructions in plain English, and keeps you in control with human-in-the-loop approval on every action.

Start your 7-day free trial today -- no credit card required.

Plans start at $19/month for Starter, $39/month for Pro, and $99/month for Premium.

FAQ: Make Alternatives

Is Make still worth using in 2026?

Make is still a capable platform for users who are comfortable with visual workflow builders and need complex branching logic. If you have already invested time learning Make and your automations are running smoothly, there may not be an urgent reason to switch. But if you are hitting the pain points described above -- debugging complexity, unpredictable pricing, or the learning curve -- a Make alternative could save you significant time and frustration.

Can Clarilo AI replace Make for complex automations?

Yes, for the vast majority of business automations. Clarilo connects to 900+ integrations and handles multi-step workflows that would require dozens of modules in Make. The difference is that you describe the workflow in plain English instead of building it visually. For edge cases that require extremely specific data transformations or custom API calls, a developer-oriented tool like Pipedream or n8n may be more appropriate. But for standard business workflows -- CRM updates, email sequences, scheduling, data syncing, reporting -- Clarilo handles it without you touching a single configuration screen.

What is the cheapest Make alternative?

For self-hosted options, Automatisch and n8n are both free with no operation limits. For cloud-hosted tools, IFTTT starts at $3.49/month for simple automations, and Activepieces starts at $12/month for a Make-like experience. Clarilo AI starts at $19/month but eliminates the time cost of building and maintaining automations -- which is often the largest hidden expense of traditional automation tools.

Do I need technical skills to use a Make alternative?

It depends on the tool. Clarilo AI, IFTTT, and Zapier are designed for non-technical users. n8n, Pipedream, and Automatisch require some technical ability, especially for self-hosting. Tray.io typically requires a technical team for implementation. The most important question is not which tool requires the fewest technical skills -- it is which tool matches your technical skills while solving your automation needs.