Make
Visual workflow automation platform connecting 3,000+ apps. Formerly Integromat. More powerful and cheaper than Zapier for complex multi-step automations, with a steeper learning curve.
What should journalists know about Make?
Make is the power-user alternative to Zapier, and for most journalism automation use cases, it's the better deal. The visual scenario builder lets you see branching logic, parallel paths, and error handling in a way Zapier's linear Zap model doesn't support. You get roughly 10x the operations per dollar compared to Zapier at equivalent tiers. The tradeoff is learning curve — Make's interface is more complex, and the documentation assumes technical comfort. For newsroom automation (RSS monitoring, social posting, tip-line routing, data pipeline triggers), Make handles the same jobs as Zapier with more flexibility and lower cost. The ownership story changed in 2020 when Celonis (German process mining company, valued at $13B) acquired Integromat for over $100M and rebranded it as Make. This means the product is backed by a well-funded enterprise software company — good for stability, but it also means Make's roadmap is influenced by enterprise priorities. The August 2025 shift from operations to credits is worth watching — AI-heavy workflows may become expensive as variable credit consumption makes costs less predictable. For journalism workflows that don't use AI modules, the credit system is straightforward. Compare directly to Zapier (broader app coverage, easier onboarding) and n8n (open source, self-hosted, you keep the data).
Complex multi-step automations with branching logic and error handling. Monitoring government data feeds and routing alerts to Slack or email. Automating social media posting across multiple platforms. Syncing CRM, spreadsheet, and project management tools. Any workflow where Zapier's per-task pricing gets expensive — Make is significantly cheaper at volume.
Journalists who need one or two simple automations (Zapier's easier to set up for basic flows). Workflows involving sensitive source data — everything passes through Make's cloud servers. Anyone who needs on-premises automation with no cloud dependency (use n8n self-hosted). Non-technical users who find visual programming intimidating — the learning curve is real.
Security & Privacy
Data is scrambled while being sent to their servers
Data is scrambled when stored on their servers
Where servers are located — affects which governments can request your data
Privacy policy summary
Make processes workflow data (the information flowing through your scenarios) on EU servers. Scenario execution logs are retained for debugging — retention period depends on plan tier. SOC 2 Type II certified. GDPR-compliant as both processor and controller. Does not sell user data. Credentials for connected apps are encrypted at rest. Celonis ownership means enterprise-grade security infrastructure.
How to protect yourself:
Don't route source identities, confidential documents, or sensitive tip-line data through Make — use it for routine operational workflows. Review scenario execution logs and understand retention periods for your plan tier. Audit connected apps quarterly and disconnect unused integrations. Rotate API keys and OAuth tokens annually. For sensitive automation needs, consider self-hosted n8n instead. Monitor credit consumption after the August 2025 billing change — AI modules may cost more than expected.
SOC 2 Type II certified, GDPR-compliant, EU data residency by default, encryption in transit and at rest. Owned by Celonis (well-funded German enterprise company), which brings enterprise security infrastructure. The structural consideration is the same as any cloud automation platform: Make sees everything flowing through your workflows. For routine newsroom automation, this is fine. EU jurisdiction is a meaningful advantage over US-based Zapier for European newsrooms. For sensitive workflows, self-hosted n8n remains the better choice.
Who Owns This
Known issues
August 2025 credit system change makes costs less predictable for AI-heavy workflows — one AI module execution may consume multiple credits depending on complexity and token usage. Learning curve is steeper than Zapier — the visual scenario builder is powerful but not intuitive for non-technical users. Fewer pre-built app integrations than Zapier (3,000+ vs 8,000+), though most journalism-relevant apps are covered. Enterprise ownership (Celonis) means product direction may prioritize enterprise features over individual/small-team needs. Scenario debugging can be frustrating when complex branches fail silently.
Pricing
Free tier: 1,000 credits per month, limited to 2 active scenarios. Core: from $9/month for 10,000 credits. Pro: from $16/month for 10,000 credits with advanced features (custom variables, priority execution). Teams: from $29/month with team collaboration. Enterprise: custom pricing with SSO, audit logs, dedicated support. Credits replaced operations as the billing unit in August 2025 — one standard operation equals one credit, but AI modules may consume variable credits.
This is an editorial assessment based on publicly available information as of 2026-04-11, using our published methodology. Independent security review is pending. Security posture can change at any time. This is not a guarantee of safety.
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