IFTTT: Personal Automation for Everyday Apps and Devices
Published on 2025/05/12 by Jasper Sutter
Introduction
For busy professionals and small business owners, keeping all your apps and devices working together can feel like a full-time job. That’s where IFTTT shines — a simple, approachable way to automate everyday tasks across a wide array of services without writing code. Whether it’s posting to social media, backing up files, sending reminders, or connecting smart home gadgets, IFTTT helps save time and eliminate repetitive work. For anyone looking to dip their toes into automation without a steep learning curve, IFTTT remains a reliable and easy-to-use option.
What is IFTTT?
IFTTT (short for “If This Then That”) is a cloud-based automation platform designed to link together your favorite apps, devices, and services through simple conditional statements, called applets. Each applet consists of a trigger (the “If This”) and an action (the “Then That”). For example: “If I post a photo on Instagram, then save it to Dropbox.” Over time, IFTTT has expanded its library to include thousands of integrations with business apps, smart home devices, and even niche tools. It’s designed to empower non-technical users to create personal workflows that save time and minimize busywork.
Key Features
- Thousands of Integrations
- Easy-to-Use Applets
- Cross-Platform
- Customizable Applets
- Multi-Step Automations
Connect over 800 services including Google, Slack, Dropbox, Twitter, Philips Hue, and more
Build automation workflows in minutes with no coding required
Works on web, mobile, and with a wide variety of connected devices
Modify prebuilt applets or create your own from scratch
Premium plans allow more advanced workflows with multiple actions
Pros
- Extremely user-friendly, even for beginners
- Massive library of integrations and community-built applets
- Affordable entry point with free plan available
- Great for personal, small-business, and home automation
- Continuously expanding library of supported services
Cons
- Limited logic complexity compared to tools like Zapier or Make
- Free plan has fewer features and slower execution times
- Not ideal for mission-critical or high-volume business workflows
- Premium plan pricing has increased in recent years
Who It’s For
- Small Business Owners & Solopreneurs
- Busy Professionals
- Home & Personal Users
Automate repetitive online tasks without hiring help
Streamline your digital life and reduce context-switching
Connect smart devices and online services to make life easier
Pricing Overview
To view the most current pricing, visit the official IFTTT pricing page.
- Free plan available with limited features and slower runs
- Paid plans start around $3/month for individuals and $10/month for Pro+ (as of June 2025)
How It Compares
Tool
|
Strengths
|
Weaknesses
|
IFTTT
|
Most user-friendly, great for home/personal use
|
Limited complexity
|
Zapier
|
Powerful, advanced workflows
|
Steeper learning curve, pricier
|
Make
|
Visual builder, flexible logic
|
Less intuitive for beginners
|
Activepieces
|
Open-source, developer-friendly
|
Fewer integrations today
|
IFTTT stands out for its simplicity and breadth of integrations, even if it’s not the most powerful option for business-critical automation.
Final Verdict
IFTTT remains a favorite for individuals and small teams who want to automate without overcomplicating. Its intuitive interface, massive integration library, and affordable plans make it a great entry point to automation. While more advanced platforms like Zapier and Make offer greater flexibility, IFTTT’s charm lies in how quickly you can set up meaningful automations. For SMBs with lightweight needs or individuals looking to get started with automation, IFTTT is hard to beat.
Key Takeaways
- Easy-to-use automation platform for apps and devices
- Best suited for individuals, SMBs, and home users
- Massive library of integrations and prebuilt applets
- Free and affordable paid plans
- Less suitable for complex, enterprise workflows
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