Make.com vs Zapier: Which Automation Tool Wins?

Make.com vs Zapier is the most common question people ask when they want to automate their work without code. Both tools connect your apps so that something happening in one app (a new form entry, a new sale, a new video) triggers actions in others. But they take different approaches to building, pricing and complexity.

In short: Zapier is built for speed and simplicity with the largest app library, while Make gives you a visual canvas with more control over complex logic, at a lower entry price. This comparison explains the differences in plain language so you can pick the right one. Prices below were read on the official pricing pages on November 1, 2026.

Make.com vs Zapier at a glance

Want the full picture of Make on its own first? Read our Make.com review.

What is Make?

Make (formerly Integromat) is a no-code automation platform. You build "scenarios" on a visual canvas, where each app action is a module and lines show how data flows between them. Routers split a scenario into several paths, filters decide which data continues, and error handlers control what happens when a step fails. Make also includes AI agents and AI modules you can add to scenarios.

What is Zapier?

Zapier is a cloud automation platform. Its automations are called "Zaps": a trigger followed by one or more actions, built in a vertical step-by-step editor. Zapier now also offers Tables (simple databases), Forms, AI agents, chatbots and Zapier MCP, which lets AI assistants take actions in connected apps. Its Copilot feature helps you build Zaps by describing what you want.

Ease of use: Zapier is faster to learn

For a first automation, Zapier is usually quicker. You pick a trigger app, pick an action app, map a few fields and turn it on. The list layout is easy to follow, and Copilot can draft the steps for you.

Make takes longer to learn because the canvas shows everything: data structures, arrays and mapping between modules. In return, once you understand it, complex workflows are easier to see and debug, because the whole flow is visible in one view. If you are starting out, our Make.com tutorial for beginners walks through the basics.

Features and logic: Make gives more control

• Branching: Make uses routers with as many paths as you need. Zapier offers Paths on paid plans (Filters & Paths are listed from the Professional plan).
• Loops and data handling: Make has iterators and aggregators to process lists item by item, which is useful for things like order line items or rows of a spreadsheet.
• Error handling: Make lets you add error-handler routes to individual modules.
• Speed of triggers: Zapier's pricing page lists polling every 15 minutes on Free, 2 minutes on Professional, and 1 minute on Team and Enterprise. Both tools also support instant triggers through webhooks.
• Multi-step workflows: Zapier's Free plan allows only two-step Zaps (one trigger, one action). Make's free plan lets you build multi-step scenarios within its credit limit.

Pricing: Make.com vs Zapier costs

Make pricing (as of November 2026)

Read on make.com/en/pricing in US dollars, with annual billing selected and the 10,000 credits per month tier:

• Free: $0, with 1,000 credits per month according to the pricing FAQ
• Core: $12/month, billed annually
• Pro: $21/month, billed annually
• Teams: $38/month, billed annually
• Enterprise: custom pricing

Paid plans were marked "Save 25%" for annual billing, so monthly billing costs more, and prices rise if you choose more credits.

Zapier pricing (as of November 2026)

• Free: $0/month, 100 tasks per month, two-step Zaps
• Professional: starting from $19.99/month, multi-step Zaps, unlimited premium apps, webhooks
• Team: starting from $69/month, 25 users, shared Zaps and SAML SSO
• Enterprise: contact sales

Zapier's price depends on the task tier you choose, and its page shows "Save 33%" for yearly billing. Prices change, so check both official pricing pages before you buy.

How the billing units differ

Make counts credits: most actions a module performs use 1 credit, while some AI features use more. Zapier counts tasks. On its own comparison page, Zapier says it charges only for completed actions, not for triggers, filters or failed steps. In practice, a long workflow that runs often can use credits quickly on Make, while Zapier's higher price per plan can add up if you need many tasks. The cheapest option depends on how many steps your workflows have and how often they run, so estimate your monthly volume first. For the free tier in detail, see is Make.com free?.

Integrations: Zapier has more apps

Zapier lists over 9,000 apps; Make's homepage says it connects 3,500+ apps out of the box. Both can reach almost any other service through webhooks and HTTP requests. Before choosing, search each tool's app directory for the exact apps and actions you need. Make often offers more actions per app, while Zapier more often has the app in the first place.

Example: one workflow in both tools

Imagine a simple creator workflow: when someone buys your digital product, add them to a Google Sheet, tag them in your email tool and send yourself a Slack message.

• In Zapier, this is one multi-step Zap: a trigger from your checkout app, then three actions. It needs a paid plan, because the Free plan allows only two-step Zaps.
• In Make, this is one scenario with a trigger module and three action modules on the canvas. It can run on the free plan, and each run uses credits for the modules that perform actions.

If you later want to treat first-time and returning buyers differently, Make adds a router with two paths, while Zapier uses Paths on a paid plan.

Which should you choose?

Choose Make if:

• Your workflows have branches, loops or many steps
• You want to see and debug the whole flow visually
• You want a lower entry price and are willing to learn the editor

Choose Zapier if:

• You want the simplest setup and the fastest first automation
• You rely on niche apps that only Zapier supports
• Your team includes non-technical people who need to build Zaps themselves

Thinking about a self-hosted option too? Compare Make with n8n in our Make.com vs n8n guide.

Make.com vs Zapier FAQ

Is Make better than Zapier?

Neither is better for everyone. Make is stronger for complex, visual workflows at a lower entry price. Zapier is easier to learn and supports more apps.

Is Make cheaper than Zapier?

At entry level, yes: Make Core was $12/month billed annually versus Zapier Professional from $19.99/month (read November 1, 2026). The real cost depends on your volume, because the two count usage differently.

Do Make and Zapier have free plans?

Yes. Make's free plan includes 1,000 credits per month. Zapier's free plan includes 100 tasks per month with two-step Zaps.

Which is easier for beginners, Make or Zapier?

Zapier is usually easier for a first automation. Make has a steeper learning curve but makes complex flows easier to follow once learned.

Can I switch from Zapier to Make?

Yes, but there is no automatic conversion. You rebuild each Zap as a Make scenario, so start with your most important workflows.

Verdict

If you want quick, simple automations across a huge range of apps, Zapier is the easy choice. If you want more control, visual debugging and a lower starting price, Make is the better fit for most creators and small businesses. Both have free plans, so the best test is to build one real workflow in each.

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