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Automation Integration · head to head

IBM MQ vs Integromat

IBM MQ logo

IBM MQ

Automation Integration

Transactional message queuing for systems where a lost message is a lost payment

From
$312/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Integromat logo

Integromat

Automation Integration

Automate your workflow

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Integromat has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: IBM MQ virtual Processor Core licensing is capacity-based, so an over-provisioned server is charged for cores the queue manager never uses, and consumption ratios differ between MQ and MQ Advanced.; Integromat the free plan enforces a 15 minute minimum interval between runs, so nothing near real time is possible without paying
  • They diverge on capability: IBM MQ covers Assured once-only delivery, Integromat covers Visual workflow builder.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IBM MQ and Integromat actually diverge.

Attributes where IBM MQ and Integromat differ
AttributeIBM MQIntegromat
Starting price$312/monthFree
Pricing modelPer virtual processor core per monthfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Docker, KubernetesWeb, Api
FoundedUnknown2013

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Automation Integration).

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 IBM MQ

  • Assured once-only delivery
  • Multi-platform queue managers
  • Native high availability
  • Advanced Message Security
  • Managed File Transfer
  • MQ Telemetry

Only in Integromat

  • Visual workflow builder
  • Webhooks
  • Data transformation
  • Error handling
  • Conditional logic
  • Scheduling
  • Team collaboration
  • 1000+ apps

What people use each for

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

IBM MQ

  • Core banking or payments where a message must participate in the same transaction as a database updatenot Integromat
  • A mainframe estate that needs reliable messaging between z/OS applications and distributed Linux servicesnot Integromat
  • Regulated file movement that must be auditable end to end, using Managed File Transfernot Integromat
  • Replacing bespoke retry and idempotency code in inter-system integrations with a queue that guarantees once-only deliverynot Integromat

Integromat

  • workflow automationnot IBM MQ
  • integration between appsnot IBM MQ
  • task automationnot IBM MQ

Where each one falls short

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

IBM MQ

  • Virtual Processor Core licensing is capacity-based, so an over-provisioned server is charged for cores the queue manager never uses, and consumption ratios differ between MQ and MQ Advanced.
  • Container licensing requires Kubernetes with the IBM License Service, so Podman or plain Docker deployments cannot use the optimised metric and pay materially more.
  • Distributed and z/OS platforms use different licensing models, and organisations running both routinely misapply one to the other, which surfaces as exposure at audit.
  • Operating MQ needs specialist skills that are increasingly scarce, and the pool of engineers who understand channel and queue manager administration is shrinking with every retirement.
  • IBM’s acquisition of Confluent in March 2026 puts MQ and Kafka under one vendor, which resolves the integration story but removes the competitive tension that kept renewal negotiations honest.

Integromat

  • The free plan enforces a 15 minute minimum interval between runs, so nothing near real time is possible without paying
  • Free is limited to 2 active scenarios, a 5 MB file size and 7 days of execution logs
  • Billing is per credit where each module action counts as one, so a scenario with many steps consumes credits far faster than its run count suggests
  • Make API access requires a paid plan
  • Priority execution and full text log search are Pro features
  • Overage protection is Enterprise only, so cheaper plans can run up charges

Pricing, plan by plan

IBM MQ

$312/month
  • IBM MQ$312/month
    • Per Virtual Processor Core subscription
    • Minimum one year term
    • Assured once-only delivery
  • IBM MQ Advanced$583/month
    • Per Virtual Processor Core subscription
    • Advanced Message Security
    • Managed File Transfer
  • Pay as you go$undefined/month
    • Approximately 1.02 USD per Virtual Processor Core per hour
    • No annual commitment
    • Suited to variable or short-lived capacity

Integromat

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1000 credits monthly
    • basic workflow builder
    • access to 3000+ apps
  • Core$9/month
    • 10k credits
    • unlimited active scenarios
    • scheduled scenarios down to the minute
  • Pro$16/month
    • 10k credits
    • priority execution
    • custom variables
  • Teams$29/month
    • 10k credits
    • team collaboration
    • team roles

Which should you pick?

Choose IBM MQ if

  • You need assured once-only delivery.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes.
  • You also want multi-platform queue managers.
IBM MQ review

Choose Integromat if

  • You need visual workflow builder.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want webhooks.
Integromat review

Questions people ask

Is IBM MQ or Integromat better?
Neither clearly leads. IBM MQ starts at $312/month and Integromat at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IBM MQ or Integromat?
Integromat has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $312/month for IBM MQ and Free for Integromat.
Does IBM MQ or Integromat run on more platforms?
IBM MQ runs on Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes. Integromat runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Integromat for free?
Yes. Integromat has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. IBM MQ starts at $312/month.
What is IBM MQ best used for?
IBM MQ is most often used for core banking or payments where a message must participate in the same transaction as a database update, a mainframe estate that needs reliable messaging between z/os applications and distributed linux services, regulated file movement that must be auditable end to end, using managed file transfer, replacing bespoke retry and idempotency code in inter-system integrations with a queue that guarantees once-only delivery. Of those, core banking or payments where a message must participate in the same transaction as a database update and a mainframe estate that needs reliable messaging between z/os applications and distributed linux services are not what Integromat is typically brought in for.
What can IBM MQ do that Integromat cannot?
IBM MQ covers Assured once-only delivery, Multi-platform queue managers, Native high availability, Advanced Message Security. Integromat covers Visual workflow builder, Webhooks, Data transformation, Error handling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

IBM MQ: How is IBM MQ licensed?

By Virtual Processor Core subscription, around 312 US dollars per VPC per month for MQ and 583 for MQ Advanced, minimum one year.

Integromat: What is the free tier for Make?

Make's free tier provides 1,000 credits monthly, access to 3,000+ apps, a basic no-code workflow builder, and a 15-minute minimum interval between scenario runs.

Source
IBM MQ: Should we replace MQ with Kafka?

Only if you actually need a replayable log. MQ is a transactional queue; replacing it with Kafka usually means rebuilding transactional semantics in application code.

Integromat: Can I save money with annual billing on Make?

Yes, Make offers 15% or more savings when paying annually instead of monthly billing.

Source
IBM MQ: What does MQ Advanced add?

Advanced Message Security, Managed File Transfer, MQTT telemetry and quorum-based high availability.

Integromat: How does Make's credit system work?

Each module action in Make consumes credits, with most basic actions using one credit per execution. Credits expire monthly for monthly plans or annually for yearly subscriptions.

Source
IBM MQ: Does container deployment change the cost?

Yes. Optimised container licensing needs Kubernetes with the IBM License Service; Podman or Docker deployments do not qualify.

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