TL;DR: Make’s free plan is a real, permanent free tier — $0 for 1,000 credits a month, the full visual scenario builder, and access to 3,000+ app integrations, including AI modules and Make AI Agents. The catches are volume and patience: you get 2 active scenarios and scenarios can only run every 15 minutes. That’s enough to learn Make and run one or two light automations indefinitely. It is not enough for a busy business workflow.
What is Make?
Make (formerly Integromat) is a visual automation platform. You build “scenarios” by connecting modules on a canvas — a trigger in one app (a new form entry, a new email, a new row in a sheet) followed by actions in other apps (send it to an AI model for a summary, save the result, post it to Slack, add a CRM contact). Branching routers, filters, iterators, and error handlers let scenarios handle real-world messiness, and every run is logged step by step so you can see exactly what data moved where.
The AI angle is built in, not bolted on. Make ships native modules for major AI models — for example, creating a chat completion or sending a message to an AI assistant — plus its own Make AI Agents, which are included on all plans, free included. A typical free-plan scenario: watch a shared inbox, have an AI module draft a summary and a suggested reply, and file both into a spreadsheet for a human to approve.
What is actually free on Make?
- 1,000 credits per month. Each module that runs typically costs one credit, so a 5-step scenario costs about 5 credits per run. Light automations fit comfortably; chatty ones don’t.
- 2 active scenarios on the free plan, per current pricing summaries.
- 15-minute minimum interval between scheduled runs — nothing on free is instant.
- 3,000+ app integrations and the full visual builder — the free plan is not a crippled demo.
- No expiry. Make’s own comparison pages describe the free plan as having no time limit.
What is paywalled?
Paid plans start with Core (from $9/month billed annually) at 10,000 credits a month, unlimited active scenarios, and a 1-minute minimum interval. Pro adds priority execution and full-text log search; Teams adds roles, permissions, and shared scenario templates. In other words, you pay for volume, speed, and teamwork — not to unlock the builder itself.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A permanent free plan with the real builder and 3,000+ integrations
- AI modules and AI Agents included at $0
- Visual debugging shows data moving module to module — easy to learn from
- Branching and error handling that simpler two-step tools can’t match
Cons
- 1,000 credits burn fast once a multi-step scenario runs often
- 2 active scenarios and a 15-minute interval cap any serious use
- The credit meter takes a little getting used to — busy scenarios need watching
Who is Make’s free plan best for?
Freelancers, small-business owners, and ops-minded beginners who want to automate one or two repetitive jobs — lead notifications, inbox summaries, form-to-sheet-to-email flows — and learn visual automation properly before paying anyone. If your scenario needs to fire instantly or run hundreds of times a day, you’ll outgrow free quickly, but you’ll know exactly why you’re upgrading.
Bottom line: Make’s free plan is one of the most honest free tiers in automation: the full product, metered by volume. Learn on it, run something small and real on it, and upgrade only when the credit counter tells you to.
Frequently asked questions
Is Make really free, or is it a trial?
It’s a real free plan, not a timed trial: $0 for 1,000 credits a month, with no time limit stated by Make.
How much can I automate with 1,000 credits?
Roughly, one credit per module run. A 5-module scenario running 3 times a day uses about 450 credits a month — comfortable. The same scenario running every 15 minutes would blow the budget in days.
Does the free plan include AI features?
Yes. Native AI modules and Make AI Agents are available on all plans, including free — you just spend credits when they run.
When should I upgrade to Core?
When you need more than 2 active scenarios, faster than 15-minute scheduling, or more than 1,000 credits a month. Core starts at $9/month billed annually with 10,000 credits.