People often want to argue (online, who’d have thought it??) with me about which automation tool is "best."

They'll list feature comparisons, pricing tiers, integration capabilities, and technical limitations. They expect me to engage, to take a side, to defend positions.

But I don't care.

I mean, I do care about helping people succeed. Don’t get me wrong.

But which tool they use? Zapier, Make, n8n? They're all fine. They all work. They are all, on the whole, very good!

Unless one of you wants to strike up a brand partnership … then obviously yours is the best! 😛 

But for real, you can build and deploy a valuable AI automation for a business using many tools.

What I actually care about is that they pick one and start building something.

People spending weeks researching tools while others just grab Zapier and are already generating revenue. The perfect tool setup is just procrastination wearing a research hat.

Let’s get started

The Endless Research Trap

Research feels productive. You're learning, comparing, making informed decisions. It's the kind of work that looks responsible, professional, measured.

Like a real adult!

It's also the perfect way to avoid actually doing anything.

I've watched people spend more time creating comparison spreadsheets than it would take to build three working automations. They'll join forums, watch YouTube reviews, test free trials—anything except starting to solve a real problem.

Here's the truth: any of the major automation tools can handle your first project. They're all capable enough to prove whether your automation idea has value. The differences that seem massive when you're researching become trivial once you're actually building.

You’ll probably end up kicking the tyres on all the main tools anyway. So just start with one and we’ll worry about the rest later alright?

Which to start with? Well…the subheading just below is probably a give away here!

(If you want to move from procrastination to building, the AI Automation Accelerator is for you).

Starting with Zapier: The Training Wheels

I recommend people start with Zapier for one simple reason: it's the least intimidating option.

Yes, it's more expensive than alternatives once you scale. Yes, it’s not open-source. Yes, it has limitations for complex workflows. Yes, power users eventually outgrow it.

And none of that matters for your first automation!

Zapier has the lowest learning curve. The interface is simple, almost childlike. Dumb-dumbs like me can use it!

The free tier gives you enough to test basic concepts. The community is massive—if you get stuck, there's probably already a forum thread about your exact problem.

Most importantly, Zapier removes the excuse that the tool is too complicated. When your automation doesn't work, you can't blame the platform. You need to fix your logic, your prompt, or your process.

Think of Zapier as training wheels. Yes, you'll eventually want a real bike. But first, you need to learn how to ride without falling over the handlebars.

Fun fact: I, despite the saying “just like riding a bike, you’ll never forget”, managed to forget how to ride a bike. Learned as a young child. Didn’t cycle for years. And had to relearn as an older child. See…dumb dumb! I can use Zapier and so can you!

Quick Tool Landscape

Since you're determined to know your options, here's the ultra-condensed version

Zapier: The gateway drug to automation. Point-and-click simple, drag-and-drop workflows. Expensive at scale but perfect for learning. My recommendation for you to start right now

Make: More powerful, more complex. Better pricing once you're doing serious volume. Visual workflow builder that's cleverer than Zapier but requires more thinking. Choose this when Zapier costs are hurting or you need more sophisticated logic. I actually use this as my workhorse but that’s after using Zapier for years. And I still use Zapier for any more basic work.

n8n: The developer's choice. Open source, self-hosted option. The “sexy” one, especially as it’s more agentic. Most flexible but needs technical comfort. Pick this when you're ready to run your own infrastructure and want complete control. Do NOT go straight to this.

There. You now know enough to make a decision. And it’s Zapier 🤣 

The Switching Cost Myth

"But what if I choose wrong and need to switch later?"

You probably will! And that’s fine. LATER.

This fear keeps people stuck in analysis paralysis. The truth? Moving automations between tools is easier than most people think.

Your automation's logic—the trigger, process, result framework we covered yesterday—remains the same regardless of platform. The underlying business problem doesn't change. You're just rebuilding the same solution with different building blocks.

Plus ultimately you'll learn what you actually need by building, not by researching. The features you think are essential often aren't. The limitations you worry about usually don't matter for your first projects. To quote Rabbie Burns: “The best-laid schemes o' mice and men Gang aft agley”.

Start simple, build something that works, then upgrade based on real constraints, not imagined problems.

Just Pick One

I'm giving you exactly 5 minutes to choose your tool.

Not 5 hours. Not 5 days. Five minutes.

Right now, ask yourself

• Do I want the simplest option? → Zapier

• Do I need better pricing and can handle some complexity? → Make

• Am I comfortable with technical tools and want maximum control? → n8n

That's it. decision made. Cool.

Don't overthink it. Don't create comparison charts. Don't watch more YouTube videos. These tools all work. They all connect to the major apps you need. They all have free tiers to get started.

The only wrong choice is no choice.

Get to Building

You’ve now got an idea for an automation. One that you can sell.

You have broken that automation idea into distinct trigger, process and results.

And you’ve now chosen a tool.

Now you might wonder: "How exactly do I build this thing?"

The step-by-step technical process of building automations is more detailed than I can cover in this series. The good news? You don't need to figure it out alone.

My colleague Nat (@brandnat) and I run the AI Automation Accelerator, a focused 2-week program that takes you from complete beginner to having a launch-ready automation product.

Nat specializes in the technical building side using Zapier—she'll literally walk you through creating your first automation day by day. You can find details of the Automation Accelerator here.

But whether you go that route or learn another way, the key principle remains: start building immediately. Don't wait until you feel ready. You'll learn more in 2 hours of building than 2 months of researching. For real.

What's Next?

In the next Part we'll wrap up our series by looking at scaling—how to evolve from single automations to complete solution packages that command premium prices. I'll share real examples of how one simple automation can grow into a comprehensive service worth thousands of pounds.

How do we go from a single Zapier automation to a business basically!

Keep Prompting,

Kyle