Make vs Activepieces: Which One for Small Teams
Activepieces currently processes over 400,000 automated workflows every month, while Make seems to hit around 700,000. But the number of workflows doesn’t deliver value if the tool isn’t right for you.
| Feature | Make | Activepieces |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub Stars | Not available | Not available |
| Forks | Not available | Not available |
| Open Issues | Not available | Not available |
| License | Commercial | Open Source |
| Last Release Date | October 2023 | November 2023 |
| Starting Price | $9/month | Free |
Tool A Deep Dive: Make
Make is an automation platform designed to connect various apps and streamline workflows. It allows users to create complex automated workflows that can trigger a series of actions based on certain criteria. With its visual interface, you can create a workflow by dragging and dropping blocks. For small teams, it can handle everything from sending notifications to generating reports, relieving your team from repetitive tasks.
# Example code simulating a basic workflow setup in Make
# Trigger: New Google Sheet entry
onNewEntry -> sendSlackNotification("New Entry Added!")What’s Good About Make
First off, Make’s visual interface is absolutely a breath of fresh air. You can actually see the entire workflow laid out in front of you. It makes getting started a lot easier for non-developers. Plus, it has a massive library of integrations; you can connect virtually any app you need. Another standout feature is version control for workflows. It literally saves your previous iterations, which is helpful should you mess something up.
What Sucks About Make
But here’s the kicker: every time you add a module or action, the price goes up. This can become a real pain when you grow. Not to mention the learning curve is steep for some of the advanced features. Managing conditional logic isn’t as intuitive as it could be, which can frustrate users especially when they’re under pressure. Let’s not forget the performance sometimes lags; if your workflow gets too complex, it can slow down significantly.
Tool B Deep Dive: Activepieces
Activepieces takes a different approach, focusing on open-source automation. It aims to provide a more customizable experience, allowing users to create workflows that can range from simple to highly complex. With its emphasis on being open-source, small teams can modify the code to their specific needs, which can add a lot of versatility for developers.
# Example code for a simple automation in Activepieces
{
"workflow": {
"trigger": {
"type": "emailReceived",
"conditions": {
"from": "[email protected]"
}
},
"actions": [
{
"type": "sendToSlack",
"message": "Received an email from an important contact!"
}
]
}
}What’s Good About Activepieces
The customization aspect of Activepieces is solid. Because it’s open-source, if you have the right skill set, you can tweak any part of the workflow or create custom integrations. You’re not stuck with predefined options that you don’t fully use. Its straightforward interface appeals to users who don’t want to wade through complex menus. Plus, it’s free to use for the most part, allowing teams to save on costs.
What Sucks About Activepieces
Head-to-Head Comparison
1. User Interface
Make wins here hands down. Their visual drag-and-drop functionality makes it super accessible for non-tech folks. Activepieces, on the other hand, while straightforward, can feel too minimalistic for those who want a bit more visual engagement in their workflows.
2. Integration Options
This is another point where Make takes the lead. With a larger library of integrations, you can connect to more applications natively. Activepieces simply doesn’t measure up here unless you want to spend time coding workarounds.
3. Customizability
Activepieces shines bright in terms of customizability due to its open-source nature. It’s like Lego for developers. If you enjoy tinkering and tweaking things, this is where Activepieces absolutely wins. Make is rigid in that sense; you get what you’re offered and that’s about it.
4. Pricing
Activepieces wipes the floor with Make on this one. Free is always better than a subscription model unless you need advanced features that only paid options provide. Small teams sometimes have limited budgets, and Activepieces allows them to stretch their developer dollars.
The Money Question: Pricing Comparison
Make starts at $9/month for very basic functionality, and while that may seem appealing, it adds up quickly as you scale. You’ll find that by the time you unlock all the features necessary for a small team, you’re likely hitting the $35/month mark, or even higher.
Activepieces, being mostly free, allows entry-level access without any catch but does have costs associated with hosting if you choose to self-host. However, if you invest in developers to set things up, you can control your costs much more effectively than you can with Make’s tiered pricing model.
My Take
If you’re a lean startup, pick Activepieces because it’s cost-effective and customizable. You’re likely to have developers who will appreciate the open-source flexibility it offers.
For a small business without a tech-savvy team, Make is the better choice. The ease of use and extensive integrations mean that you can quickly implement solutions without needing to go through layers of technical documentation.
If you’re freelance or a solo developer looking to automate tasks, then I’d still lean towards Activepieces. It allows you to fine-tune what you need without breaking the bank and gives you freedom over your workflow design.
FAQ
Can I use Activepieces without coding skills?
Activepieces is better suited for users with some coding background. While it’s not a complete dev tool, a lack of coding knowledge may limit what you can do.
Does Make support team collaboration?
Yes, Make offers team collaboration features in its pricing tiers. This aspect is ideal for small teams that need to sync efforts on automation tasks.
Are there hidden costs with Make?
Absolutely. As you scale and add features, the costs can balloon quickly. You’ll likely encounter additional fees based on data operations and tasks, especially as your team grows.
Data Sources
Data as of March 21, 2026. Sources: Activepieces Official, Make Official, Reddit, Black Bear Media.
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