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Last checked October 29, 2026

Free alternatives to Make

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Make, at make.com, connects apps with a visual scenario. On August 27, 2025, credits replaced operations as the billing unit. Make said the plan price stayed the same that day, and that most steps still cost one credit. Some AI and advanced modules use a changing number of credits. On November 6, 2025, extra credits started costing 25 percent more than the credits in your plan, whether you buy them by hand or automatically. A tool you run yourself is a flat server bill instead.

StartupsSmall teamsDevelopersPrice checked

What you pay for Make

Since November 6, 2025, extra credits cost 25 percent more than the credits included in the plan.

Make's credits announcement says that on August 27, 2025, operations converted to credits at a one-to-one ratio and the plan price stayed the same. Most features use one credit per operation. Some AI modules use more, based on tokens, file size, or time. Make's November 6, 2025 note says manual extra credits used to have no added cost and now cost 25 percent more than plan credits. Automatic extra credits used to cost 30 percent more and now also cost 25 percent more. The cost of credits inside the plan did not change in that note.

Make website·Price page

For startups, small teams, and developers. Its price on file: Since November 6, 2025, extra credits cost 25 percent more than the credits included in the plan. It is in the Automation group.

How to switch

The closest free app on the checklist is n8n. Cost and details. Move from Make to n8n.

Need a server? DigitalOcean is one simple option. Railway is another.

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A visual scenario you can run yourself

These scores are from the checklist on this page. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement. We check each app against public docs and price pages.

n8n is #1 (89). Node-RED is #2 (89). Activepieces is #3 (82).

n8n

#1 · Closest

5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

You only get part of: many ready-made app steps.

Node-RED

#2

5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

You only get part of: many ready-made app steps.

Activepieces

#3

5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

You only get part of: many ready-made app steps and a code step when a connector is missing.

Where they differ

  • A code step when a connector is missing

    Worth 6 points. n8n does all of it. A code node covers a missing app. Node-RED does all of it. Function nodes are JavaScript. Activepieces does part of it. You can add a code step. Confirm it in the edition you run.

n8n, Node-RED, and Activepieces do all of these: a visual builder, a server you run, and free for your own company's use.

Also ranked: Huginn is #4 (68).

n8n (#1) and Node-RED (#2) score 89 with the same share of the checklist checked. The order follows that tie.

How close is it?

How this works

A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement. #1 is the closest free app that did not pay us. An ad, when one is sold, is marked and sits after #1. Paying does not change the score. Open source means you can use, change, and share the code. Run it yourself means the app can live on a computer you control.

  1. #1 · ClosestCode is publicNotes on the review

    n8n

    A source-available workflow tool with a large integration list.

    5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

    You only get part of: many ready-made app steps.

    Last checked October 29, 2026 · License: Sustainable Use License

    You can read the code, but you can't resell it.

    WebRun it yourself
    Cost and detailsHow to switchWebsite
  2. #2Open sourceNotes on the review

    Node-RED

    A flow-based wiring tool for developers, Apache-2.0.

    5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

    You only get part of: many ready-made app steps.

    Last checked October 29, 2026 · License: Apache-2.0

    MacWindowsLinuxWebRun it yourself
    Cost and detailsWebsite
  3. #3Open sourceNotes on the review

    Activepieces

    A MIT-licensed automation core with commercial enterprise features.

    5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

    You only get part of: many ready-made app steps and a code step when a connector is missing.

    Last checked October 29, 2026 · License: MIT (core); commercial license for enterprise packages

    WebRun it yourself
    Cost and detailsWebsite
  4. #4Open sourceNotes on the review

    Huginn

    Helpers you run yourself. They watch the web and act when something happens.

    5 of 5 checked features. A full score means it matches our checklist. It is not a drop-in replacement.

    You only get part of: a visual builder, many ready-made app steps, and a code step when a connector is missing.

    Last checked October 29, 2026 · License: MIT

    WebRun it yourself
    Cost and detailsWebsite

Feature by feature

Full means it does the whole job. Partial means it does some of it. Missing means it does not. Not checked counts as zero. The number under each feature is how much it counts. A bigger number moves the score more.

Scroll sideways to see every app.

Feature comparison. Full, partial, missing, or not checked.
Featuren8n#1 · 895 of 5 checked featuresNode-RED#2 · 895 of 5 checked featuresActivepieces#3 · 825 of 5 checked featuresHuginn#4 · 685 of 5 checked features
A visual builderCounts for 10FullA visual workflow canvas.FullA flow canvas.FullA visual flow builder.PartialAgents and events, not a Make-style scenario canvas.
Many ready-made app stepsCounts for 8PartialA large node list. It is still smaller than Make's catalog.PartialPalettes cover devices and HTTP more than SaaS apps.PartialThe connector list is smaller than Make's.PartialYou build agents. There is no large SaaS catalog.
A server you runCounts for 8FullDocker is the documented install. n8n Cloud is the hosted option.FullFullFull
Free for your own company's useCounts for 6FullYour own workflows on your own server are allowed. Reselling hosting is not.FullThe license is Apache-2.0.FullThe core is MIT.Full
A code step when a connector is missingCounts for 6FullA code node covers a missing app.FullFunction nodes are JavaScript.PartialYou can add a code step. Confirm it in the edition you run.PartialYou can write an agent. It is not a one-click code step.

What it costs

n8n

Free plan
The Community Edition is free to run on your own server for your own workflows.
They host it
Cloud plans are priced by monthly executions. We have not checked this price yet.
Run it yourself
Setup: medium. Docker Compose is the documented path. Queue mode and workers are optional once volume grows. You need a small server. Prices depend on your host.

Node-RED

Free plan
The software is free.
They host it
No hosted price on file.
Run it yourself
Easy. A Node.js process. People run it on a small VPS, a NAS, or a Raspberry Pi. You need a small server. Prices depend on your host.

Activepieces

Free plan
Cloud Free includes 1,000 credits a month, unlimited flows, and up to 5 users. Credits on the free plan reset daily.
They host it
Plus is $20/month and Team is $200/month, billed monthly, with larger credit pools.
Run it yourself
Setup: medium. Docker Compose is documented. The MIT core does not include every enterprise control. You need a small server. Prices depend on your host.

Huginn

Free plan
Free to run it on your own server.
They host it
No hosted price on file.
Run it yourself
Hard. A Rails app with background workers. Expect to operate it, not click through a setup wizard.

Side by side

Two free apps from this list, scored on the same checklist.

Did you switch?

If you left Make, tell us if it worked and how long it took. Notes stay private until we approve them. Nothing is shown until at least five are approved.

How did it go?

Closest pair

Move from Make to n8n

There is no scenario import. Rebuild the flows that run, and read n8n's Sustainable Use License before you host it for other people.

Read how to switch

Related alternatives

Automation alternatives

Switch guides

Free apps in this group

Questions

How do Make credits work?
One ordinary step is one credit. That started on August 27, 2025, when operations became credits at the same count. AI and some advanced modules can use more than one credit for one run. If you buy extra credits, those have cost 25 percent more than plan credits since November 6, 2025. A self-hosted tool does not meter you that way. You pay for the server.
Which builder is closest to Make?
n8n is the closest visual canvas. It is source-available, not open source. The Sustainable Use License allows your own use on your own server. Reselling it as a host is not allowed. Activepieces has an MIT core and a visual builder. Node-RED is a flow canvas aimed at events and devices. Huginn is a different shape.
Do my Make scenarios import?
No. Rebuild the scenario that actually runs. Reconnect each account. A Make module with no matching node becomes an HTTP step, or it stays on Make.