Zapier
by Zapier
Connects your apps so tasks run automatically.
Best for Beginners who want a visual builder and many app connections
Free plan, paid plans from Professional: from $19.99 per month, billed yearly
AI directory · 5 tools
Automation and workflow tools for small businesses
Automation tools connect the apps you already use so tasks happen on their own. A small business can use them to copy form leads into a spreadsheet or send a message when an invoice is paid. Some are built for beginners and others suit people who like to tinker.
Key takeaways
- Zapier and Make run in the cloud and use a visual builder.
- n8n can be hosted by you for free, which needs more technical skill.
- Pricing usually depends on how many tasks, credits or runs you use.
Automation and workflows at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | Paid plans from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | Beginners who want a visual builder and many app connections | Yes | Professional: from $19.99 per month, billed yearly |
| Make | Users who like a visual canvas | Yes | Not listed |
| n8n | Teams with someone technical who can self-host | Yes | Starter: €20 per month, billed yearly |
| Microsoft Power Automate | Teams already using Microsoft 365 | Not listed | Premium: $15.00 per user per month, paid yearly |
| Lindy | Teams that want an AI helper working inside Slack and email | Yes | Team: from $49.99 per month for 5,000 credits |
Prices as listed on each vendor’s pricing page. Follow a tool’s page for its source.
The tools
Make
by Make
A visual builder for connecting apps and automating work.
Best for Users who like a visual canvas
Free plan
n8n
by n8n
A workflow tool you can use in the cloud or host yourself.
Best for Teams with someone technical who can self-host
Free plan, paid plans from Starter: €20 per month, billed yearly
Microsoft Power Automate
by Microsoft
Microsoft's tool for automating tasks across Microsoft 365 and other apps.
Best for Teams already using Microsoft 365
Paid plans from Premium: $15.00 per user per month, paid yearly
Lindy
by Lindy
An AI assistant that does tasks across your chat, email and business apps.
Best for Teams that want an AI helper working inside Slack and email
Free plan, paid plans from Team: from $49.99 per month for 5,000 credits
How to choose
- List the apps you want to connect and check each tool supports them.
- Estimate how many automated runs you need each month.
- Decide if someone on your team is comfortable hosting software.
- Check whether your Microsoft 365 plan already includes what you need.
Head-to-head comparisons
Guides
Automation and workflows: common questions
What are automation and workflows tools used for in a small business?
They move information between apps without manual work. Common examples are saving new leads, sending reminders and posting updates to a team chat.
How are automation and workflows tools priced?
Most charge by usage such as tasks, credits or executions, with a free tier on some. Check each pricing page because the unit differs from tool to tool.
About the author
Andy Kang, AI Partner Team. Andy Kang writes the AI directory for AI Partner Team, which sets up and builds AI tools for small businesses alongside managed IT. Each page is written from the vendor’s own pricing, help and trust pages, and shows the day those pages were checked.
- Facts come from the vendor’s own website and help docs, linked on every page.
- Each page shows the date we last read those sources.
- We do not score or rank tools. We say who each one suits and who it does not.
- If a vendor does not publish a price, we say so instead of guessing.
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