Appsmith vs Make — Which One Wins?
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Appsmith and Make to help you pick the right tool for your workflow.
Quick Verdict
Make takes the lead with a 4.5 rating and is best for users who need more complex automation logic than zapier offers at a more affordable price.. Appsmith (4.1) is the better pick if you need teams wanting retool capabilities with open-source flexibility and no per-user limits..
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Appsmith | Make |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★★★★ 4.1(98) | ★★★★ 4.5(312) |
| Pricing Model | open_source | freemium |
| Starter Price | $40/user/mo (Business Cloud) | $10.59/mo (Core, 10K ops) |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | web, linux | web |
| Learning Curve | medium | medium |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | Teams wanting Retool capabilities with open-source flexibility and no per-user limits. | Users who need more complex automation logic than Zapier offers at a more affordable price. |
| Verdict | situational | recommended |
Feature Checklist
| Feature | Appsmith | Make |
|---|---|---|
| Open source and self-hostable | — | |
| Drag-and-drop UI builder | — | |
| Database and API connections | — | |
| JavaScript queries | — | |
| Git-based version control | — | |
| Role-based access control | — | |
| Visual flowchart workflow builder | — | |
| Routers and conditional logic | — | |
| Iterators and aggregators | — | |
| Error handling | — | |
| 1,500+ app integrations | — | |
| Webhooks and HTTP modules | — |
Appsmith
Pros
- ✓Open source with free self-hosting eliminates per-user costs
- ✓90% of Retool functionality at zero cost
- ✓Git-based version control for team workflows
Cons
- ✕Self-hosting requires DevOps setup and maintenance
- ✕Less polished than Retool in UI and documentation
- ✕Smaller ecosystem of pre-built templates
Make
Pros
- ✓More powerful than Zapier for complex automation logic
- ✓Visual flowchart builder makes complex workflows understandable
- ✓More affordable than Zapier for high-volume, complex automations
Cons
- ✕Steeper learning curve than Zapier
- ✕Fewer app integrations than Zapier (1,500+ vs 6,000+)
- ✕Operation counting can be confusing initially
The Bottom Line
Both Appsmith and Make are solid tools in the No-Code & Automation space. Make edges ahead with a stronger overall rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and is the better choice for users who need more complex automation logic than zapier offers at a more affordable price.. However, if you prioritize teams wanting retool capabilities with open-source flexibility and no per-user limits., Appsmith is worth serious consideration. We recommend trying the free tier or trial of each before committing.