Move the dataMake
Make is a strong visual starting point for connecting the trigger, filters, destination, and error route.
The free plan provides 1,000 credits per month with a 15-minute minimum interval for scheduled runs.
Start here
Choose the smallest option that solves your problem
Use only the tools you need. Complete the basic task before adding more features or automation.
01 / Best first automation
Capture, classify, and route incoming work
Turn a form, email, or request into a structured task with the right owner and context.
Finished resultA visible queue where every request has a category, owner, and next action.
Run it in this order
- 1
Collect a week of examples and define the smallest useful set of categories.
- 2
Build the trigger and destination without AI, then add classification as one replaceable step.
- 3
Send uncertain cases to a review queue and alert a person when the workflow fails.
Good fitRepeated inquiries, content requests, support triage, and internal handoffs.
Choose another path ifInputs contain sensitive data you have not mapped or the classification controls access rights.
Tools to use
Choose only what you need
Define the classifierChatGPT
Use ChatGPT interactively to design and test the categories before paying for or wiring an API model into the workflow.
ChatGPT free access does not include free API automation; API usage is billed separately.
Review and correct requestsGoogle Sheets
A sheet is a simple human review queue: people can see the original request, correct the category, and mark the next action.
Start with a private sheet and grant access only to the people who need it.
02 / Knowledge work
Turn approved source material into a reviewable draft
Create summaries, briefs, or internal updates from known documents without letting the model invent the source of truth.
Finished resultA repeatable draft pipeline with citations or links back to every source.
Run it in this order
- 1
Define the approved source folder and the exact output template.
- 2
Generate a draft that preserves source references and marks missing information.
- 3
Route it for review, then capture corrections so the template improves over time.
Good fitMeeting notes, research updates, recurring reports, and content briefs.
Choose another path ifThe source changes rapidly or the output will be published without a named reviewer.
Tools to use
Choose only what you need
Ground the draftNotebookLM
NotebookLM is useful for understanding and summarizing a controlled source set before automation is introduced.
Standard access is available with a Google account, with limits that vary by feature.
Shape the templateChatGPT
ChatGPT can help turn the desired output into a stable structure, checklist, and reviewer rubric.
Keep confidential material within an approved account and data policy.
Schedule the handoffMake
Make can watch the source, create the destination item, and notify the reviewer without hiding the workflow in code.
Watch credit usage: polling and multi-step scenarios consume credits on every action.
03 / Technical path
Automate a repetitive developer loop
Use a local coding agent for bounded repository tasks and keep tests, diffs, and deployment approval explicit.
Finished resultA scripted maintenance task that produces a reviewable change rather than silently modifying production.
Run it in this order
- 1
Write the acceptance test and file boundary before asking an agent to edit anything.
- 2
Run in a branch or disposable workspace and require a diff plus test output.
- 3
Keep merge and deployment as separate human-approved actions.
Good fitIssue triage, test generation, dependency notes, repetitive refactors, and documentation updates.
Choose another path ifThe task touches credentials, production data, or destructive infrastructure without a sandbox.
Tools to use
Choose only what you need
Run the bounded taskGemini CLI
Gemini CLI is a practical free-first terminal agent for repository work when permissions and scope are explicit.
Free usage is quota-limited and requires a supported Google account or API configuration.
Test model choicesGitHub Models
GitHub Models can compare prompt behavior before a workflow is tied to one production model.
The free catalog is rate-limited and intended for experimentation.
Notify and routeMake
Make can connect the finished artifact to an issue tracker, review channel, or approval form without giving the model deployment access.
Use webhooks where possible so the free credit allowance is not spent on frequent polling.
Keep it simple
Three rules that prevent wasted work
Make failure visible
Every automation needs an owner, an error route, and enough context to replay the failed item.
Limit authority
Drafting and classification are safer first targets than sending, deleting, purchasing, or publishing.
Measure the loop
Track successful runs, corrections, and minutes saved. Remove automations that create more review than work.
Free plan notes
Free does not mean unlimited
Plans change. Check these official pages before choosing a tool for important work.