Which no-code automation tool do you recommend in 2025? š
@Zapier, @Make, @Relay.app , @n8n , @Activepieces, @Pabbly
So many automation tools in 2025! š
I cannot decide what to choose for beginners but with a wish to become a pro user
From my recent research, quick insights
@Zapier still wins for ease-of-use and integrations, but might be expensive and has low free limitations
@Relay.app is amazing for beginners due to built-in AI workflows
@Make remains top for complex automation
š My takeaways for new users from my one day research
For fast setup ā Zapier or Relay
For free flexibility ā Activepieces (self-hosted)
For complex workflows ā Make
But every tool has its hidden traps and secret advantages only daily users know about.
I'd love your experience on these points:
āļø Which automation tool are you actually using right now, and why?
š± What's best for newbies vs. advanced users?
š³ Have you discovered any hidden limitations or unexpected costs for those platforms?
Drop your thoughts below š Let's help each other automate smarter!
Replies
I tried to use Zapier recently to loop through the contents of a web request and put it in an AirTable and it took hours and tons of back and forth from support to basically confirm that they couldn't do it. I think I had it up and running on @Make in 10 minutes after that. I've used Zapier so much but after using Make, it just feels more powerful and easier to use.
I am really curious about @n8n though, I'd love to hear what people think about it. They just raised $60M a few hours ago, too :-)
Strong point of @Zapier is the low entry threshold. Even users with minimal technical background can quickly set up automations.
But one of the main cons is pricing. While the free tier is generous for light users, costs can escalate quickly as you scale up your usage.
And itās not ideal for heavy-duty automation. For more complex use cases involving loops, data manipulation, or branching logic, you might hit its functional ceiling and need to look into more powerful tools like @Make.
Thanks for your sharings @anton_volgin
I use @Make or @Zapier ā Make is my preference. Its interface feels simpler to me, and it allows for building more complex logic.
My personal experience:
I started with @Zapier , but I quickly moved to @make . Even if Make can be more complex at first, I found it more intuitive overall. Once you learn how it works, it is easier to create advanced automations.
For beginners, Zapier or Make are both good options. Zapier has more than 7,000 apps already connected, so you do not need to set up complicated APIs for new apps. This is very helpful if you want to start fast from 0.
I remember the first time fighting with API connection eheheh.
For many small businesses and freelancers, their automations often involve popular apps that Make already supports. So, most of the time, everything works smoothly. After you set it up, you can stick to Make without having to switch tools.
Lastly, @n8n is also interesting, I'm starting using it because it supports āagentsā (which Make and Zapier do not offer yet) and lets you create non-linear automations.
This can be helpful if you need more flexibility in your workflows.
I never tried @Relay.app , but I will definitely take a look at it :)
Thanks for your sharing @andrea_orru
What I liked about @Relay.app that they have integrated AI credits on a free tariff
You do not need to integrate OpenAI platform or similar tools
@andrea_orru Another shout out here for @n8n!
Relay.app
Always happy to help @Relay.app users directly :). Feel free to email me at jacob@relay.app
@jebank Hi Jacob, maybe we need WhatsApp, Facebook ad campaign, klaviyo and Image generation AI integrations
Hello @jebank
Your tool the most favorite from my recent review of all the tools compared price\UX\AI integration
Thanks for your work š«”
Zapier
Obviously biased, but for most use cases I suspect @zapier is the way to go. :-)
When it comes to automation, zapier is for simplicity, and for quick execution where for upgrades to advanced features it becomes expensive whereas Make &n8n using for business to scale, here Make burns the limits quickly & cloud versions for self hosted users is on expensive side in my opinion but automations comes at a price so as employees to make it done the work as they have the required and on demand skill set.
@ajay27324 thanks for your sharings
@Pabbly Connect is one of my favorites. It is affordable and quite flexible. The team is great at helping when you have an issue, and if there is an automation link you don't have, they may well build it. @make is awesome, but one of the new kids on the block that I am loving because of the data management componenet combined with automation is @Boost.space
Make is cheaper and as powerful as Zapier IMO, even if it can be a bit more complicated to setup
I am still looking for some useful tool, but fortunately I can "sniff" the hidden traps almost immediately. Having little money helps for that:) However, I like "thelibrarian.io" style and approach a lot.
No-code automation has come so far, and itās honestly exciting to see how many tools are out there! Zapier is great for quick, plug-and-play automation, Make is amazing for those who need deep customization, and Activepieces is solid if you want something self-hosted.
Iāve always felt thereās a bit of a gapāsome tools are super easy but limit flexibility, while others are powerful but can feel overwhelming. Iāve been working on something in this space to make automation more seamless, especially for those who want control without the hassle of complex setups.