Make vs Microsoft Power Automate
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
AI tool · Freemium
A visual automation platform for building multi-step workflows between apps, including AI steps.
AI tool · Paid
Microsoft's workflow and robotic process automation tool, with Copilot to build flows from descriptions.
Our verdict
Make and Microsoft Power Automate both connect apps into multi-step workflows, but they target different users. Make is a visual, app-agnostic builder known for branching logic, AI steps, and a freemium entry point, with a learning curve. Power Automate is Microsoft's workflow and RPA tool, a natural fit for organisations already running Microsoft 365 and Teams, with Copilot for generating flows from descriptions, though its licensing is harder to follow and premium connectors cost extra.
Pick Make if you want a flexible visual builder for complex, branching workflows across non-Microsoft apps like Slack, Shopify, or Notion, and you want to start on a freemium plan.
Pick Power Automate if your organisation already runs on Microsoft 365 and Teams, you need desktop RPA or approval flows, and you can handle Microsoft's licensing.
| Key difference | Make | Microsoft Power Automate |
|---|---|---|
| Best at | Complex visual workflows with routers, branching, and error handling | Workflows inside Microsoft 365, plus desktop RPA and approvals |
| Pricing | Freemium, so you can start without paying | Paid only; licensing is confusing and premium connectors cost extra |
| Ecosystem | Works with Google Workspace, Slack, Shopify, and Notion | Works with Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams |
| Platforms | Web only | Web and Windows (Windows needed for desktop RPA) |
| Ease of building | Visual builder with a learning curve | Copilot can build flows from plain-language descriptions |
Written with AI from both products' catalogue entries · updated 2026-10-29
Who each one is for
Choose Make if you need…
- Complex visual workflows
- Cost-conscious automation
Choose Microsoft Power Automate if you need…
- Microsoft 365 organisations
- Desktop RPA
Side-by-side
| Make | Microsoft Power Automate | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | No-code & automation · Workflow automation | No-code & automation · Workflow automation |
| Price | Freemium | Paid |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Windows |
| Works with | Google Workspace, Slack, Shopify, Notion | Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams |
| Hands-on tested by us | Not yet | Not yet |
| Last checked | 2026-10-29 | 2026-10-29 |
What each one is
Make
A visual automation platform for building multi-step workflows between apps, including AI steps. More flexible than simple trigger-action tools for branching logic. The visual builder has a learning curve.
Microsoft Power Automate
Microsoft's workflow and robotic process automation tool, with Copilot to build flows from descriptions. Natural choice inside Microsoft shops. Licensing is confusing and premium connectors cost extra.
Best for
Make
- Complex visual workflows
- Cost-conscious automation
Microsoft Power Automate
- Microsoft 365 organisations
- Desktop RPA
Strengths
Make
- Visual scenario builder
- Routers and branching
- AI modules
- Error handling and scheduling
Microsoft Power Automate
- Cloud flows
- Desktop RPA
- Copilot flow creation
- Approvals
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Make or Microsoft Power Automate?
Make and Microsoft Power Automate both connect apps into multi-step workflows, but they target different users. Make is a visual, app-agnostic builder known for branching logic, AI steps, and a freemium entry point, with a learning curve. Power Automate is Microsoft's workflow and RPA tool, a natural fit for organisations already running Microsoft 365 and Teams, with Copilot for generating flows from descriptions, though its licensing is harder to follow and premium connectors cost extra. Pick Make if you want a flexible visual builder for complex, branching workflows across non-Microsoft apps like Slack, Shopify, or Notion, and you want to start on a freemium plan. Pick Power Automate if your organisation already runs on Microsoft 365 and Teams, you need desktop RPA or approval flows, and you can handle Microsoft's licensing.
What is the difference between Make and Microsoft Power Automate?
Make: A visual automation platform for building multi-step workflows between apps, including AI steps. Microsoft Power Automate: Microsoft's workflow and robotic process automation tool, with Copilot to build flows from descriptions. Make suits complex visual workflows, while Microsoft Power Automate suits microsoft 365 organisations.
Are Make and Microsoft Power Automate free?
Make: Freemium. Microsoft Power Automate: Paid.
What are other alternatives to Make and Microsoft Power Automate?
Other options people compare them with include n8n, Zapier, Pipedream, IFTTT, Airtable.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.