Tool review · Automation
IFTTT review: cheap automation for simple jobs
IFTTT connects consumer apps and smart devices with simple if-this-then-that Applets. It is the cheapest serious automation option and the easiest to learn, but its trigger-action model runs out of room once a workflow needs real branching.
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IFTTT overview
IFTTT is a hosted automation service built around Applets: a trigger from one service, followed by one or more actions in others. It covers more than a thousand services, with particular strength in consumer apps, social networks, Google products and smart-home devices. AI features and an MCP connection have been added on top of the classic model.
The free plan is unusually usable: unlimited Applets and 1,000 credits a month, which is enough for a handful of personal automations to run indefinitely. Paid plans start at a few dollars a month, far below business automation platforms.
Who IFTTT is best for, and who should skip it
Best for
- Personal automation between consumer apps and smart devices
- Simple social cross-posting or content archiving
- Notifications when something happens in another service
- Anyone who wants automation without learning a workflow canvas
- Low-volume business automations that fit a trigger and one action
Skip it if
- Workflows need conditional branching, loops or data transformation
- You must connect a niche business SaaS tool; Zapier or Make is more likely to support it
- You need team governance, SSO or audit logs
- You need near-real-time triggers; even paid plans poll every five minutes
IFTTT pros and cons
Pros
- The free plan allows unlimited Applets, which is rare among automation tools
- Entry price is very low: Starter is $2.09 per month billed annually
- Applet creation is approachable for non-technical users
- 1,000+ services cover consumer apps, social platforms and smart-home devices
- Multi-action Applets, queries, filters and delays add useful control
- AI-generated Applets and an MCP connection extend the classic model
Cons
- Credits are consumed by Applet runs and AI features, so heavy use needs a higher tier
- Polling is hourly on Free, 15 minutes on Starter and 5 minutes on Pro; it is not instant
- Branching, loops and error handling are limited compared with Make or n8n
- Business and niche SaaS coverage is weaker than Zapier's
- Team controls are minimal until the Pro+ tier
- Debugging a failed Applet is less detailed than in developer-oriented platforms
Features that matter in practice
Trigger-and-action automations that can include multiple actions, queries, filters and delays.
1,000+ integrations spanning Google, social networks, productivity apps and smart-home devices.
AI in Applets, AI-generated Applets and an MCP connection for AI assistants.
Polling frequency depends on plan, from hourly on Free to every five minutes on Pro and above.
Build and manage Applets from iOS and Android as well as the web.
Connect more than one account per service on the Pro+ plan.
IFTTT pricing and free plan
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1,000 credits/month, unlimited Applets, hourly polling, all services |
| Starter | $2.09/mo billed annually ($25.08/year) | 5,000 credits/month, 15-minute polling, basic support |
| Pro | $5.49/mo billed annually ($65.88/year) | 20,000 credits/month, 5-minute polling, prioritised support |
| Pro+ | $13.99/mo billed annually ($167.88/year) | 100,000 credits/month, fastest polling, multiple accounts, dedicated support |
Free plan and trial
Yes. The Free plan includes 1,000 credits per month, unlimited Applets, access to all services and hourly polling. It is a real free tier rather than a short trial, though the credit allowance limits how much you can run.
How it compares and what to try instead
IFTTT is the right first automation tool for personal use. If a workflow needs conditions, loops or business apps, the comparison quickly moves to Make or Zapier.
Alternatives and category guide
Frequently asked questions
Is IFTTT free?
IFTTT has a permanent free plan with 1,000 credits per month, unlimited Applets, all services and hourly polling. Paid plans add credits, faster polling and support.
How much does IFTTT cost?
Starter is $2.09 per month billed annually ($25.08/year), Pro is $5.49 ($65.88/year) and Pro+ is $13.99 ($167.88/year). Monthly billing costs more.
Can IFTTT do multi-step automations?
Yes, Applets can include multiple actions, plus queries, filters and delays. It is not a full workflow engine: branching, loops and detailed error handling are limited.
Is IFTTT good for business?
For simple, low-volume automations between supported apps, yes. For multi-step business processes, team governance or niche SaaS integrations, Zapier, Make or n8n are better fits.
Sources and how this page was checked
This page is based on published product information, plan limits and pricing read from the official pages below in November 2026. It is not a hands-on lab test, and we do not claim to have used every feature. Prices and limits change: confirm them on the vendor site before you buy.
How we compared
We compare products by the job they are hired for, not by feature-count bingo. Each verdict weighs the published plan limits, the workflow a typical buyer repeats, and the cost of the smallest plan that actually covers that workflow.
Read our editorial method →