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Automation Integration · head to head

IBM MQ vs Make

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
Make logo

Make

Remote Work

The platform for the new way of working

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Make 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.; Make free tier limited to 1,000 credits per month
  • They diverge on capability: IBM MQ covers Assured once-only delivery, Make 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 Make actually diverge.

Attributes where IBM MQ and Make differ
AttributeIBM MQMake
Starting price$312/monthFree
Pricing modelPer virtual processor core per monthfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Docker, KubernetesWeb
CategoryAutomation IntegrationRemote Work
FoundedUnknown2013

Identical on both: 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 IBM MQ

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

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.

IBM MQ

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

Make

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

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

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

Make

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Make review.

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 Make if

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

Questions people ask

Is IBM MQ or Make better?
Neither clearly leads. IBM MQ starts at $312/month and Make at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IBM MQ or Make?
Make has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $312/month for IBM MQ and Free for Make.
Does IBM MQ or Make run on more platforms?
IBM MQ runs on Linux, Windows, Docker, Kubernetes. Make runs on Web.
Can I use Make for free?
Yes. Make 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 Make is typically brought in for.
What can IBM MQ do that Make cannot?
IBM MQ covers Assured once-only delivery, Multi-platform queue managers, Native high availability, Advanced Message Security. Make covers Visual workflow builder, Webhooks, API connectors, Conditional logic.

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.

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
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.

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
IBM MQ: What does MQ Advanced add?

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

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
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.

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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