Latenode vs Make (and why Shopstory is better)

If you’re on the hunt for the right automation tool, you’re likely comparing Latenode vs Make. Both have their strengths, but they serve different needs and users. In this article, we’ll break down what each offers, how they differ, and why Shopstory might be the tool you didn’t know you needed for managing and optimizing your ecommerce product feed and paid advertising.

TL;DR

Both Latenode and Make are reliable automation platforms. Latenode is designed for developers who want full coding flexibility, while Make offers a more visual, drag-and-drop editor for non-technical users. Both tools can handle complex workflows but lack native features tailored specifically to ecommerce or PPC campaign optimization.

That’s why Shopstory was created – a newer automation player in the scene designed for the modern marketer. It integrates seamlessly with Shopify, WooCommerce, Google Merchant Center, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and more, offering automation that simplifies everything from ad campaign management to product feed optimization.

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A comparison of Latenode vs Make (vs Shopstory)

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1. Latenode vs Make: How They Compare

Latenode and Make aim to simplify workflow automation, but they take very different approaches. Latenode is all about customization and coding flexibility, making it a top choice for developers. On the other hand, Make combines robust functionality with a user-friendly visual interface, lowering the technical barrier for creating workflows. Let’s dive into the details to see how they compare.

1.1 Pricing

Latenode: Pricing starts at $5/month and is time-based, meaning costs depend on how long workflows take to execute. This model can be economical for small-scale use but may become unpredictable and expensive for complex or high-frequency automations.

Make: Paid plans start at $10.59/month and scale based on the number of operations and active scenarios. While pricing is more transparent, it can become restrictive for businesses requiring large-scale automation. You can try Make for free with 1,000 operations and 2 active scenarios.

Key Takeaway: Latenode’s time-based pricing works well for smaller projects but becomes less predictable with high-frequency workflows. Make offers more consistent pricing but may limit scalability for businesses with heavy automation needs.

1.2 Ease of Use

Latenode: Designed with developers in mind, Latenode requires coding expertise to build and manage workflows. While this approach allows for unmatched flexibility, its interface can feel intimidating for non-technical users.

Make: With its visual drag-and-drop interface, Make is far more accessible to non-developers. While advanced workflows may still need some technical knowledge, the platform’s intuitive design makes it easier to navigate, even for beginners.

Key Takeaway: If you’re a developer looking for maximum control, Latenode is the way to go. For non-technical teams or beginners, Make’s user-friendly interface is a better fit.

1.3 Templates and Workflow Capabilities

Latenode: Prioritizes coding flexibility but doesn’t offer a large library of pre-built templates. As a result, users often need to create workflows from scratch, which can be time-consuming for standard automation tasks.

Make: Comes with a diverse library of pre-built templates that cater to a variety of industries and use cases. These templates provide a quick starting point, though more complex customizations may still require technical skills.

Key Takeaway: Make offers a head start with its template library, while Latenode relies on coding expertise to build workflows from the ground up.

1.4 Scalability for High-Volume Tasks

Latenode: Its time-based execution model supports high-volume tasks, but the associated costs can become unpredictable. It’s better suited for workflows with consistent execution times but may struggle to scale efficiently for dynamic tasks like ecommerce inventory syncing.

Make: Operation-based pricing can limit scalability. High-volume tasks, such as managing large product catalogs or extensive PPC campaigns, can quickly exceed monthly quotas, leading to additional costs or required upgrades.

Key Takeaway: Latenode offers more flexibility for scaling high-volume workflows, but its time-based costs can fluctuate. Make’s operation limits ensure cost predictability but may hinder businesses managing large-scale automations.

1.5 Ecommerce and Marketing Integrations

Latenode: Does not provide native integrations for ecommerce platforms or marketing tools. While Latenode can connect to systems through APIs, the process requires manual coding and lacks pre-built support for platforms like Shopify or Google Merchant Center.

Make: Offers a wider range of integrations, including Shopify and Google Ads. However, its ecommerce and marketing tools are general-purpose and lack specialized features like product feed optimization or automated campaign adjustments.

Key Takeaway: Both platforms fall short in offering robust native integrations tailored specifically for ecommerce and marketing needs.

2. Shopstory – The Alternative to Latenode vs Make

So, where does Shopstory fit into all this? It’s built specifically for ecommerce businesses and performance marketers, which is a big deal if you’re tired of bending generic tools to fit your needs.

2.1 Pricing & Scalability

Shopstory offers straightforward pricing, starting at €199/month, with a freemium plan that includes one free activated flow with unlimited operations. Unlike Latenode’s time-based billing, which can lead to unpredictable costs, or Make’s operation limits, which can cap scalability, Shopstory provides a stable, cost-effective solution designed for growth.

Key Benefits:

• Unlimited operations on activated flows.
• Predictable pricing that scales with your business needs.
• No hidden fees for high-volume workflows.

While Shopstory's starting price may be higher, it offers significantly better scalability and cost efficiency for high-growth businesses compared to platforms like Make, Latenode or even Zapier.

2.2 Ecommerce & Product Feed Automation

Shopstory stands out with its ecommerce automation capabilities, particularly in product feed management. These tools ensure accurate, up-to-date product data across platforms while reducing manual tasks. Here are some ready-to-use templates:

• Create Custom Labels for Products Based on Stock Levels (Shopify, Google Merchant Center): Automatically assign labels to products based on stock levels, improving feed accuracy and marketing efficiency.
• Export daily orders (Google Sheets and Shopify or other shop system): Automate the daily export of order data to Google Sheets, aiding in inventory management and order tracking. 
• Create SEO-optimized Product Titles & Descriptions (Google Search Console, ChatGPT, Shopify/WooCommerce): Automatically generate optimized product titles and descriptions from organic search queries, boosting product visibility and SEO.‍
• Add Metafield(s) to Shopify Products (Shopify, Google Sheets): Regularly update metafields from Google Sheets to ensure synchronized, complete product data.

These features empower ecommerce businesses to maintain clean, optimized product feeds while reducing manual intervention, leading to fewer errors and improved performance.

2.3 Performance Marketing Optimization

Unlike Latenode or Make, Shopstory excels in performance marketing automation, helping businesses optimize their PPC campaigns across multiple platforms. Here are a few templates from Shopstory’s Flow Library:

• Pause Google Ads keywords with high SEO rank (Google Ads, Google Search Console): Automatically pause paid keywords that perform well organically, optimizing the budget allocation. 
• Adjust Google Ads Budgets based on ROAS threshold (Google Ads, Google Sheets): Modify campaign budgets based on ROAS thresholds to maximize efficiency.
• Pause Bad Performing Google Ads Keywords (Google Ads): Automatically disable low-performing keywords to optimize overall campaign performance. 
• Geo-Targeting Based on Weather Data (Google Ads, Google Sheets): Use weather and location data to refine ad targeting, increasing relevance and engagement.

Shopstory’s marketing automation helps businesses achieve better ROI, minimize manual adjustments, and optimize performance across platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads.

2.4 Ease of Use and No-Code Platform

Shopstory’s drag-and-drop interface is designed for users of all technical levels. With a rich Flow Library and step-by-step guides, users can set up powerful workflows in minutes—no coding required. Experts can also create workflows from scratch.

Why Shopstory is Easier to Use:

• Intuitive no-code platform for both beginners and experts.
• Pre-built templates for common ecommerce and marketing workflows.
• Native integrations with Shopify, Google Merchant Center, Google Ads, and more – this means you can automate more deeply (i.e. with actions) than with other automation tools.

Key Takeaway: Latenode vs Make vs Shopstory

When evaluating Latenode vs Make, both are strong automation tools but have limitations for ecommerce and marketing.

• Latenode is ideal for developers who require advanced coding flexibility but lack pre-built templates and ecommerce integrations.
• Make provides a more user-friendly interface but has operation-based limits, making it less suitable for businesses with high-volume workflows.ì
• Shopstory, however, fills the gap with a comprehensive solution tailored for ecommerce and PPC campaigns. With features like product feed optimization, cross-channel integrations, and no-code workflows, Shopstory is the best choice for businesses and agencies looking to scale effectively.

Ready to supercharge your ecommerce workflows? Book a FREE call today to assess your business needs or start automating with Shopstory today!