2025 Guide to Making Automations With Make
Introduction
Make (formerly Integromat) is a powerful automation platform that allows users to connect apps and automate workflows without the need for coding skills. For example, you could create an automation that monitors your Gmail account for new emails, analyzes it with AI, and then automatically drafts a response based on its content.
Make stands out for its visual workflow builder, which allows users to create complex automations with a simple drag-and-drop interface, and its wide range of integrations with thousands of apps.
Why Use Make?
Unlike traditional automation tools that focus on specific areas (e.g. Hootsuite for social media management), Make offers a more comprehensive and flexible approach:
- Flexibility: You’re not limited to pre-built integrations; you can create custom automations tailored to your needs.
- AI Model Choice: You can select and integrate your preferred AI models into your workflows.
- Centralized Management: Manage all your automations from one place without signing up for multiple software services.
- Cost-Effective: Make uses a pay-as-you-go model, which can be significantly cheaper than monthly subscription services.
- Monetization Opportunities: You can even sell your automation templates to others and benefit from Make’s affiliate program.
However, it’s worth noting that relying heavily on a single platform like Make could be a risk if the service experiences issues.
Make vs Other Automation Tools
Zapier
Zapier is another popular automation tool. While it’s simpler to use, has more AI features, and is more widely known among larger companies, it is generally significantly more expensive to round. According to this analysis, certain tasks on Zapier can cost up to twelve times as much compared to Make.
Latenode
Latenode is a newer player in the automation space. Latenode claims to be up to 7.67 times cheaper than Make and up to 89 times cheaper than Zapier (depending on the scenario) which is insane. Although it doesn’t have as many integrations and community support, it’s a solid alternative to Make if you’re looking for a more affordable option.
How to Create Automations on Make
To learn how to use Make you can use the official Make Academy, although the course is pretty long so you might prefer to skip straight to the documentation and learn through trial and error instead.
Use Official Templates
Start by exploring Make’s official template library for pre-built automations you can customize. This is often the quickest way to get started.
Use the AI Assistant
Make’s AI assistant can generate automation work flows for you instantly. Simply describe in detail what you want the AI assistant to create or the task that you want it to automate. For example: “I want you to monitor my Gmail account and every time an email comes in, I want you to generate a draft reply using ChatGPT. Make will then map out the scenario, and you can make any necessary adjustments if necessary.
Hire an Expert
If you’re struggling to build automations yourself, you can hire someone to do it for you:
- For high-quality work, use Upwork.
- For more budget-friendly options, try Fiverr, but remember that you often get what you pay for.
Search for “make.com” or “make automation”, then hire the freelancer with the best reviews in your price range. Generally, developers from Eastern European countries like Poland and Ukraine often offer high quality for the price, although individual expertise can vary.
Ask for Help in the Community
Join the Make community forum to ask questions and get help from other users.
Create Your Own Make Assistant
If you need more help beyond Make’s built-in AI assistant (which has limited access depending on your plan), you could also try creating your own Make-specific AI assistant. Here’s how:
- Go to the Make documentation page.
- Download all the documentation by following the instructions in this guide on how to copy a whole website.
- Once you’ve downloaded the documentation, upload it to an AI model like Claude or ChatGPT.
- You can now ask this AI questions about how to create automations in Make.
YouTube Tutorials
Follow guides and use templates made by creators in the community:
https://www.youtube.com/@StephenGPope
https://www.youtube.com/@Itssssss_Jack
https://www.youtube.com/@HELENA-LIU
Conclusion
Remember, the key to successful automation with Make is understanding your needs, exploring the platform’s capabilities, and not being afraid to seek help when needed.
Whether you’re using the AI assistant, hiring an expert, or leveraging the community, there are many ways to create powerful automations that can streamline your workflows and save you time and money.
