Growth machine
Growth infrastructure
How to choose your growth tools
How to choose automation tools

How to choose automation tools

Connect your growth tools with automation platforms. Handle data flow, trigger workflows, and eliminate repetitive manual busywork.

Table of contents

Overview
Introduction
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Conclusion
Next article
Tools
Wiki
Keep reading

Introduction

Zapier is simple. Make is powerful. N8n is self-hosted. APIs are custom. The right automation tool depends on your technical capability and integration complexity. Simple workflows (form → CRM) need Zapier. Complex multi-step logic needs Make. High-volume operations need direct API integration. This chapter helps you assess your automation needs, compare platforms by capability and cost, and choose tools that eliminate manual work without creating fragile integrations that break constantly.

Map your automation requirements systematically

Compare Zapier, Make, and API solutions clearly

Assess technical capability versus complexity

Start simple then scale to custom as needed

Conclusion

Related tools

Zapier

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From

€

20

per month

Zapier

Growth infrastructure
How to choose your growth tools
Zapier

No-code automation connecting 5,000+ apps to move data and trigger actions excellent for quick wins when you need integrations that just work.

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My review
Make

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€

4.13

per month

Make

Growth infrastructure
How to choose your growth tools
Make

Visual automation platform with advanced logic and error handling more powerful than Zapier when you need control over complex, branching workflows.

Explore tool
My review
n8n

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24

per month

n8n

Growth infrastructure
How to choose your growth tools
n8n

Open-source automation with self-hosting ideal when you need complete control, want to own infrastructure, or have technical teams building workflows.

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My review
Pipedream

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45

per month

Pipedream

Growth infrastructure
How to choose your growth tools
Pipedream

Code-friendly automation running Node.js workflows excellent when you need custom logic, API integrations, or automations that Zapier can't handle.

Explore tool
My review

Related wiki articles

Workflow automation

Growth infrastructure
Marketing automation setup
Workflow automation

Connect triggers to actions across systems so repetitive tasks happen automatically and teams can focus on work that requires judgement instead of admin.

Read concept

Trigger

Growth infrastructure
Marketing automation setup
Trigger

Define events that start automation workflows so the right message reaches people at the right moment based on their actual behaviour not arbitrary timing.

Read concept

Integration

Growth infrastructure
How to choose your growth tools
Integration

Connect tools so data flows automatically between systems to eliminate manual entry, keep records current, and enable sophisticated workflows across platforms.

Read concept

API

Growth infrastructure
How to choose your growth tools
API

Enable tools to exchange data programmatically so you can build custom integrations and automate processes that vendor-built integrations don't support.

Read concept

Further reading

How to choose your growth tools

How to choose your growth tools
Growth infrastructureHow to choose your growth tools

Connect your growth tools with automation platforms. Handle data flow, trigger workflows, and eliminate repetitive manual busywork.

Read playbook