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Productivity · head to head

Alfred vs Make

Alfred logo

Alfred

Productivity

Mac launcher and automation tool sold as a one-time Powerpack licence rather than a subscription

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Make logo

Make

Remote Work

The platform for the new way of working

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Alfred there is no official built in AI assistant, so anything AI related depends on a community workflow calling an external API key you supply yourself.; Make free tier limited to 1,000 credits per month
  • They diverge on capability: Alfred covers Workflows, Make covers Visual workflow builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Alfred and Make actually diverge.

Attributes where Alfred and Make differ
AttributeAlfredMake
Pricing modelOne-time purchasefreemium
PlatformsMacWeb
CategoryProductivityRemote Work
FoundedUnknown2013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Alfred

  • Workflows
  • Clipboard history
  • Snippets
  • File actions
  • Universal actions
  • Theming

Only in Make

  • Visual workflow builder
  • Webhooks
  • API connectors
  • Conditional logic
  • Data transformation
  • Error handling
  • Scheduling
  • Team collaboration

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Alfred

  • A developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscriptionnot Make
  • A writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in AInot Make
  • A long time Alfred user with a large personal library of custom workflows built up over yearsnot Make
  • A user who prefers paying once per major version over a recurring monthly chargenot Make

Make

  • Automating integrations between 3,000+ pre-built applicationsnot Alfred
  • Building AI agents and workflow automation without extensive codingnot Alfred
  • Enterprise automation with GDPR, SOC 2 Type II compliancenot Alfred
  • Rapid deployment of automations from concept to livenot Alfred

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Alfred

  • There is no official built in AI assistant, so anything AI related depends on a community workflow calling an external API key you supply yourself.
  • The workflow format is older XML and script filters, which is less approachable for a beginner than a modern extension store with typed APIs.
  • It is Mac only, so a user who splits time between Mac and Windows needs a second tool on the other machine.
  • The free tier is quite limited, with no workflows or clipboard history, so most serious users end up paying for the Powerpack anyway.
  • Because upgrades to a new major version are a separate purchase for Single Licence holders, users who skip the Mega Supporter tier can face a further one-time charge every few years.

Make

  • Free tier limited to 1,000 credits per month
  • Free tier restricted to 2 active scenarios maximum
  • Free tier enforces 15-minute minimum scheduling interval
  • Credit-based model means costs scale with usage volume, not just features

Pricing, plan by plan

Alfred

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic app and file launching
    • Web searches and system commands
    • No workflows or clipboard history
  • Powerpack Single Licence$34/one-time
    • 1 user on up to 2 Macs
    • Workflows, clipboard history and snippets
    • Free updates within the same major version
  • Powerpack Mega Supporter$59/one-time
    • 1 user on up to 4 Macs
    • Free upgrades to all future major versions
    • Early access to betas

Make

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Make review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Alfred if

  • You need workflows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want clipboard history.
Alfred review

Choose Make if

  • You need visual workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want webhooks.
Make review

Questions people ask

Is Alfred or Make better?
Neither clearly leads. Alfred starts at Free and Make at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Alfred or Make?
Alfred starts at Free and Make at Free.
Does Alfred or Make run on more platforms?
Alfred runs on Mac. Make runs on Web.
Can I use Alfred for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Alfred best used for?
Alfred is most often used for a developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscription, a writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in ai, a long time alfred user with a large personal library of custom workflows built up over years, a user who prefers paying once per major version over a recurring monthly charge. Of those, a developer who wants to trigger scripts, run shell commands and search files from one hotkey without a subscription and a writer who wants text snippets and clipboard history and does not want built in ai are not what Make is typically brought in for.
What can Alfred do that Make cannot?
Alfred covers Workflows, Clipboard history, Snippets, File actions. Make covers Visual workflow builder, Webhooks, API connectors, Conditional logic.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Alfred: Is Alfred a subscription?

No. The Powerpack is a one-time purchase per major version, or a one-time Mega Supporter purchase that includes all future major version upgrades.

Make: How is Make priced and does the free plan expire?

Make offers a free plan with 1,000 credits per month at no cost and no time limit. The free plan includes the no-code workflow builder, access to 3,000+ apps, and customer support. Paid tiers (Core, Pro, Teams) are $9-$29/month with 10,000+ credits included.

Source
Alfred: Does Alfred replace Spotlight?

It can. Alfred can take over the system-wide hotkey and generally returns results faster with more configurable behaviour than Spotlight.

Make: What happens if I exceed my monthly credits?

Extra credits beyond the monthly allowance can be purchased in bundles of 1,000 or 10,000. Auto-purchasing is available for Core, Pro, and Teams plans to automatically buy additional credits when needed.

Source
Alfred: Does Alfred have AI features?

Not officially built in. Some community workflows add AI chat or completion by calling an external API with a key you provide.

Make: Can I save money by switching to annual billing?

Yes, annual plans offer 15% or more savings compared to monthly billing. Monthly subscriptions continue until the end of the billing month, while annual plans run for 12 months.

Source
Make: What happens to unused credits if I cancel?

Unused monthly credits expire at the end of each billing cycle. With annual subscriptions on Pro and Teams plans, credits are maintained for the full 12-month term. Users can cancel at any time and the organization converts to the free plan after the current billing cycle ends.

Source
Make: How many active scenarios can I create on the free plan versus paid plans?

The free plan is limited to 2 active scenarios and has a 15-minute minimum interval between runs. Paid plans (Core and above) offer unlimited active scenarios with the ability to schedule runs down to the minute.

Source
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