Simple consumer automation connecting apps, devices, and smart home platforms
IFTTT (If This Then That) is a consumer-focused automation platform connecting 800+ apps and smart home devices through simple conditional applets. It covers IoT devices, social media, smart home platforms, and personal productivity tools — targeting individual consumers rather than business automation teams.
IFTTT is a strong fit if its core strengths match your workflow, budget, and support needs. Use the quick signals below before opening the full review.
IFTTT pioneered the idea of conditional automation for non-technical users when it launched in 2011. Its core concept — if something happens in App A, do something in App B — democratized automation for consumers who had no programming background and no interest in learning one. Fifteen years later, IFTTT remains the most accessible automation tool available, with the trade-off that it's also the least capable for anything beyond the simplest one-to-one trigger-action scenarios.
IFTTT's automation units are called applets: a trigger condition in one service causes an action in another service. If it rains tomorrow (Weather Underground), send an email reminder. If a new photo is posted to Instagram, save it to Google Drive. If the Philips Hue lights are turned off, lock the smart lock. These scenarios are exactly as simple as they sound — one trigger, one action, done.
The power of this simplicity is accessibility: activating an IFTTT applet takes 60 seconds and requires only connecting the relevant services. The limitation is equally clear: any automation scenario requiring multiple steps, conditional logic, data transformation, or complex routing cannot be expressed in IFTTT's one-trigger-one-action model.
IFTTT's clearest competitive advantage over business automation platforms is its smart home and IoT integration depth. Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Philips Hue, SmartThings, Nest, LIFX, Wemo, and dozens of other smart home platforms are connected in a way that Zapier and Make, primarily built for business SaaS integrations, don't replicate. For consumers who want their smart home devices and personal apps to talk to each other, IFTTT's integration coverage in this space is unmatched.
For any business automation use case, IFTTT is the wrong tool. No multi-step workflows, no conditional branching, no data transformation, no webhook processing, no API access, no team accounts, no audit logging, no error handling. IFTTT is a consumer product and should be evaluated as one.
IFTTT's free tier has been reduced over the years to 2 active applets — a severe limitation for users who built personal automation stacks on the previously more generous free plan. The Pro plan at $3.99/month removes the applet limit and adds query (multi-step) capabilities. The Pro+ plan at $14.99/month adds faster execution and priority support.
IFTTT is the right tool for consumers who want smart home and IoT device automation with the simplest possible setup experience. It's the wrong tool for any business automation requirement. The reduced free tier has diminished its once-compelling zero-cost value proposition for personal use.
Score: 6.5/10 — Best smart home and IoT consumer automation; unsuitable for any business automation need.
Free
Free billed annually
$3.99/mo
$35.88/mo billed annually
$14.99/mo
$143.88/mo billed annually
IFTTT is best for Consumers automating personal apps and smart home devices, Non-technical users who want the simplest possible automation interface, Smart home enthusiasts connecting IoT devices to apps and services.
Yes. IFTTT currently lists a free plan in ToolRankr data.
It has a free plan.
IFTTT is reviewed using ToolRankr's scoring model for ease of use, value, features, support, and overall quality. Affiliate links may earn a commission, but sponsored labels do not change editorial scoring.
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