Make Pricing (& Hidden Costs) 2025 Explained

Starting your automation journey in 2025??

It’s completely natural to worry about the

• Costs,
• Complexity, or?
• Risk of wasting money on tools that don’t deliver.

That’s where Make comes in. At first glance, it seems like a simple & affordable option.

However, Make pricing can be tricky. The hidden charges and unexpected costs can quickly add up (as shown below).

So, in this pricing guide, we’ll walk you through?

• How Make charges
• Make's pricing structure
• Where things can get expensive
• How to smartly save on Make costs, and?
• How to choose the best Make plan for your business.

Meanwhile, you can also check out some more affordable Make alternatives.

Make Pricing Plans Overview

Make offers multiple pricing plans based on the number of operations & features you need.?

Note: The plans listed below refer to monthly rates when billed annually.

Make’s paid plans (except Enterprise) offer 10,000 operations by default, and you can buy more.?

While Make’s $9 starting price for 10,000 ops seems appealing, even higher-cost plans offer only 10,000 ops by default, raising concerns about scalability and costs.?

Additionally, hidden charges for polling/trigger checks can add up costs significantly.

Another factor to consider is data transfer: the free plan includes 512 MB/month, whereas paid plans provide 5 GB/month/10,000 operations you buy.

Switch to Integrately – the most affordable Make alternative for SMBs!?

How does Make charge??

Understanding how Make charges is crucial to avoid unexpected bills.?

The primary unit of charge on Make is operations.

So, Make charges you for the number of operations your automations consume every month.?

But one of the most significant hidden costs in Make's pricing is how operations are consumed (how ops get used), even for seemingly small tasks like:

1. Polling/trigger checks:

Make regularly runs your automation after every certain time interval, just to check if there are any new data/items to process.

Each time Make checks for these updates, it uses operations—even if there’s no new data to process.

Example: If your automation checks for new data every 5 minutes, it consumes one operation every 5 minutes (i.e. each time it polls for updates).

2. Automated actions:

Make consumes operations for the actual task performed after the trigger event.

Example: Make sends an email to the new lead after it is added to CRM, for each email sent, it will consume an operation.

3. Testing steps in your automation/workflow:

While setting up your automation, Make consumes operations for every test you run to check if the automation setup is proper. Example: If your automation includes 10 steps, Make will consume 10 operations for testing it – even though your automation is not live & running yet.

4. Getting an error:

Make will consume operations even when an error occurs in your automation, such as failing to send an email or record data.

Example: If Make encounters a missing required field while processing the workflow, it will count as an operation.

Why it Matters - How are operations calculated in Make?

Let’s study how operations are calculated in Make with the help of an example.

Let’s say you want to transfer 200 records (e.g., customer entries) from one app to another in a month, and you set the system to "check" for updates every 5 minutes:

• Make (5-minute checks): 8,840 operations ??

Each "check" happens 12 times an hour (60 minutes ÷ 5 minutes = 12).

Over a day, that’s 12 checks × 24 hours = 288 checks.

In a month, it adds up to 288 checks × 30 days = 8,640 operations.

Add the 200 actual transfers, and your total is 8,840 operations. ??

• Make (2-minute checks):?21,800 operations ??
• Integrately: 200 tasks

Integrately doesn’t count trigger checks. So, you only pay for the 200 records you transfer, i.e. 200 tasks. ??

In this example, Make uses 44X-100X more operations than Integrately for the same task.

In comparison, Integrately only counts the actual actions performed, making it much more cost-effective.

Get rid of hidden Make costs! Check Integrately pricing & features now!

Which Make plan should you choose?

Choosing the right Make pricing plan is not just about picking the cheapest option. It’s about understanding?

• How your workflows will consume operations,
• What automation features do you need, and
• Your budget.?

So, here's a breakdown of each Make plan and who they are best for:

1. Free Plan - $0 per month

Operations:

1,000 operations/month

Features:

• 2000+ app integrations
• 2 active scenarios (automation)
• Integrate any app (having an API) using the HTTP module
• Only simple scenarios that can be executed in under 5 minutes at max
• Link multiple scenarios together to form a chain of workflows
• 30 AI requests every week

Limitations:?

• Very limited operations, and once you hit your limit, automations stop.
• Limited customer support

Best for:?

• Testing out the platform before making a purchase
• Beginners who are still learning the ropes
• A simple automation that will run only once a day or even less frequently

While the Free plan might look appealing, it's not practical for anybody who needs regular or complex automations. It quickly runs out of operations, and once you hit the limit, you'll have to wait until the next month or upgrade to a paid plan.

2. Core Plan - Starts at $9 per month

Operations:

10,000 operations per month

Features: Everything in the Free plan +

• Unlimited active scenarios
• Access to Make’s API endpoints with a limit of 60 API requests/minute API endpoints allow external apps/systems can directly interact with your workflows without coding or using the HTTP module
• 100 AI requests every week
• Minimum polling time of as low as 1 minute: Polling time is the interval after which Make check for changes/updates in your apps to trigger/initiate your workflows.??

Limitations:?

• Limited customization capabilities and features.

Best for:?

• Individuals and solopreneurs with simple workflows

The customization options available on the Core plan are limited. While it can suffice the needs of individual users, they must keep the hidden costs of polling in mind. I highly recommend that even startups and small businesses go for at least the Pro plan.

3. Pro Plan - Starts at $16 per month

Operations:?

10,000 operations per month

Features: Everything in the Core plan +

• Pending operations get carried over to the next month & expire yearly
• Quick troubleshooting options with advanced search logging
• Create custom variables and use them across scenarios
• Priority scenario execution in peak load hours
• 120 API requests/minute

Limitations:?

• Still a low operations threshold for more complex workflows.
• Medium customer support

Best for:?

• Individuals and solopreneurs with moderate automation needs.

Although the Pro Plan offers more operations, businesses that use a variety of apps and have high-frequency automations might find it hard to stay within the operations limit without running into additional costs. So, it’s best suited for individuals with moderate automation needs.

4. Teams Plan - Starts at $29 per month

Operations:?

10,000 operations per month

Features: Everything in the Pro plan +

• 240 API requests/minute
• Create unlimited teams
• Set granular access permissions for teams
• Max. file processing size of 500MB
• Create and share workflow templates with others
• High-priority scenario execution in peak load hours
• Customer support requests are attended to on high-priority?

Best for:?

• SMB teams automating multiple workflows.

Limitations:?

• 10,000 ops are not good enough for the needs of diverse teams.?
• Teams plan doesn’t have access to enterprise apps like Netsuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Salesforce Pardot, Oracle Eloqua, Mulesoft, & more

As your team grows and your operations increase, the features of the Teams plan can be a more viable option. However, scaling up with operations can still push your costs higher. Moreover, as your tech teams need integrations with enterprise-grade apps, you would end up paying much higher with custom Teams plans.

5. Enterprise Plan - Custom pricing

Features: Everything in Teams plan +

• Access to enterprise apps
• Connect with on-premise apps and systems
• Dedicated 24/7 customer support
• Create and run custom Javascript code in your automation
• 1000 API requests/minute
• Advanced security features like company SSO, information security compliance, etc.
• Switch between different connections when scenarios run. It is helpful to run the workflow across development, testing, and production environments.
• Audit logs for reviewing activity history
• 100 AI requests per day
• Max file processing size of 1000 MB

Limitations:

• The Enterprise plan provides flexibility but can be costly if not used efficiently.?
• For every 10,000 operations, you get a 5GB data transfer limit. So, Make might not be ideal if you have high data transfer needs.?

Best for:?

• Large organizations with tech teams that need complex & custom workflows.

10 Tips to Reduce Operations (ops) Usage in Make

Due to confusing ops count in Make, many users unexpectedly run to their ops limits and their automations halt. This is evident even from the questions asked by users in the Make community.??

As a result, Make users are also looking for ways on how they can save operations. So, here are 10 useful tips to reduce your ops usage in Make:

1. Use Filters Wisely:?

Apply filters at the beginning of your scenarios to process only the data you need, reducing unnecessary steps.

For example: Let’s say you’ve set up an automation to get new emails from Gmail and add them as tasks in a project management tool like Trello.

You can set up a filter to process only emails with a specific subject line (e.g., “Client Request”) or from a specific sender (e.g., [email protected]), as shown below.

Without a filter, if you get 50 emails a day, all 50 are checked, wasting operations. With a filter, if only 5 of those emails are relevant, the system processes just those 5. In this example, this saves 45 unnecessary operations daily.

2. Optimize Data Retrieval:?

Use specific limit-based or time-based filters when retrieving data from apps to avoid fetching excessive records.

3. Leverage Aggregators:?

Group data into a single bundle using aggregators, allowing you to process multiple items in a single operation.

4. Schedule Efficiently:?

Run scenarios at intervals that match your workflow needs (e.g., hourly instead of every minute) to save ops.

5. Use Variables and Maps:?

Store reusable data in variables or maps instead of fetching or recalculating it repeatedly.

6. Avoid Overfetching:?

Retrieve only the fields you need by configuring the module settings to limit data transfer.

7. Handle Errors Strategically:?

Use error handlers to manage retries and avoid excessive ops due to failed or repeated attempts.

8. Choose Instant Triggers (wherever possible):?

Use instant webhook triggers instead of scheduled triggers wherever possible, reducing unnecessary checks.?

9. Combine Scenarios:?

Merge scenarios where applicable to reduce module usage and streamline workflows.

10. Minimize Unnecessary Steps:?

Review your scenario for redundant modules and eliminate unnecessary actions or steps.

11. Bonus Tip: Use Affordable Make Alternatives

If you often find yourself trying to optimize operations to save costs, consider switching to a more affordable Make alternative.?

This way, you don’t need to stress about fine-tuning every scenario to save on ops usage.

Look for platforms that offer similar features at lower prices to make automation more budget-friendly without compromising on functionality.

To save you time, we have shortlisted the 3 most affordable Make alternatives for you.

Affordable Make Alternatives: How to Cut Automation Costs

While Make is a powerful automation tool, hidden costs like polling-based charges can lead to unexpected bills.?

It also has other limitations like data transfer limits and access to enterprise apps only on the most expensive plan.?

Fortunately, there are affordable Make alternatives that can help businesses automate without breaking the bank:

1. Integrately

As explained earlier, every time Make ‘checks’ for changes, it is counted as a task.??

So if an automation checks for changes every few minutes (5 min ??. sync will consume 12 tasks/hr) and transfers 200 records from 1 app to another in a month, task consumption will be as follows:

• Make (5 min sync): 12 × 24 × 30 + 200 = 8840 tasks ??
• Make (2 min sync): 30 × 24 × 30 + 200 = 21,800 tasks ??
• Integrately: 200 (triggers / checks are not counted) ??

So in this example, Make would consume 44x - 100x more tasks than Integrately!

Sign up for Integrately now - the most affordable Make alternative!

2. Jitterbit

Jitterbit’s pricing is simpler and often cheaper than Make:

• Pay-per-App Pricing: Jitterbit charges you for the number of apps you connect, not the tasks you consume (unlike Make).?
• Unlimited Data Transfers: Jitterbit offers unlimited data transfer between connected apps, whereas Make allows only 5GB of data transfer per 10,000 operations.

3. Celigo

Celigo is designed for large organizations with complex integration needs and offers:

• Unlimited Data Transfer: No restrictions on the volume of data transferred between apps.
• Highly Customizable API Designer: Build integrations tailored to your requirements.
• Real-Time Automations: Perfect for critical processes like payment workflows.
• Broad Protocol Support: Handles HTTP, FTP, GraphQL, JDBC, AS2, Webhooks, and even Wrapper protocols.?
• Big-data processing: Celigo handles big-data processing, with support for Hadoop and NoSQL sources.

With Celigo, you get advanced features and scalability that Make struggles to match!

Make Pricing vs Competitor Pricing

Note: The comparison is based on monthly pricing when billed annually.

While Make is good for techies, its pricing or operational structure might not always align with your needs.?

So, here’s a breakdown of some common concerns Make users have & how alternatives solve them:

1. Concern: High Costs Due to Frequent Polling

Alternatives to Consider:

• Integrately: Task-based billing is transparent and ensures cost-effectiveness without unexpected cost surges like Make.
• Jitterbit: It asks you to pay for the app connections and has no task usage limit.

2. Concern: Budget Constraints for Small Business Teams or Individuals

Alternatives to Consider:

• Integrately: Offers affordable plans with robust automation features for individuals and growing businesses.
• Pabbly Connect: Lifetime deals are perfect for smaller teams or individuals with limited task requirements.

3. Concern: Steep Learning Curve

Alternatives to Consider:

• Zapier: Offers a simple, beginner-friendly interface with seamless workflows.
• Integrately: Built for non-techies, featuring intuitive 1-click automation templates & guided automation builder.

4. Concern: Scaling Costs for Large-Volume Integrations

Alternatives to Consider:

• Celigo: Ideal for large enterprises, offering unlimited data transfer and advanced features like embedded automations, big-data processing, etc
• Jitterbit: Employs connection-based pricing, eliminating task limits, and supports complex enterprise-grade workflows.

Wrapping up - Is Make still the right choice in 2025?

Make is a versatile automation platform. However, its pricing structure can be complex and, at times, unpredictable due to hidden polling costs.?

To avoid this, we’ve thoroughly explained Make’s pricing model and how it uses/consumes operations.

To avoid such costs, you can compare Make with alternatives like Integrately, Jitterbit, Zapier, & Pabbly Connect. This will help you find the best automation tool for your needs and maximize ROI without overspending.

Ready to explore simpler, more affordable automation?

?? Check Integrately pricing & features now!

FAQs

How much does Make cost?

Make's pricing starts with a free plan, while its paid plans start from $9/month. However, it has hidden charges for polling (frequent data checks), which might result in unexpectedly higher costs. So, you might wanna check affordable Make alternatives.

Is Make better than Zapier?

It depends on your needs. Make offers more flexibility in workflow design & better customization options, while Zapier is more beginner-friendly with a simpler interface. You can find a detailed Make vs Zapier comparison here.?

Is Make free to use?

Yes, Make offers a free plan with 1,000 operations and access to decent automation features. It is suitable for trying out the platform and very small-scale automation.

Is Make worth it?

Yes, Make is worth it, especially for techies. Its cost-effective plans and advanced features like custom coding, parallel workflows, workflow chains, etc. offer great flexibility and value. However, exploring Make alternatives might help you find the perfect tool for your needs.

Is Make really cheaper?

At first glance, Make plans look cheaper than competitors like Zapier & Integrately. However, Make can quickly consume ops due to polling (frequent data checks), which could significantly bump up your costs. You can instead check out affordable Make alternatives here.

Is Make completely free?

No, Make offers a free plan with limitations, but advanced features require a paid subscription.

Should you switch to Make?

You can consider switching to Make if you need advanced custom automations and either have technical skills or a tech team. Otherwise, you must stick to your current tool or check Integrately if you need a balance between simplicity, customization, and affordability.

Which Make plan should you buy?

Choose a plan based on your operational needs. The Core plan ($9/month) & Pro plan ($16/month) works for individuals with basic to complex automation needs. The Team plan is best suited for small teams. Growing businesses & large organizations with extensive automations might wanna consider the Enterprise plan.

Is there anything cheaper / better than Make?

Yes, Integrately is an equally good yet cheaper Make alternative. Unlike Make, Integrately has transparent pricing and it doesn’t charge for polling. You can find detailed Integrately vs Make comparison here & choose the best one for your requirements.

How to track operations in Make?

Some automations may stop if you exceed the operation limit on your Make subscription. To avoid this, you might need to track your operations usage. While you can always refer to the dashboard for the same, you'll also receive email alerts when you reach 75% and 90% of your limit.