Top no-code business process automation tools for 2024

Are you in search of powerful tools to boost your business operations? Automation simplifies these processes, removing the need for repetitive manual tasks. No-code automation takes development to the next level. It gives you the ability to create automated systems without having to write code.

In this article, we'll introduce you to our top picks in no-code automation. We'll explore each of these platforms in-depth, include their unique features and advantages, and help you pick the most suitable ones for your business. One thing is undeniable: automation is no longer a distant concept. It's here, and thanks to no-code it's more accessible and practical than ever before.‍

TL;DR 

Join us in this article, in which we will list the best no-code business process automation tools that empower users to eliminate manual tasks and enhance efficiency. You'll discover how these tools have earned popularity among businesses and industries of all sizes, thanks to their versatility and user-friendly interfaces. If you are an entrepreneur or are seeking to build a startup, keep reading because this information will be useful for you.

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What is no-code development?

Before diving into the core matter of this article, which is no-code automation tools, we must review what is the no-code development technology. To go straight to the point, no-code development is a way to build several technology products without writing code. Instead, users use a no-code platform that provides visual tools, and a friendly  interface to build its final product. A no-code platform is a software tool created to simplify the process of building applications.

Learn more: What is no-code development?

The era of no-code automation

The concept of automation has evolved and has expanded to every business industry. It has become a critical driver for efficiency, productivity, and innovation across various sectors. Historically, automation relied heavily on custom-coded solutions, requiring a skilled team of developers to design and implement automated workflows. But there were limitations: it wasn't always easy to scale, accessible for everyone, or quick to set up.

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Today we're living in the era of no-code automation. But, what exactly is no-code automation? No-code automation is the process in which different platforms or tools encourage both users and businesses to automate manual or repetitive tasks to obtain efficiency, time, and cost savings. It is the work of optimizing workflows with intuitive, user-friendly interfaces without the use of code.

Think about your daily work routine: You probably use many apps and tools, like email, messaging apps, and more. Sometimes, when it comes to those tasks, you end up doing the same thing within different tools, like entering data, for instance. These tasks may seem small and quick. But, instead, they add up and take away a great amount of your time. The true potential of no-code automation lies in liberating users and businesses from the burden of repetitive work. Organizations can redirect valuable resources and energy toward strategic initiatives.

How to choose the right no-code automation tool

Before jumping to the list of the top-notch automation tools, and selecting the right one for our preferences, let’s review some attributes and benefits of automation tools.

Benefits

• Efficiency: As we have addressed, no-code automation's main advantage is the ability to reduce manual and repetitive tasks, enhancing productivity. It also allows employees to focus on higher-value activities.
• Ease of use: No-code technology stands out for its intuitive interfaces, enabling non-technical users to create, modify, and maintain automated workflows, without the need to have extensive code knowledge.
• Speed: Accelerates the display of automated systems. This allows organizations to respond quickly to changing business needs.
• Cost savings: Minimizes the need for long, costly developing processes.
• Scalability: As business needs grow, no-code solutions can often be easily scaled to accommodate increased workloads or expanded use cases.

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After having reviewed the main advantages that no-code automation tools provide to users and businesses, we will move onto exploring some of our no-code automation tools top choices. Before diving into the detailed assessment of each one, this are the six qualities that guided our preferred choices:

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• Versatility: The tools we have selected can handle all sorts of automation tasks, aiming for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to big enterprises. 
• Integration capabilities: We favored platforms that can engage with third-party applications, ensuring seamless connection with existing softwares.
• Popularity: We gave a nod to platforms that are trusted and used by renowned organizations.
• Budget-friendly: We checked out platforms that won't break the bank for users that are building a startup. From free to budget-friendly paid plans, ensuring accessibility for several financial options.
• Quality and security: We ensured the platforms meet high standards, including robust data protection measures and compliance with regulations like GDPR.
• Reputation: The platforms we selected have a trajectory and a wide popularity in the no-code world. These are used by renowned organizations, which is an indicator of reliability and industry acceptance.

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Make

Make is a powerful no-code automation platform that provides flexibility to create automated workflows. Additionally, it allows users to smoothly connect over 1,200 applications and services. Make encourages users to design complex, customized workflows, adapting to various sectors and requirements. 

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Make offers a community that allows collaboration and knowledge exchange, complemented by an intuitive interface. The platform excels in scalability, offers modular components, ensures GDPR adherence, and boasts an extensive array of integrable apps. Make's tiered pricing structure, featuring a no-cost option for fundamental automation, accommodates diverse user needs and financial constraints. This versatility, coupled with robust features, positions Make as a compelling choice for automation across different scales and industries.

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Best for: Those looking for an affordable, yet powerful platform. People who already have knowledge of automation tools. 

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Pros

• Versatile integration hub: With over 1,200 app connections, Make supports businesses across industries to streamline workflows and automate processes effortlessly.
• Robust data protection: Make prioritizes GDPR compliance, ensuring strict security measures and responsible handling of sensitive information.
• Dynamic troubleshooting: Real-time scenario monitoring allows for error detection and spontaneous module adjustments, minimizing interruptions and optimizing performance.
• Cost-effective solution: Make's affordable pricing options and responsive customer support make it an ideal choice for entrepreneurs and small businesses seeking to establish a strong digital presence and automate operations efficiently.

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Cons

• Learning curve: Make can present a bit of a learning curve, particularly for beginners in automation, compared to other platforms.
• Limited design flexibility: While powerful, Make may offer fewer design customization options compared to some other tools.
• Integration constraints: Some users may find limitations in available integrations or depth of integration with certain apps.

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Pricing

The free version of Make offers a great way to get started. It provides users with 1000 actions, which are individual steps in a process. So, users can connect as many different tools and services as they want. This means you have plenty of room to set up automatic workflows, even for complex tasks that might have up to 15 steps. It's a generous offering that lets you streamline many of your work processes without paying anything.

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These are the paid packages Make offers, based on the assumption of 10,000 operations per month:

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Core

• For individuals automating simple tasks.
• $9 per month when billed yearly.

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Pro

• For individuals with more complex automation needs.
• $16 per month when billed yearly.

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Teams

• For departments introducing automation for multiple users.
• $29 per month when billed yearly.

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10,000 operations per month are a great starting point for most users. However, it’s good to know that Make offers a comprehensive pricing plan, through which you can access additional features and operations. This is a good choice if your automation processes demand growth, or if you have particularly demanding tasks. 

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Case study

Known Logistics approached us in LowCode Agency because they were facing a challenge, which was not being able to provide a seamless and intuitive tracking experience for their customers. We helped them build a custom solution that integrates with their existing databases and delivers real-time updates, ultimately enhancing their customers' experience and improving operational efficiency.

Known Logistics’ fragmented shipment tracking process was causing frustration and inefficiency for both their team and their customers. They had a vast database in Azure containing detailed shipment information. However, they required a clean interface that would display the intricate details of each shipment, including routes, stops, and real-time tracking. They wanted their customers to have complete visibility and access to all relevant documents and reports, ensuring a streamlined tracking process.

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Airtable

Best for: Organizations seeking to centralize workflows and enhance automation with a visual low-code platform, particularly if the automation trigger originates within Airtable itself. Ideal for Airtable power-users and teams looking for a unified automation solution.

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Airtable provides pre-built connections for popular apps such as Asana, Jira, Slack, Google Workspace, and Outlook. When creating automations in Airtable, you have access to an extensive set of events. Just to list a few examples, you can create a record, send Slack or Teams conversations, trigger emails, manage Google Calendar events, generate Jira issues, receive Outlook emails, post on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, and much more. Airtable can handle automations with up to 25 steps, and it also allows you to use Javascript to extend its functionalities.

Pros:

• Centralizes workflows for Airtable users, simplifying management.
• Instant triggers.

Cons:

• Limited to 50 automations per Airtable base.
• Best suited for internal-facing automations
• Limited HTML email formatting for external communications.

Price:

Its pricing structure offers both free and paid plans, with rates starting at $10 per seat per month. 

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Zapier

Best for: Businesses that need to build sophisticated workflows and integrate with less well-known apps.

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Zapier is an online automation tool designed to simplify your digital life. It connects over 5000 of your favorite applications, including Gmail, Slack, Mailchimp, and more. With Zapier, you can automate repetitive tasks without any coding expertise. You can create workflows, known as "Zaps," by selecting a trigger event (e.g., receiving a new lead) and specifying the actions to follow. For example, you can save email attachments to Dropbox or synchronize customer data across platforms. It offers a robust dashboard for managing and monitoring your automation processes and allows you to create reports to gain insights into your automated workflows.

Pros:

• Speed and efficiency: Zapier automates tasks quickly and effectively, saving you time and effort.
• Access to over 2000 apps, Zapier provides numerous integration possibilities.
• Its dashboard offers in-depth control and monitoring of your automated workflows.

Cons:

• Some intricate workflows might require a deeper understanding of Zapier's features.
• Subscription costs: While it offers a free plan, more advanced features come with a subscription fee that can be pricier than other options.

Price:

Zapier offers a “free forever” option, but it’s extremely limited. It is a nice first step to get the feel of the platform. These are their subscription tiers:

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• Starter: Ideal for simple automation needs at $19.99 USD per month.
• Professional: Full automation power for individuals at $49 USD per month (billed annually).
• Team: Collaboration-focused automation for teams at $69 USD per month (billed annually).

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Opting for annual billing offers a 33% discount on the monthly rate.

Case study: from a workflow to a startup

Matthew Barnett, the founder of Bonjoro, was working for a SaaS business and had a brilliant idea: send personalized video messages to new leads to boost conversions. Using Zapier, when someone signed up on Intercom, a task popped up in their app, reminding the team to record a custom video. This personal touch worked wonders. In just three weeks, they saw a 200% increase in conversions. 

Thrilled with the results, Matt asked these leads, "Would you pay for this?" Many said yes, helping him decide to start Bonjoro and turn his idea into a full-blown product. Now they're helping their many customers shift from generic marketing to genuine, personal interactions. 

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They didn't stop there; at Bonjoro they're still using Zapier to connect customers to their platform seamlessly. Today, Bonjoro is one of Australia's fastest-growing startups, thanks to a simple Zapier workflow hack.

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Kissflow

Best for: Organizations seeking versatile workflow management with no-code automation options and robust integration capabilities. Ideal for business leaders, department heads, senior managers, and process owners looking to optimize processes.

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Kissflow is the go-to solution for organizations worldwide, with over 1.3 million users and a presence in more than 121 countries. Trusted by industry leaders such as Royal Caribbean, Domino's, and PepsiCo, Kissflow is a great solution for those seeking to enhance operational efficiency.

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Kissflow gives you the freedom to easily automate workflows, whether through its user-friendly no-code visual studio or by designing custom automation with your own coding knowledge. Kissflow also allows you to build complex, multi-step processes with conditional routing and approvals. The platform integrates with popular tools like Gmail, Slack, Dropbox, HubSpot, Mailchimp, and Zapier. And, for your convenience, it includes a mobile app that allows you to access and manage workflows even on the go.

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Pros:

• Kissflow' allows for both no-code and custom-coded workflows, accommodating a wide range of business needs.
• Integration reports: A feature that keeps track of every integration to monitor and troubleshoot them if they fail.
• Template library: Access to over 400 templates to streamline your workflow management plans.
• Customized security settings to protect sensitive data, limiting access as necessary.

Cons:

• Not suitable for very small teams: The Small Business tier requires a minimum of 20 users, which may not be cost-effective for extremely small teams.
• Minimum user requirements: The Corporate tier requires a minimum of 100 users, potentially limiting its appeal to smaller enterprises.
• Complex UI: Users may need time to adjust to the UI and may require additional training, potentially slowing down initial adoption.

Price:

The Small Business plan starts at $15 per user per month (annual plan) or $18 per user per month (monthly plan) and is suitable for teams with a minimum of 20 users. For larger enterprises with a minimum of 100 users, the Corporate plan is available at $20 per user per month (annual plan). For organizations seeking tailored integrations and customized solutions, the Enterprise plan offers personalized pricing; simply get in touch with the Kissflow sales team to request a quote designed to meet your specific requirements.

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Microsoft Power Automate

Best for: Businesses seeking a robust platform for automating tasks and enhancing efficiency. Ideal for organizations already using Microsoft SaaS solutions.

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Microsoft Power Automate is a versatile business process automation platform designed to streamline operations by simplifying repetitive tasks. With its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and an extensive library of predefined connectors, Power Automate makes automation accessible to users at all levels of technical expertise. Moreover, it harnesses the power of AI to further enhance the automation experience.

Pros:

• User-Friendly Interface: Power Automate offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, making automation creation a breeze.
• Extensive Connector Library: Hundreds of predefined connectors enable seamless integration with various applications and services.
• AI Integration: Leveraging artificial intelligence, Power Automate improves automation efficiency by exploring tasks, and processes, and even integrating generative AI through AI Builder.

Cons:

• Costs May Escalate: Depending on your automation needs and usage, costs can increase, particularly with advanced features.
• Learning Curve for Complex Workflows: While simple automations are straightforward, more complex workflows may require a learning curve.

Price: 

Microsoft Power Automate offers a free plan with basic features. Paid plans start at $15 per user per month, with various pricing tiers available based on additional features and usage.

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n8n.io

Best for: Users seeking a powerful open-source automation tool with flexibility in hosting options.

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n8n.io stands as a formidable automation tool known for its unique open-source nature. While it may have a steeper learning curve compared to platforms like Make or Zapier, it offers exceptional versatility. What sets n8n.io apart is its competitive pricing, allowing users to either self-host for free or opt for a cloud workflow package. n8n.io employs the "knot" method, which emphasizes keeping source codes visible for customization and integration.

Pros:

• Cost: The option for free self-hosting or competitive cloud packages makes n8n.io budget-friendly.
• Flexible hosting: Users can choose between self-hosting for free or selecting a cloud workflow package.
• Low-code options: Despite its power, n8n.io offers a low-code approach to customize and develop more complex automations.

Cons:

• Steeper Learning Curve: Due to its open-source nature, n8n.io may have a steeper learning curve, especially for non-developers.
• Complexity for Beginners: Users new to automation might find n8n.io less accessible compared to more user-friendly platforms.

Price:

n8n.io offers a free self-hosting option. Cloud workflow packages start at competitive prices, with tiered pricing based on usage and features.

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Automate.io

Best for: Users seeking an intuitive automation tool that caters to both simple and complex workflows, offering affordability and ease of use.

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Automate.io stands out as one of the most intuitive automation tools in the market. Designed for ease of use, it allows users to create workflows ranging from simple (one trigger, one action) to complex (one trigger, multiple actions). The platform's affordability and capability to add multiple actions to a single trigger make it a valuable asset for businesses looking to optimize their processes efficiently. Whether you need a simple automation or a multi-step process, Automate.io can handle a wide range of workflows.

Pros:

• User-friendly: Automate.io's intuitive design ensures users of all levels can create effective workflows with ease.
• Affordable pricing:: Affordable pricing plans make it accessible to businesses of varying sizes and budgets.
• Multi-action triggers: The ability to perform multiple actions with a single trigger simplifies complex processes.

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Cons:

• Limited integrations: While offering over 200 app integrations, Automate.io falls short compared to competitors like Zapier, which offers thousands of integrations.
• Single-user limitation: Most plans are designed for single users, which may necessitate teams to purchase higher-priced plans for collaboration.

Price: 

Automate.io offers a variety of pricing plans, starting at $9.99 per month, with the most expensive plan priced at $199 per month. There's also a limited free plan suitable for freelancers or individuals looking to automate two applications. Prepaying for the year comes with a 20% discount on monthly pricing.

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Features to look for in no-code automation tools

• User-Friendly interface: Ensure the tool offers an intuitive, user-friendly interface that allows you to design and implement automation workflows easily.
• Integration options: Look for a platform that provides a wide range of pre-built integrations with popular apps and services, allowing seamless connectivity for your automation needs.
• Scalability: Consider tools that offer scalability to accommodate the growth of your automation requirements, allowing you to handle more complex tasks as your business evolves.
• Customization: Seek tools that offer customization options, enabling you to tailor automation workflows to meet your specific business processes and requirements.

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Ready to supercharge your business with no-code automation? Reach out to our expert team for a personalized consultation and a detailed quote tailored to your needs.