The 7 best automation tools 2026

In today's business world, many automation solutions promise the earth, but often fall short after just a few steps. However, there are some that work reliably in the background and keep your entire company running.

‍

We have intensively tested the most discussed automation platforms of 2026 — from workflow design and pricing structure to usability and reliability in practice.

‍

Here are the 7 automation tools that were really convincing.

‍

What is automation software?

Automation software takes on repetitive tasks or processes with minimal human intervention and helps teams save time, reduce errors, and increase efficiency.

‍

These tools can handle everything from sending emails and updating CRM systems to inventory management or data synchronization between different platforms. Some operate using simple rule-based logic, while others use AI to make real-time decisions.

‍

Automation software has a wide range of applications: For example, it can be used as a chatbot for lead qualification, a robot for invoice processing or a workflow builder that assigns tasks and notifies your team.

‍

Depending on the tool, it either runs invisibly in the background (like Zapier or UiPath) or works directly on your side like an AI co-pilot. The goal is always the same: achieve more by having machines take on repetitive tasks.

‍

The 8 best automation tools: In a nutshell

• Lindy: Ideal for creating intelligent, task-specific agents
• UiPath: Perfect for company-wide agentic automation
• Zapier: Ideal for no-code app connections
• Make.com: Excellent for visual workflow automation with European data protection
• Workato: Ideally suited for cross-tool process orchestration
• N8n road: Top choice for developer-friendly control without enterprise ballast
• Microsoft Power Automate: Ideal for Microsoft-centric companies

The best automation tools 2026 in detail

1. Lindy: Intelligent, task-specific AI agents

What is it good for? Lindy automates complex tasks such as emails, scheduling, CRM tasks, and research using AI agents.

‍

Who is it suitable for? Ideal for founders, plant managers, and lean teams who want to automate execution-intensive tasks.

Lindy is designed to handle work that is too flexible for traditional automation—such as email conversations, scheduling, CRM updates, and follow-up. Unlike rule-based tools, Lindy uses customizable AI agents that work like real team members. They assign roles to them, not just tasks.

‍

Setting up your inbox manager, for example, only takes a few minutes. Lindy's AI agents can then instantly tag cold emails, mark sponsorship requests, and respond to simple messages—without manual workflows or rule creation.

‍

One of the strongest features is Agent Swarms. Instead of running automation after automation, you can apply a single Lindy agent to 50, 100, or even 1,000 items at the same time.

‍

Are you preparing for a sales call with 50 leads? Lindy can summarize LinkedIn BIOS, retrieve CRM notes, and review previous emails — all at once.

‍

You can use ready-made templates such as lead enrichment, inbox cleanup, meeting preparation, or create your own workflows with a drag-and-drop interface.

‍

aAdvantages:

• Over 2,500 integrations via Pipedream
• Lindy Academy for 24/7 Support
• Data retrieval from over 4,000 sources using Apify scrapers
• Handles unstructured workflows, not just simple tasks

‍

Disadvantages:

• Complex workflows may require training time

‍

Prices:

• Free Plan: 400 monthly credits, up to 400 tasks
• Pro plan ($49.99/month): 5,000 credits, premium features
• Business Plan ($299.99/month): 30,000 credits, phone automation, priority support

‍

2. UiPath: Enterprise automation at scale

What is it good for? UiPath enables companies to build advanced automation with AI agents and RPA bots.

‍

Who is it suitable for? Ideal for IT, finance, and support teams in large organizations.

‍

UiPath is designed for scalability. The Automation Hub enables the entire team to suggest and prioritize automation ideas in one place, making it easier to decide what's worth developing.

‍

The really outstanding feature is Agentic Automation — a feature that allows bots to work towards a goal without needing detailed step-by-step instructions.

‍

In the test, an agent was set up for a multi-app support scenario. He pulled customer data from Salesforce, ticket status from ServiceNow and order information from SAP — all without manually linking the individual steps.

‍

Advantages:

• Integrated test and version control for reliability
• Large marketplace with plug and play components
• Supports AI prompt flows within enterprise automations

‍

Disadvantages:

• Long set-up time for agentic workflows
• Steep learning curve for non-technical users

‍

Prices:

• Free Plan: Access to Orchestrator, Attended Bots, and Basic Tools
• Per plan (420/month): 1 developer license, 3 tenants, Automation Ops

‍

3. Zapier: The classic for no-code connections

What is it good for? Zapier connects apps and automates workflows without programming.

‍

Who is it suitable for? Perfect for individual entrepreneurs, marketers, and non-technical teams.

‍

Zapier is the first choice for everyday automations such as synchronizing form submissions, copying data, or sending follow-ups. You don't need any code — just select your apps, define the process, and let Zapier do the rest.

‍

The AI Assistant makes things even easier: When describing a simple workflow in natural language — “When someone fills out a form, send a thank you email” — a working Zap was immediately created using Google Forms and Gmail. It took less than 5 minutes to set up.

‍

Zapier's strength lies in its ecosystem. It integrates with over 7,000 apps, including Notion, Trello, Discord, HubSpot and more.

‍

Advantages:

• 24/7 custom sales chatbot
• Compliance with data protection standards such as GDPR and CCPA
• Extensive resources for beginners

‍

Disadvantages:

• Can be expensive when scaled
• API changes can result in hidden errors

‍

Prices:

• Free Plan: 100 tasks/ month, 2-step zaps
• Professional ($29.99/month): Unlimited premium apps, multi-step zaps
• Team ($103.50/month): 25 users, shared workspaces, SAML SSO

‍

‍

4. Make.com: Visual workflow automation with European data protection

What is it good for? Make makes it possible to automate tasks and workflows up to complete applications and systems.

‍

Who is it suitable for? Ideal for companies looking for an intuitive Zapier alternative with better pricing and European data protection.

‍

With Make, users can use the drag-and-drop feature to automate existing workflows or create new complex processes. According to their own statements, thousands of fast-scaling companies worldwide already rely on Make.

‍

The tool is particularly characterized by its visual presentation of complex automations, which are referred to as “scenarios.” The graphical presentation makes even nested workflows clear and comprehensible.

‍

A major advantage is the tool's EU origin, which significantly simplifies data protection discussions. Make also offers numerous integrations with common tools and platforms. If there is no direct integration, this can usually be solved via webhooks.

‍

What users particularly appreciate:

• Significantly more intuitive operation than many middleware solutions
• Fair pricing compared to competitors
• Quick and competent support, often with video instructions
• Comprehensive template library for a quick start
• Regular addition of new integrations

‍

What to consider:

• Can be confusing for beginners at first
• For more complex applications, the documentation is sometimes not detailed enough
• From time to time, problems can arise between modules due to longer connections

‍

Areas of application:

• Email automations and referral programs
• File conversion and Excel sheet processing
• Automated marketing reporting
• Integration of various tools without development effort
• Social media automation

‍

prices:

• Free: To get started
• Core: Starting at $9/month (when billed annually)
• Pro, Team, and Enterprise: For advanced requirements

‍

5. Workato: Orchestration across tool boundaries

What is it good for? Workato orchestrates complex workflows across apps with role-based AI agents.

‍

Who is it suitable for? Ideal for cross-functional teams in IT, HR, finance, and operations.

‍

Workato goes beyond mere app connections — it's designed to orchestrate workflows across tools, departments, and roles.

‍

The highlight of the test was ITgenie, Workatos AI assistant for internal processes. For vague questions like “What do I do next?” he delivered personalized onboarding steps by combining data from HR, role descriptions, and team resources.

‍

The real strength comes when agents work together. A request for NetSuite access wasn't simply rejected — itGenie forwarded the request, reviewed policies, offered alternatives, and created a Jira ticket without having to enter the same information multiple times.

‍

Advantages:

• GenAI agents perform real actions, not just chat
• Flexible design for human approvals and escalations
• Integrated role recognition streamlines onboarding and access

‍

Disadvantages:

• Support response time can be slow
• Documentation lacks depth for advanced features

‍

Prices:

• Business Plan: Unlimited recipes, admin controls, starts with 1M tasks
• Product Plan: Embeddable Features, White Labeling, SSO, 24/7 Support

‍

6. n8n: Developer control without enterprise ballast

What is it good for? n8n provides full workflow customization with API calls, logic, and webhooks.

‍

Who is it suitable for? Ideal for technical teams that want flexible, self-hosted automation.

‍

If you'd rather build workflows from scratch rather than rely on no-code templates, n8n gives you the tools and freedom to do so. It's a developer-oriented platform that makes it possible to connect APIs, use conditional logic, manage webhooks, and run advanced workflows.

‍

The test began with a simple Google Sheets on Slack workflow and quickly evolved into more complex flows involving HTTP requests, header configurations, and JSON parsing — all from the same drag-and-drop interface.

‍

What sets n8n apart is its open-source base. You can self-host it for free, use the hosted version, or access a growing library of over 420 AI and integration templates.

‍

Advantages:

• Fully open-source with strong self-hosting options
• Searchable execution logs and custom filters
• Community support, email support, and SLA-based priority support

Disadvantages:

• UI performance drops with large workflows
• Sparse documentation for newer integrations

Prices:

• Starter ($24/month): 2,500 runs, 5 active workflows, unlimited users
• Pro ($60/month): 3 shared projects, admin roles, advanced access control

‍

7. Microsoft Power Automate: For Microsoft-centric companies

What is it good for? Microsoft Power Automate automates workflows across Microsoft 365 apps and enterprise tools.

‍

Who is it suitable for? Ideal for IT teams and operations managers in the Microsoft ecosystem.

‍

If your organization is already deeply rooted in Microsoft 365, Power Automate feels like the obvious choice. It connects natively to apps such as Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, and Teams, so most triggers and actions are already integrated and ready to use.

‍

The visual builder looks intuitive as soon as you've arrived. In the test, it was used to scrape website data, loop through Excel lines, and send personalized emails — all without a line of code.

‍

Power Automate Desktop allows you to create flows that run both with and unattended, and Copilot support helps with natural language RPA workflows.

‍

Advantages:

• Enterprise-grade governance and compliance tools
• Deep integration with Power Platform and Azure Services
• Strong role-based access controls for flow management

‍

Disadvantages:

• Third-party integrations can be cumbersome
• Steep learning curve with user-defined syntax

‍

Prices:

• Free trial: 30 days with access to premium features
• Premium ($15/month per user): cloud flows, accompanied RPA
• Process ($150/month per bot): cloud flows, unattended RPA
• Hosted Process ($215/month per bot): Add Microsoft-hosted VM

‍

Types of automation software

Not all automation is built the same way. There are five main types of automation software, each designed to address different problems:

‍

1. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Best for: Legacy systems, finance teams, and back office tasks

‍

RPA tools imitate human actions — click, copy, paste, and fill out forms — especially in systems without APIs. They are ideal for automating repetitive tasks in older enterprise environments.

‍

2. Business Process Automation (BPA)

Best for: Cross-departmental coordination and company-wide workflows

‍

BPA takes a more holistic approach. Instead of automating individual tasks, it connects departments and systems to optimize entire business processes.

‍

3. Workflow automation

‍

Best for: SaaS tasks, small teams, and operations roles

‍

This is where most people start. Tools like Zapier, Make, and Lindy help connect favorite apps to automate everyday tasks.

‍

4. Industrial automation

Best for: Manufacturing, logistics, and hardware-based operations

‍

These systems are huge in sectors such as automotive, shipping, and warehousing. Industrial automation includes physical systems such as robotic arms and conveyor belts.

‍

5. Test automation

Best for: Development teams, QA pipelines, and product testing

‍

Test automation helps engineering teams test for new features without doing it manually. Tools like Selenium, Cypress, and Playwright can go through login flows and payment systems with every code push.

‍

How was the best automation software selected?

The selection wasn't just based on tools “automating something.” It was about practical, scalable and helpful platforms for real scenarios. After weeks of practical testing, these were the most important factors:

‍

1. Workflow design and flexibility

Good automation starts with a clear, intuitive builder. We were looking for tools with visual drag-and-drop interfaces or low-code editors.

‍

2. Integration and expandability

The best tools work well with others. Platforms that connect popular apps such as Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Salesforce and Notion were prioritized.

‍

3. Reliability and error handling

Automation errors happen. What is important is how the tool helps with recovery. We were looking for platforms with clear debugging tools.

‍

4. Onboarding and scalability

From templates to in-app instructions, tools that give users a quick start were preferred. Scalability was also tested.

‍

5. AI, community and extras

Modern automation is more than rule-based triggers. There were bonus points for platforms with built-in AI helpers or GPT-based suggestions.

‍

Which is the best automation tool?

If you're looking for a platform that combines power, flexibility, and ease of use, stands out Lindy emerged as the best automation software 2026. It makes it possible to build intelligent, task-specific AI agents that can manage emails, prepare CRMs, extract data from documents, and perform follow-ups — all without constant monitoring or complex set-up.

‍

You can even choose between different AI models, such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, depending on the task. Lindy also offers pre-built templates, integrations, and a generous free plan.

‍

Frequently asked questions

Can small businesses benefit from automation software?

Absolutely. Small businesses often work with scarce resources, and automation can help them fight over their weight. Tools like Lindy offer free plans and simple templates.

‍

Is programming knowledge required to implement automation software?

No, most modern automation platforms are designed for non-technical users. You'll find drag-and-drop workflow builders, pre-built templates, and AI support.

‍

How does automation software affect employment?

Automation software influences employment by both creating and eliminating jobs. While some routine tasks are being automated, new job opportunities are emerging in areas such as automation development and maintenance.

‍

What are the risks associated with automation software?

Like any system, automation has risks if not handled carefully. Poorly set up workflows can send incorrect emails or update incorrect database fields.

‍

What is the return on investment (ROI) for automation software?

The ROI for automation can be revealed surprisingly quickly, often within the first quarter. Instead of spending hours on administrative work, your team frees up time to make decisions and innovate.

‍

Can automation software integrate with existing business systems?

Yes, automation software can and often integrates with existing business systems. This integration is typically done via APIs, connectors, or pre-built integrations.

‍