IFTTT Review: Features, Pricing & Alternatives

What is IFTTT?

IFTTT, short for If This Then That, is a no-code automation service that links apps, websites and smart devices through simple rules called Applets. Each Applet has a trigger, such as a new email or sunset in your location, and one or more actions, such as turning on lights or saving a file. IFTTT says it connects more than 1,000 apps, services and devices.

IFTTT launched in 2011 and became one of the best-known consumer automation tools, especially for smart home gadgets and social media. Its paid Pro and Pro+ plans add more Applets, faster speeds, multi-step actions and AI services. Recent additions include Chat Create, which builds an automation from a simple prompt, and an IFTTT MCP server that lets AI tools such as Claude use IFTTT services.

What makes IFTTT different is how easy it is. You can set up an Applet on your phone in a minute, and the free plan allows unlimited runs. It is far less suited to complex business processes than tools like Zapier or Make, but for personal productivity, smart home routines and simple AI tasks like scheduled summaries it is one of the quickest options.

Key features of IFTTT

• AppletsSimple trigger-and-action automations you can build yourself or switch on from a library of published Applets.
• 1,000+ servicesConnect apps, smart home devices and web services, from Google and Microsoft tools to lights, cameras and assistants.
• Chat CreateDescribe the automation you want in plain English and IFTTT builds it for you.
• AI servicesPro+ includes AI steps that can summarise, write and brainstorm on a schedule you set.
• Multi-action and filter codePro adds multi-action Applets; Pro+ adds queries and filter code for conditional logic.
• IFTTT MCP serverConnect AI tools to your IFTTT services and automations through the Model Context Protocol.

Who is IFTTT best for?

• Smart home owners who want lights, cameras, thermostats and voice assistants to work together.
• Content creators who want to cross-post or archive social media content automatically.
• Busy individuals who want simple reminders, logs and notifications without learning a complex tool.
• Hobbyists and tinkerers who use webhooks and filter code to connect DIY projects.

Popular ways to use IFTTT

• Smart home: turn on lights when you arrive home or when the sun sets.
• Social media: share new posts from one platform to another automatically.
• Daily briefings: get an AI summary of the weather, news or your calendar each morning.
• Personal logs: record locations, workouts or app activity in a spreadsheet.
• Alerts: get a phone notification when a specific RSS feed or website updates.

IFTTT pricing (October 2026)

The listed Pro and Pro+ prices apply when billed yearly, which IFTTT says saves 40% compared with monthly billing. Pro and Pro+ can be tried for free first.

IFTTT pros and cons

How to get started with IFTTT

1. Download the IFTTT app or sign up at ifttt.com.
2. Browse published Applets or use Chat Create to describe what you want.
3. Connect the services the Applet needs, such as your smart lights or email.
4. Turn the Applet on and trigger it once to check it works.
5. Upgrade to Pro or Pro+ if you need more Applets or AI features.

Tips to get better results from IFTTT

• Use your 2 free Applets on the automations you would miss most.
• Combine several actions into one Applet on Pro to save slots.
• Pay yearly if you plan to keep IFTTT, as it saves 40%.
• Use webhooks to connect devices or scripts that IFTTT does not support directly.

IFTTT vs alternatives

IFTTT is the simplest tool in this category. Zapier and Make handle multi-step business workflows with far more logic and business app connectors, but they cost more and take longer to learn.

For AI-driven automation, Relay.app and Lindy offer richer AI steps for work tasks, while n8n suits technical users who want full control. See all best AI automation tools.

Our verdict: is IFTTT worth it?

IFTTT FAQs

Pricing and features change often. Details on this page were last reviewed in October 2026. Always confirm current plans on the official IFTTT website.