Choosing between two of the biggest automation platforms? This Make vs Power Automate comparison breaks down pricing, ease of use, integrations and AI so you can pick the right one. Based on our research of both platforms’ documentation, pricing and user feedback, the best choice depends heavily on whether your business already lives inside Microsoft 365.
Make.com (formerly Integromat) is an independent, visual automation platform loved for its flexibility and value. Microsoft Power Automate is deeply tied into the Microsoft ecosystem. Here is how they compare.
Make vs Power Automate at a glance
| Factor | Make.com | Power Automate |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Most businesses & visual builders | Microsoft 365 / enterprise users |
| Free plan | Yes | Limited (with M365) |
| Ease of use | Very visual | Moderate |
| Microsoft integration | Good | Native |
| Pricing model | Operations | Per user / per flow |
Pricing compared
Make.com charges by operations (each step a scenario runs), with a free tier and affordable paid plans that scale smoothly. Power Automate uses a per-user or per-flow model and is often bundled with Microsoft 365 licences, which can make it feel free if you already pay for Microsoft — but premium connectors and standalone plans add cost. For most independent businesses, Make.com offers more predictable value; for organisations already paying for M365, Power Automate can be cheaper at the margin. For detail, see our Make.com pricing breakdown.
Ease of use
Make.com’s visual, node-based canvas is widely considered one of the most intuitive ways to build complex automations, with a clear view of how data flows. Power Automate is capable but its interface and the split between cloud flows, desktop flows and premium connectors can feel more complicated to newcomers.
Integrations & ecosystem
Power Automate’s biggest strength is native, deep integration with Microsoft 365 — Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Excel and Dynamics. If your business runs on Microsoft, that tight coupling is hard to beat. Make.com integrates with a huge range of third-party apps and is more app-agnostic, making it the better choice if your stack is mixed or non-Microsoft.
AI capabilities
Both platforms have leaned into AI. Power Automate integrates with Microsoft Copilot and AI Builder; Make.com offers native OpenAI and other AI modules you can drop into any scenario. For flexible, vendor-neutral AI workflows, Make.com is very strong — see our guide to the best AI automation tools for small business.
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★★★★★Which should you choose?
If your business already runs on Microsoft 365 and you need tight Outlook/Teams/SharePoint automation, Power Automate is the natural fit. If you want a flexible, affordable, app-agnostic platform with a friendlier builder, Make.com is our recommendation for most businesses. Still deciding between the major players? Read our full Make.com review and our Zapier vs Make vs n8n comparison.
Key takeaways
- Power Automate wins for businesses deep in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
- Make.com wins on ease of use, app-agnostic integrations and predictable pricing.
- Make.com has a free plan; Power Automate is usually bundled with Microsoft licensing.
- For mixed or non-Microsoft stacks, Make.com is the more flexible choice.
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