Best Make Alternatives 2026

Make simplifies builds by automating the process of compiling and linking code. It is a time-tested tool essential for many C/C++ projects. Build software from source code effectively. Streamline your development workflows. Adopt a classic system.

Make utilizes makefiles to define dependencies and build rules, enabling incremental builds and faster compilation times. It's widely used in C/C++ projects. Its simplicity and widespread availability makes it a fundamental tool for software development. Simplify complex compilation tasks and enjoy enhanced efficiency.

7
Top Alternatives
3
User Reviews
4.0
Avg. Rating

Recent Reviews

AO
Aisha Okafor
Product Owner

"Make has completely revolutionized our integration processes. The visual interface is incredibly intuitive, allowing our..."

LS
Lucas Silva
DevOps Engineer

"Make is a decent platform for automating tasks, but it can become quite expensive as your usage grows. While the interfa..."

FA
Fatima Al-Zahra
Solutions Architect

"Make offers a robust set of tools for building complex integrations. The ability to visually map out data flows is a sig..."

Make

gnu.org

Make is a build automation tool that compiles code by reading makefiles. It's been a foundational tool in software development for decades and is used across platforms.

Platform Highlights

  • Highly efficient incremental builds
  • Widely available on most systems
  • Foundation of many build systems
  • Complex syntax and debugging
  • Limited dependency management
Global Rank
#1500
Monthly Users
800K+
Founded
1976
Model
Open Source
Revenue Share
0%
Content Policy
N/A
Creator Satisfaction 72%

Based on 7,000+ creator reviews

Make Alternatives

Compare top build tools platforms with detailed reviews and ratings

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3

CMake

Free

CMake is a cross-platform build system generator, primarily used for C++. It simplifies the build process across various operating systems and compilers.

Web, Desktop
Free Option
cmake.org
4.3 (3 reviews)
79% recommend
JR
Javier Rodriguez
Tech Lead

"CMake has significantly improved our build process. Its ability to generate native build files for various platforms is..."

Match Score
59%
2

Gradle

Free

Gradle is an open-source build automation system known for its flexibility and performance. It supports multi-project builds and is highly customizable. Widely used in Android development.

Web, Desktop
Free Option
gradle.org
4.4 (3 reviews)
82% recommend
MA
Mikael Andersson
Tech Lead

"Gradle has revolutionized our build process. The flexibility of the Groovy DSL allows for highly customized and efficien..."

Match Score
58%
5

SBT

Free

SBT (Simple Build Tool) is the standard build tool for Scala projects. It manages dependencies, compiles code, runs tests, and packages applications.

Web, Desktop
Free Option
scala-sbt.org
4.1 (3 reviews)
76% recommend
AK
Aisha Kamal
Solutions Architect

"SBT has completely transformed our development workflow! The dependency management is robust and reliable, and the incre..."

Match Score
57%
6

Ant

Free

Apache Ant is a Java-based build tool. It is a simple, platform-independent build tool primarily used for automating software build processes.

Web, Desktop
Free Option
ant.apache.org
3.9 (3 reviews)
70% recommend
AE
Amara Eze
Engineering Manager

"Ant has been a game-changer for our team's productivity. The component library is extensive and well-documented, signifi..."

Match Score
57%
4

Maven

Free

Apache Maven is a popular build automation tool, especially for Java projects. It simplifies the build process through a project object model and dependency management.

Web, Desktop
Free Option
maven.apache.org
4.2 (3 reviews)
78% recommend
ID
Isabelle Dubois
Engineering Manager

"Maven has significantly streamlined our build process. The dependency management is robust, and the plugin ecosystem is..."

Match Score
55%
1

Bazel

Recommended Free

Bazel is a fast, scalable build system by Google. It supports multiple languages and platforms, with a focus on reproducibility and efficient caching.

Web, Desktop
Free Option
bazel.build
4.5 (3 reviews)
85% recommend
AP
Anya Petrova
DevOps Engineer

"Bazel has completely transformed our build process! The incremental builds are incredibly fast, saving us significant ti..."

Match Score
54%
7

Grunt

Free

Grunt is a JavaScript task runner that automates repetitive tasks like minification, compilation, unit testing, and linting. Ideal for front-end web development.

Web, Desktop
Free Option
gruntjs.com
3.8 (3 reviews)
68% recommend
RO
Ryan O'Connor
Tech Lead

"Grunt has been a game-changer for our team's workflow. Its task automation capabilities have significantly reduced our b..."

Match Score
52%
User Reviews

What users say about Make

Real experiences from our community of users who have tried Make and its alternatives.

4.0
Average Rating
3
Total Reviews
72%
Would Recommend
AO
Aisha Okafor
Product Owner • 1 month ago
Verified User

Make has completely revolutionized our integration processes. The visual interface is incredibly intuitive, allowing our team to quickly build complex workflows without extensive coding. The support for a wide range of apps and services is outstanding, and the reliability has been rock solid. I highly recommend Make for automating business processes.

Verified Purchase
LS
Lucas Silva
DevOps Engineer • 1 month ago
Verified User

Make is a decent platform for automating tasks, but it can become quite expensive as your usage grows. While the interface is user-friendly, debugging complex scenarios can be challenging. The customer support is generally responsive, but sometimes lacks in-depth technical expertise. It's a good option for simple automations, but consider the cost implications for larger projects.

Verified Purchase
FA
Fatima Al-Zahra
Solutions Architect • 1 month ago
Verified User

Make offers a robust set of tools for building complex integrations. The ability to visually map out data flows is a significant advantage. However, the learning curve can be steep for those without prior experience in integration platforms. The documentation is comprehensive, but could benefit from more practical examples. Overall, a powerful solution for advanced automation needs.

Verified Purchase