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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Arduino Cloud vs Make

Arduino Cloud logo

Arduino Cloud

IoT & Smart Home

Cloud platform for Arduino IoT devices and applications

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: Arduino Cloud the free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention; Make free tier limited to 1,000 credits per month
  • They diverge on capability: Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Make covers Visual workflow builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arduino Cloud and Make actually diverge.

Attributes where Arduino Cloud and Make differ
AttributeArduino CloudMake
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsArduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboardWeb
CategoryIoT & Smart HomeRemote Work
Founded20052013

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 Arduino Cloud

  • Device Connectivity
  • Cloud Storage
  • Real-Time Sync
  • Security
  • Arduino IDE
  • Mobile app
  • REST API
  • Integration services

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.

Arduino Cloud

  • Connecting Arduino boards to a cloud dashboardnot Make
  • Over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devicesnot Make
  • Logging sensor data and charting it over timenot Make
  • Triggering notifications from device thresholdsnot Make
  • Classroom IoT projects on the School plannot Make

Make

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

Where each one falls short

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

Arduino Cloud

  • The free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention
  • Free accounts are limited to 25 compilations a day and 10 trigger notifications a day
  • The Maker plan at $72 a year lifts devices to 25 and retention to 3 months, still for a single user
  • Team pricing jumps to $1,000 a year
  • Two years of data retention and unlimited ingestion require Enterprise

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

Arduino Cloud

Free
  • MakerFree
    • 2 devices
    • Basic features
    • Cloud access
  • Maker Plus$7/month
    • Up to 10 devices
    • Advanced features
    • Better storage

Make

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Make review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Arduino Cloud if

  • You need device connectivity.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard.
  • You also want cloud storage.
Arduino Cloud 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 Arduino Cloud or Make better?
Neither clearly leads. Arduino Cloud 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, Arduino Cloud or Make?
Arduino Cloud starts at Free and Make at Free.
Does Arduino Cloud or Make run on more platforms?
Arduino Cloud runs on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard. Make runs on Web.
Can I use Arduino Cloud for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Arduino Cloud best used for?
Arduino Cloud is most often used for connecting arduino boards to a cloud dashboard, over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devices, logging sensor data and charting it over time, triggering notifications from device thresholds. Of those, connecting arduino boards to a cloud dashboard and over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devices are not what Make is typically brought in for.
What can Arduino Cloud do that Make cannot?
Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Cloud Storage, Real-Time Sync, Security. Make covers Visual workflow builder, Webhooks, API connectors, Conditional logic.
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