Make
A visual, no-code automation builder for connecting apps and AI tools into multi-step workflows.
✓ A useful fit for
Building multi-step automations, including AI steps, on a visual canvas
↳ Worth knowing
There is a learning curve, runs use credits and plans are listed in US dollars. Test every scenario before switching it on.
Is this a good starting point for you?
This tool can be useful once you have a clear goal. Set aside some time for setup and testing before relying on it. Our suggestion is based on the tool’s purpose and published features, rather than a hands-on benchmark.
Who Make is for
Make suits beginners and small businesses who are ready to go one step beyond simple two-app automations. You build a “scenario” on a visual canvas: a trigger (for example, a new form response or a new email) followed by modules that each do one job, such as asking an AI model to summarise text, adding a row to Google Sheets or sending an email. Because you can see every step as a connected bubble, it is easier to follow what a longer workflow does. Make lists 3,500+ apps on its pricing page, plus routers and filters on every plan, including Free. It is a good fit if you already use AI tools like ChatGPT and want their outputs to land somewhere useful automatically, rather than copying and pasting. If you only need one simple “when this happens, do that” automation, Zapier may feel quicker to set up.
Pros and cons
✓ Pros
- Visual canvas that shows every step of a workflow, which makes longer automations easier to understand and fix
- Free plan with 1,000 credits a month, plus routers and filters for branching logic
- Large app library (3,500+ apps listed), including Google Sheets, Gmail and AI services such as OpenAI
- Most actions use 1 credit, so simple scenarios can run often before you need to pay
↳ Cons
- Steeper learning curve than the simplest tools: mapping data between modules takes practice
- Credit limits: every module action uses credits, AI features may use more, and scenarios stop when credits run out
- Free plan scheduled runs are limited to every 15 minutes at most; minute-level scheduling is on paid plans
- Paid plans are listed in US dollars, so Australian card statements will vary with the exchange rate and may include GST or fees
Good first tasks to try
- Send a ChatGPT summary of each new contact-form enquiry to a Google Sheet
- Email yourself a short AI digest of new rows added to a spreadsheet
- Sort incoming emails into categories with an AI step, then label or forward them
- Turn new meeting notes in a document into a tidy task list
Pricing summary
Free: US$0 with 1,000 credits a month (no-code visual builder, 3,500+ apps, routers and filters, 15-minute minimum interval between scheduled runs). Paid plans are Core, Pro and Teams, with Enterprise by quote. Make’s pricing page says annual billing is cheaper than monthly and that you can buy extra credits in bundles of 1,000 or 10,000. Plan prices depend on the number of credits you choose and weren’t shown to our checker, so check current pricing on Make’s site before you upgrade. Per Make’s affiliate offer at the time of writing, people who sign up through our link get the Core plan free for one month; confirm the offer on the sign-up page.
Prices in US dollars; Australian GST and currency conversion may apply. Confirm the final price at checkout.
Is it worth paying for?
Start on the Free plan and build one or two scenarios. Consider Core if you need more than 1,000 credits a month, more than the Free plan’s active scenarios, or scheduling more often than every 15 minutes. Estimate credits first: count the modules in a scenario and multiply by how often it runs each month. Plans are listed in US dollars, so check the current price (and any GST or conversion fees) before you upgrade.
Checked 14 October 2026 on the official pricing page. Prices are in the currency shown, may exclude tax, and change often: confirm on the provider’s site before paying.
How to start with Make
Sign up for the Free plan and pick one small, repetitive AI task, such as turning a form response or email into a short summary.
Create a new scenario. Add a trigger module (for example, “Watch new rows” in Google Sheets or “Watch emails” in Gmail) and connect your account.
Add an AI module (for example, OpenAI) with a clear prompt such as “Summarise this enquiry in three bullet points”, then map the incoming text into the prompt.
Add an output module: write the summary back to a Google Sheets column or send it to yourself by email. Click “Run once” and check the result carefully.
Only schedule the scenario once it works on several real (non-sensitive) examples, then check your credit usage after a few days.
Quick facts
| Category | Productivity |
|---|---|
| Free access | Free plan |
| Learning curve | Allow time for setup |
| Good for | Automate a task, Run my business |
Privacy and safety tips
Think about what data your workspace or automations can access, and give tools only the permissions they need. Test new automations with sample data, keep a simple record of what each one does, and review AI-generated content before it reaches customers or colleagues.
Alternatives to consider
- Zapier: Reducing repetitive app-to-app work.
Related guides
- Best AI automation tools for beginners: A beginner’s guide to AI automation tools: Make, Zapier and n8n compared, with free plans checked on official sites, honest pros and cons, and a first project.
- Best AI tools for small business: The best AI tools for small business owners in 2026: ChatGPT, Canva, Fireflies, Make, Zapier and Copilot for writing, design, meetings and automation, with prices checked today.
- Make vs Zapier for beginners: Make vs Zapier compared for beginners: visual scenarios or simple Zaps, free plans, credits vs tasks, prices checked today, pros, cons and which automation tool to choose.
Frequently asked questions
Is Make free?
Yes. Make’s Free plan includes 1,000 credits a month, the no-code visual builder, 3,500+ apps, routers and filters, with a 15-minute minimum interval between scheduled runs. Paid plans (Core, Pro and Teams) add more credits and features.
How much does Make cost?
Make’s paid plans are Core, Pro and Teams, with Enterprise by quote. Prices depend on how many credits you choose, annual billing is cheaper than monthly, and plans are listed in US dollars. Plan prices weren’t shown to our checker on 14 October 2026, so check current pricing on make.com before you buy.
What are credits in Make?
Credits are Make’s billing unit (since 27 August, according to its pricing page). Each action a module performs, such as reading a row or sending an email, usually uses 1 credit. Some AI features use more. If you run out, scenarios pause until credits are added.
Can Make send ChatGPT outputs to Google Sheets or email?
Yes. A common beginner scenario is: trigger (new form response or email) → AI module (for example, OpenAI) to summarise or draft → Google Sheets or email module to save or send the result. Using the OpenAI module needs your own OpenAI account and API key, which is billed separately by OpenAI.
Make or Zapier for beginners?
Zapier is often quicker for simple two-step automations. Make’s visual canvas suits multi-step workflows with branches and AI steps, but takes a little longer to learn. Both have free plans, so try the same small task in each. See our beginner’s guide to AI automation tools.
Is there a Make discount or free trial?
Per Make’s affiliate offer at the time of writing, people who sign up through our link get the Core plan free for one month. Offers change, so check the details on the sign-up page. Make’s pricing page also mentions a Start-up Plan for companies with under 20 employees and support for non-profits.
Make your first try a useful one.
Open the official tool
Check the current plan and create an account if required.
Start with one small task
Bring a clear goal and use non-sensitive example material.
Check the result before you use it
Review facts, formatting, permissions and anything the tool may have misunderstood.
A helpful next read
How to use Make: build your first scenario
Get a Slack message whenever a new row is added to a Google Sheet.
Let’s try it ↗