What Is Make.com? A Overview of the Automation Platform

Duy Vu
October 9, 2025
25 mins read
What Is Make.com? A Overview of the Automation Platform

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced digital world, where every minute matters and technology is advancing rapidly, businesses are increasingly turning to automation to eliminate repetitive, time-consuming tasks. By doing so, they can allocate resources more effectively, focus on strategy and creativity, and ultimately improve employee satisfaction.

But for non-technical teams, the idea of setting up automation can feel overwhelming. That’s where Make.com (often simply called “Make” and previously known as Integromat) comes in. This platform has made automation accessible to everyone, empowering organizations to integrate automation into their daily operations without requiring programming expertise.

If you’ve ever searched for what is Make or wondered what is Make.com, this guide provides a detailed Make.com  overview—covering its features, limitations, pricing, and who it’s best suited for.

A brief introduction to Make

So, what is Make.com exactly? Make is a cloud-based automation platform that allows you to create and manage workflows—called “scenarios”—without writing code. While there are many no-code/low-code automation platforms available, including Zapier, Make stands out for its intuitive visual builder, affordable pricing, and extensive integration library of over 1,900 applications.

Its flexibility supports both simple and complex workflows, complete with conditional logic, multi-step processes, and advanced modules like JSON, data stores, and variables. Because it’s cloud-native, Make handles infrastructure for you, offering real-time monitoring, error notifications, and scalability without the burden of server management.

This Make.com  overview shows how it can be applied across industries—from marketing and sales to IT—helping businesses automate project management, synchronize data, and streamline reporting. However, organizations in highly regulated industries (like healthcare or finance) should carefully evaluate compliance and data privacy before adopting a cloud-only solution.

Key features & their limitations

Highly intuitive visual workflow builder

TL;DR: Make’s drag-and-drop builder makes automation accessible and easy to visualize, lowering the barrier for non-technical users.

Details: The visual interface allows you to map out workflows step by step, making it far easier to understand than code or table-based systems. You can test automations as you build, view run histories, and troubleshoot errors with detailed logs. Features like “Explain flow”, “Auto-align”, and the AI co-builder (beta) further simplify the process, making automation approachable for beginners while still useful for experienced users.

Flow control, conditional logic, and multi-step automations

TL;DR: Make supports branching workflows with advanced conditional logic, but merging branches is cumbersome.

Details: You can create multiple routes within a workflow, each processing data differently based on conditions. However, merging these routes back into a single flow requires complex workarounds using variables or JSON modules. Competing platforms like n8n offer more seamless merging functionality.

Extensive integration library

TL;DR: With 1,900+ integrations, Make covers most popular tools, but lacks native support for custom code.

Details: While Zapier leads in sheer number of integrations (~7,000), Make’s library is broad and growing. For unsupported apps, you can connect via HTTP modules, though this requires technical knowledge. The absence of native scripting (JavaScript, Python) limits flexibility, forcing users to build long sequences where a single code snippet could suffice.

Webhooks and HTTP modules

TL;DR: Make supports real-time triggers via webhooks and flexible API calls via HTTP modules, though setup can be technical.

Details: Webhooks allow instant triggers (e.g., Airtable status change), while HTTP requests enable scheduled or on-demand data exchange. These features extend Make’s reach beyond native integrations, but configuring them often requires writing custom JSON, which may be challenging for non-technical users.

Simple to moderate data manipulation

TL;DR: Make simplifies data handling for non-developers, but its proprietary syntax can frustrate coders.

Details: Functions, variables, parsers, and JSON modules allow users to manipulate data effectively. While these tools are user-friendly, they lack the flexibility of traditional programming. Developers accustomed to JavaScript or Python may find Make’s proprietary syntax restrictive, especially when working with complex or nested data.

Real-time monitoring and error handling

TL;DR: Make provides strong monitoring and error management, keeping workflows reliable.

Details: Users can monitor workflows in real time, receive error notifications, and review detailed logs. Custom error handlers allow workflows to continue running despite minor issues, ensuring stability without constant oversight.

Data stores

TL;DR: Make includes lightweight databases for storing and sharing data across workflows.

Details: Data stores allow you to maintain consistent records across multiple automations. While not a replacement for full-scale databases, they’re highly effective for managing automation-related data like order statuses or customer records.

Custom apps

TL;DR: Make’s Apps Builder lets you create custom integrations, but requires technical expertise and has limited documentation.

Details: Custom apps extend Make’s functionality by connecting to APIs not covered by native integrations. These can be shared or monetized in the community marketplace. However, building them requires development skills, and the documentation is sparse, making the process challenging for beginners.

Other platform limitations

  • Enterprise features locked behind high-cost plans: Essential features like SSO are only available on the $10,000/year Enterprise plan, pricing out SMBs.
  • Limited self-hosting: The On-premise agent connects local apps but doesn’t provide full self-hosting, which is critical for regulated industries.
  • Restricted custom code support: Advanced users may find Make limiting compared to platforms like Pipedream or n8n.
  • No easy branch merging: Complex workflows require clunky workarounds.
  • Webhook testing frustrations: You can’t reuse payloads, making debugging inefficient.

Who is Make.com good for?

  • SMBs without SSO needs: Affordable Core and Pro plans deliver excellent value.
  • Non-technical teams: Intuitive design empowers departments to automate independently.
  • Users with moderate automation needs: Ideal balance of price, functionality, and usability.

Who is Make.com not good for?

  • Enterprises with strict compliance needs: Lack of full self-hosting is a deal-breaker.
  • SMBs needing affordable SSO: Enterprise pricing is prohibitive.
  • Technical teams requiring deep customization: Limited scripting support frustrates developers.

Pricing

How does Make compare to other platforms?

  • Zapier: Easier onboarding, more integrations, but pricier and less flexible.
  • Pipedream: Best for developers needing custom code, but steeper learning curve.
  • n8n: Open-source, self-hosted, highly flexible, but complex for non-technical users.

Summary

This Make.com  overview shows that Make is a powerful, affordable automation platform that excels at making automation accessible to non-technical users and SMBs. Its intuitive design, broad integration library, and competitive pricing make it a strong choice for most businesses.

However, its limitations in custom code, self-hosting, and enterprise pricing mean it’s not the best fit for highly regulated industries or technical teams seeking deep customization.

For the majority of SMBs and teams looking to streamline operations, Make delivers exceptional value and functionality.

And if you’re ready to explore automation but don’t want to go it alone, Retoolers can help. We specialize in building custom dashboards, admin panels, and automation workflows tailored to your business. Whether you’re just starting with Make.com  or looking to scale complex automations, our team ensures you get the most out of your tools.

Stop wasting hours on scattered tools. Let Retoolers build your custom dashboard and streamline your operations today. Book a call with us!

Looking to supercharge your operations? We’re masters in Retool and experts at building internal tools, dashboards, admin panels, and portals that scale with your business. Let’s turn your ideas into powerful tools that drive real impact.

Curious how we’ve done it for others? Explore our Use Cases to see real-world examples, or check out Our Work to discover how we’ve helped teams like yours streamline operations and unlock growth.

Duy Vu
Internal Tool Designer

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