Best workflow automation tools

Best workflow automation tools for small businesses

Seven automation tools grouped by what each one counts as usage, what its free tier allows and which small business it suits, each read from its own pages.

Shortlist an automation tool for your volume and apps, or decide a free tier is enough.

2 practical guides

Choose the question closest to yours.

New to the topic? Begin with the first guide. Otherwise, go straight to the question you need to answer.

Start here · Buying guide

Best workflow automation software for small business: seven tools sorted by what each one counts

Read the guide →

Guide preview

Seven workflow automation tools sorted by what each counts as usage, what its free tier allows and which small business each suits, read from vendor pages.

Bottom line: No tool is best for every small business, so pick by what each one counts. Zapier and Pabbly Connect count action steps, Make counts credits for each module action including reads, n8n counts whole workflow runs, and Albato and Integrately have their own step rules. Match that unit to your busiest workflow and your apps.

Side-by-side comparison

Pabbly Connect vs Zapier: how each counts tasks, which plans fit high volume and who should pick which

Read the guide →

Guide preview

Pabbly Connect vs Zapier from each vendor's pages: how each counts tasks, which plan suits high volume, how apps and support differ and who should pick which.

Bottom line: On a plain app-to-app workflow, both vendors' pages count action steps and leave triggers, filters and formatters free, so the task count matches. The difference is in plans, apps and support: Pabbly Connect lists an Unlimited plan and about 2,000 integrations, while Zapier lists more than 9,000 apps and live chat on higher tiers.