IFTTT
FreemiumThe original consumer automation platform with simple 'If This Then That' applets for smart home and everyday life
What is IFTTT?
IFTTT (If This Then That) is the original consumer-focused automation platform, launched way back in 2010 as the go-to tool for connecting smart home devices, social media accounts, and everyday apps. Where Zapier and Make target business and productivity use cases, IFTTT remains firmly in the consumer and prosumer space — it shines for things like 'turn on my Philips Hue when I get home', 'post my Instagram photos to Twitter', 'save Gmail attachments to Dropbox', or 'log my Fitbit workouts to a Google Sheet'. The product is organized around 'applets' (formerly called 'recipes'), which are simple two-step automations following the If This Then That pattern. Each applet has a trigger and an action, though the Pro and Pro+ tiers add multi-action support and filter code for more complex logic. IFTTT doesn't market itself as an AI platform, but it has quietly added AI features over time — applets can now use LLM-powered actions for summarization, classification, and content generation on the Pro+ plan. Pricing is refreshingly cheap: the Free plan lets you run 2 applets, Pro is $3.49/month for 20 applets (with multi-action support), and Pro+ is $14.99/month for unlimited applets with filter code and AI actions. For consumer smart home and social automation, IFTTT remains the easiest and cheapest option in 2026 — though it's rarely the right choice for business workflows.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Consumer smart home, social media, and everyday personal automation
Business workflows, multi-step data pipelines, or anything requiring governance
Free (2 applets) · Pro $3.49/mo (20 applets) · Pro+ $14.99/mo (unlimited)
Yes — 2 active applets on the free plan
The largest library of consumer and smart-home triggers and actions on the market
Simple two-step applets limit complex business workflows; few professional integrations
Bottom line: IFTTT scores 4.2/5 — Still the default for consumer and smart-home automation at a remarkably cheap price. Pro ($3.49/mo) is the sensible step up once you hit the 2-applet free cap.
Pricing
Free: 2 active applets, single-action applets only, standard execution speed, community support.
Pro — $3.49/month (or $24.99/year, save 40%): 20 active applets, multi-action applets (trigger + multiple actions), faster execution, customer support.
Pro+ — $14.99/month (or $99.99/year): Unlimited active applets, filter code (JavaScript conditions inside applets), AI-powered actions, multiple account connections, priority support, unlimited queries.
Note: Prices may vary slightly by region. IFTTT has intentionally kept pricing very low compared to business automation tools — it's priced for consumers and hobbyists, not teams.
Key Features
- Thousands of pre-built triggers for smart home, social, wearables, and apps
- Simple two-step 'If This Then That' applet structure (or multi-action on Pro+)
- Smart home coverage — Philips Hue, Nest, Ring, Sonos, Samsung SmartThings, Alexa, Google Home
- Social automation — Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube
- Wearable integration — Fitbit, Garmin, Oura, Apple Health
- Filter code on Pro+ — JavaScript for conditional logic inside applets
- AI-powered actions on Pro+ — summarize, classify, and generate text
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android with location-based triggers
Pros & Cons
Pros
- By far the cheapest entry point in consumer automation at $3.49/month
- Unmatched smart home and IoT integration library
- Perfect for personal use cases that don't need business-grade features
- Community applet library with thousands of pre-built templates
Cons
- Limited to simple workflows — not a business automation tool
- Fewer professional integrations than Zapier or Make (no Salesforce, limited CRM)
- AI features are relatively basic compared to dedicated AI automation platforms
FAQ
How much does IFTTT cost in 2026?
IFTTT has three tiers: Free (2 applets), Pro at $3.49/month (20 applets with multi-action support), and Pro+ at $14.99/month (unlimited applets with filter code and AI actions). Annual billing saves about 40% on Pro and Pro+. This is dramatically cheaper than business automation tools like Zapier or Make, but that reflects IFTTT's focus on consumer and personal use cases rather than teams.
What's the difference between IFTTT and Zapier?
IFTTT targets consumers and smart-home users with simple 2-step applets and thousands of IoT/social triggers. Zapier targets business users with complex multi-step workflows, thousands of SaaS app integrations, and enterprise features. Pricing reflects this: IFTTT starts at $3.49/month, while Zapier's business tiers can cost $100+/month. Use IFTTT for your smart home; use Zapier for your business.
Does IFTTT have AI features?
Yes, on the Pro+ tier. IFTTT added AI-powered actions in 2023 and expanded them in 2024, letting applets use LLMs to summarize text, classify content, generate responses, and extract data. These features aren't as deep as dedicated AI platforms like Zapier Central or Lindy, but they're fine for simple consumer tasks like 'summarize my RSS feed and post to Discord' or 'auto-classify incoming email'.
What can I automate with IFTTT?
The consumer-focused use cases are endless: turn smart lights on at sunset, save Instagram posts to Dropbox, log Fitbit workouts to Google Sheets, post Spotify playlists to Twitter, unlock smart locks when you arrive home, auto-reply to WhatsApp messages, notify you when Amazon prices drop, sync calendars across platforms. If your use case involves a smart device, social account, or consumer app, IFTTT almost certainly supports it.
Is IFTTT worth paying for?
If you use more than 2 applets, Pro at $3.49/month (or ~$2/month annual) is almost a no-brainer — that's less than a single coffee. Pro+ at $14.99/month is only worth it if you need unlimited applets, filter code, or AI actions. For most consumers, Pro is the right tier. For heavy power users or developers wanting JavaScript control, Pro+ makes sense.
Can IFTTT replace Zapier for business use?
Generally no. IFTTT lacks the professional integrations and multi-step workflow complexity that business teams need. There's no Salesforce, no HubSpot (on lower tiers), limited webhook support, and no audit logs or team governance. For business automation, Zapier, Make, or n8n are all better choices. IFTTT is the right pick only for consumer-adjacent use cases where cheap beats sophisticated.
📋 Good to know
Sign up at ifttt.com or download the mobile app, browse the applet library by category, and click 'Connect' to enable one. Most applets work within 30 seconds.
Standard consumer privacy practices. Data encrypted at rest and in transit. Pro+ users get enhanced privacy controls.
Pro ($3.49/mo) the moment you hit 3 applets. Pro+ ($14.99/mo) only if you need filter code, AI actions, or unlimited applets.
Near zero. Most applets are pre-built — you just click to enable. Building custom applets takes 5 minutes.