Hey everyone in the Make community,
I’ve been using make for a couple of years now to automate my side hustle workflows, stuff like content scheduling, lead gen, and some basic (or more complex) AI integrations for my small creator business. It’s been a game changer for non techy folks like me, but I’m seriously worried about this upcoming switch to credit-based billing starting August 27th.
Feels like a real jab at us smaller, non-enterprise creators who aren’t swimming in budgets.
Let me break it down and compare it to the old system, because from what I’ve read, this could end up costing most of us way more.
The Old Billing System (Operations-Based):
Back in the day (and still until next week), everything revolved around “operations.”
An operation was basically any action in a scenario -like fetching data, sending an email, or running a filter. No matter how simple or complex, each module execution counted as just 1 operation. Plans were straightforward:
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Free: 1,000 operations/month – perfect for testing or light use.
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Core: $9/month for 10,000 operations (with options to scale up).
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Pro: $16/month for the same base ops but with extras like priority execution.
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Teams/Enterprise: Higher tiers with more ops and features.
You knew exactly what you were getting: predictable costs based on volume, not complexity.
If your workflow had 5 modules, it cost 5 ops per run, end of story.
Overages? You could buy extra ops if needed, but it was all flat-rate.
This made it super accessible for indie creators, freelancers, and small teams automating on a shoestring.
The New Credit-Based System:
Now they’re ditching operations for “credits,” and it’s being sold as “more flexible” and “usage-based.”
Sounds fancy, but here’s the catch: not all actions cost the same anymore.
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Basic modules (like simple data pulls or emails): Still 1 credit each.
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AI or complex modules (e.g., Make’s AI Content Generator, advanced parsing, or anything computationally heavy): Dynamic costs could be 2, 5, or even more credits per execution, depending on resources used.
Plans are converting 1:1 at first (e.g., Free gets 1,000 credits/month, Core/Pro/Teams start at 10,000 credits for their prices), but since some features now eat multiple credits, your effective “operations” drop if you use anything beyond basics.
They’re saying it’s transparent and reflects real computational costs, but who benefits?
Big enterprises with custom plans and overage protection (only in Enterprise tier).
Us smaller folks? Not so much.
How this negatively impacts most creators (and why it costs more):
- Hidden Cost Hikes for AI Users:
A lot of us creators rely on AI integrations to punch above our weight; generating content ideas, summarizing leads, or automating social posts.
Under the old system, an AI module was just 1 op.
Now? It could cost 3-5+ credits. So a workflow that used to run 2,000 times a month on 10,000 ops might now burn through your credits way faster, forcing upgrades or extra purchases. For someone on Core ($9/month), that’s like getting fewer runs for the same money (easily 20-50% less if you’re AI-heavy).
- Overages Sting Harder:
Run out of credits mid-month? You can buy extras or auto-purchase, but at what rate?
It’s not clear yet, but if complex actions are pricier, overages could add up quick.
No “overage protection” unless you’re Enterprise, so small creators risk bill shocks or paused automations.
Remember, many of us are bootstrapping ($50 extra/month might kill a project.)
- Less Predictability for Scaling:
Old system: Scale ops as you grow, costs linear.
New: Variable credit burn makes budgeting a nightmare.
What if a “simple” update makes a module “complex” overnight?
Enterprises can negotiate or absorb it; we can’t.
- Free Plan Gutted for Experimenters:
1,000 credits sounds the same as 1,000 ops, but if you’re tinkering with AI (which new creators love), you’ll hit limits sooner.
Great for Make’s bottom line, lousy for hobbyists turning pro.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Make’s no-code power, but this feels like prioritizing enterprise profits over the little guys who built the community.
If you’re a small creator, check your workflows (simulate credit usage and see if it’ll hike your costs).
Anyone else feeling this? Have you crunched the numbers? Let’s discuss before the switch hits, maybe we can push for better transparency or small-user perks /less costs.
What do you think? Am I overreacting, or is this a step backward?
Concerned creator here,
Max