AIforSME

Workflow Automation AI

n8n

What it does: n8n is an open-source, low-code workflow automation platform which lets users visually build and automate complex workflows by connecting various apps, services, and APIs through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It combines no-code simplicity with the power to run custom JavaScript or Python code, supporting scalable, multi-step automation processes with over 1,000 pre-built workflow templates and hundreds of native integrations. It can be self-hosted for full control or used via cloud hosting.
Best for: Developers, data teams, and businesses wanting powerful open-source workflows with full control.
Example use cases: An e-commerce store wants to automate inventory updates, order processing; and a recruitment company wants to streamline its own employee onboarding by automating paperwork, training schedule notifications, and equipment requests. 
Paid plans: Starter Plan: £20/month. Pro Plan: £50/month. Enterprise Plan: Custom                                                                                                                                                Pro tip: Leverage n8n’s hybrid approach by combining its visual node-based editor with custom JavaScript or Python code nodes. This empowers you to build workflows tailored precisely to your unique business logic without limits, making it ideal for automations that exceed typical no-code capabilities.

n8n logo which is n8n written in lower case white text. There is also a pink connector symbol to the left, all on a black background

Make

What it does: Make is a powerful visual automation platform which connects your business apps and services into seamless workflows — no coding required. With drag-and-drop tools, you can automate everything from email marketing to invoicing.
Best for: SMEs and freelancers who want flexible, affordable automation across tools like Gmail, Xero, Notion, Trello, and Shopify.
Example use cases: A consultancy business wants to auto-post new blog articles to LinkedIn and route web form submissions to multiple platforms (Google Sheets, email, Slack); and an accountancy business wants to automate invoice generation between Xero and Stripe.
Paid plans: Core plan: $9/month. Pro plan: $16/month. Teams plan: $29/month. Enterprise plan: Custom. (Can be accessed bu UK businesses)                                          Pro tip: Start with one core workflow (like lead capture to CRM) and use Make’s templates to scale easily.

Make logo which is three oblong shapes at a range of angles (like dominoes being knocked down) in a purple gradient colour, on a white background

albato

What it does: Albato is an all-in-one cloud automation platform connecting over 600 tools, with built-in AI assistants and app builder features. It’s especially strong for marketing and SaaS workflows.
Best for: Growing startups and marketing teams which want affordable automation visual tools and AI integration.
Example use cases: An online clothes store wants to automatically add leads from Facebook Ads to Hubspot and
send auto-replies via WhatsApp for new website inquiries; and a mobile phone trader wants to monitor product sales and trigger stock alerts.
Paid plans: Basic plan $13/month. Standard plan: $37/month, Pro plan: $91/month. Enterprise plan: $141/month. (Can be accessed by UK businesses)                              Pro tip: Use Albato’s “scenarios” to build multi-step, logic-based automations with built-in AI triggers.

Albato logo which is the word in lower case white text (other than the T which is uppercase), and a white horizontal line above the T. It also has a squiggly line in white underneath the word. All of this is on an orange background.

Pabbly Connect (best free plan)

What it does: Pabbly Connect’s free plan lets users automate workflows by connecting multiple apps without any coding. It supports unlimited workflows with up to 100 automated tasks per month, enabling users to streamline repetitive actions like data transfer, lead management, and notifications across 1,000+ app integrations. 
Best for: Small businesses and solopreneurs which want to test and build basic automation without upfront costs.
Example use cases: A digital marketing agency wants a new lead form submitted from Facebook; and an SaaS business wants new Stripe payments to automatically trigger welcome emails and CRM updates.
 Paid plans: Standard Plan: $14/month. Pro Plan: $29/month. Ultimate Plan: $59/month.  (Can be accessed by UK businesses)                                                                  Pro tip: Start by building simple one- or two-step workflows to automate your highest-volume repetitive tasks under the free 100 task limit. Pair these with Pabbly’s built-in formatters and filters to clean and route data correctly—this will help you maximise the free tier’s potential while keeping automations efficient and error-free. Monitor your task usage monthly to scale up plans only when your automation demands grow.

Pabbly Connect logo which is the words in black text and a white P inside a green circle to the left of the wording

Comparison table