Make vs Zapier
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | Make | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small businesses, freelancers, and non-technical users needing to design complex, multi-step visual workflows with custom logic and data transformation. | Small to medium businesses and teams (marketing, sales, support) who want quick, AI-assisted automation with the largest app ecosystem and pre-built templates. |
| Pricing | Free plan: 1,000 ops/mo, 2 scenarios; Core: $9/mo (10,000 ops, unlimited scenarios); Pro: $16/mo (custom functions, priority). | Free plan: 100 tasks/mo, 5 Zaps; Starter: $19.99/mo (750 tasks, 20 Zaps); Professional: $49/mo (2K tasks, unlimited Zaps, AI actions). |
| Setup complexity | Moderate. Visual canvas with drag-and-drop is intuitive, but building complex logic (sub-scenarios, functions) has a steeper learning curve. | Low. Pre-built Zaps and natural language workflow builder allow quick setup; mostly point-and-click with minimal configuration. |
| Strongest differentiator | Visual scenario editor with built-in data transformation tools, custom functions, and reusable modules for intricate automation logic. | Largest app ecosystem (6,000+ integrations), AI-powered natural language workflow creation, and built-in AI actions (summarize, classify, generate text). |
Zapier vs Make: For most small to medium businesses seeking quick, AI-assisted automation with the broadest app support, Zapier wins due to its 6,000+ integrations and natural language workflow builder. Make wins for users who need more complex, visual logic and custom data transformation at a lower price point. Zapier is ideal for ease of use and ecosystem breadth; Make is the better value for power users who want fine-grained control without code.
Feature-by-feature
Core capabilities: Make vs Zapier
Make offers a visual canvas where users can drag and drop modules to build multi-step scenarios with conditional logic, loops, and error handling. It includes built-in data transformation tools like aggregators, routers, and custom functions (JavaScript-like) for advanced data manipulation. Zapier provides multi-step Zaps with conditional filters and paths, but its strength lies in AI-powered features: a natural language workflow builder, AI actions (summarize, classify, generate text), and AI assistants (Agents). Zapier also offers Tables (data storage), Forms, Canvas (visual mapping), and Functions (in-browser code editor). Make’s core advantage is its detailed visual control; Zapier’s advantage is its AI integration and ease of use. Winner: Zapier for AI assistance and broader feature set for non-technical users; Make for granular visual logic.
AI/model approach: Zapier vs Make
Zapier heavily integrates AI: users can create Zaps using natural language descriptions, employ AI actions to summarize or classify data, and leverage Agents for autonomous workflow assistance. Zapier’s AI is built directly into the platform, allowing any connected app to benefit from AI without separate API keys. Make also offers AI modules (e.g., OpenAI, ChatGPT) but as standard integrations; there is no natural language builder or built-in AI actions. Make’s AI is more of a ‘connect your own model’ approach. Winner: Zapier for native AI capabilities that lower the barrier to AI-powered automation.
Integrations & ecosystem
Zapier leads with 6,000+ app integrations covering popular tools like Slack, Gmail, Salesforce, HubSpot, Notion, Airtable, ChatGPT, and many more. Make offers over 2,000 integrations, still a robust number but less than half of Zapier’s. Both cover key categories: CRM, marketing, productivity, e-commerce, and social media. However, Zapier’s larger ecosystem means users are more likely to find a pre-built connection for niche apps. Winner: Zapier for sheer breadth of integrations.
Performance & scale
Make’s free plan allows 1,000 operations per month, scaling up to 10,000 on Core ($9/mo) and more on higher tiers. Zapier’s free plan is limited to 100 tasks per month, with Starter at 750 tasks ($19.99/mo) and Professional at 2,000 tasks ($49/mo). For enterprise-level high-volume needs, both offer custom plans (not detailed here). Make’s operations-based pricing is more generous at lower tiers, but Zapier’s task-based model may be clearer. Winner: Make for higher free-tier limits and lower cost per operation at entry levels.
Developer experience & workflow
Make provides a visual scenario editor with real-time logs, version history, reusable modules, and sub-scenarios for modular design—ideal for building complex automations. It also offers webhooks, API connections, and custom functions. Zapier provides a more streamlined, wizard-like interface with pre-built templates (Zaps) and a new natural language builder. Developers may prefer Make’s custom functions and sub-scenarios; non-developers will find Zapier faster to set up. Winner: Make for power users and developers; Zapier for non-technical workflow builders.
Pricing compared
Make pricing (2026)
Make operates on a freemium model:
- Free: $0/month, 1,000 operations, 2 scenarios.
- Core: $9/month, 10,000 operations, unlimited scenarios.
- Pro: $16/month, includes custom functions and priority support. Higher tiers (Teams, Enterprise) are available but not detailed in the input. Operations are counted as any action or step in a scenario. There is no mention of overage fees or hidden costs; likely users must upgrade to a higher tier if they exceed limits.
Zapier pricing (2026)
Zapier also uses a freemium model:
- Free: $0/month, 5 Zaps, 100 tasks.
- Starter: $19.99/month, 20 Zaps, 750 tasks.
- Professional: $49/month, unlimited Zaps, 2,000 tasks, and AI actions included. Higher tiers (Team, Company, Enterprise) are available but not detailed. Tasks are counted per step in a Zap that successfully runs. Overage may be possible at higher tiers but not specified in the input.
Value-per-dollar: Make vs Zapier
For small budgets, Make offers significantly more free operations (1,000 vs Zapier’s 100 tasks) and a much lower entry paid tier ($9 for 10,000 ops vs $19.99 for 750 tasks). Make’s Pro tier at $16/month includes custom functions, while Zapier’s Professional at $49/month includes AI actions. For users needing complex automation with high volume, Make delivers better raw throughput per dollar. For users who value AI features and a larger integration ecosystem, Zapier’s premium may be justified. Winner: Make for cost-conscious power users; Zapier for AI-centric users who prefer a simpler setup.
Who should pick which
- Freelancer automating client lead capture and follow-ups (low budget, moderate complexity)Pick: Make
Make’s free plan offers 1,000 ops/mo versus Zapier’s 100 tasks, and its Core plan at $9/mo provides 10,000 ops — far cheaper than Zapier’s Starter at $19.99 for only 750 tasks. The visual builder allows custom logic for lead routing without coding.
- Marketing team (5–20 people) syncing CRM, email, and social media with AI summariesPick: Zapier
Zapier’s AI actions and natural language builder make it easy to create workflows that summarize leads and generate content. Its 6,000+ integrations cover major marketing tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, and ChatGPT. Professional tier ($49/mo) includes AI actions and unlimited Zaps.
- Small e-commerce business automating inventory and order sync (multi-step, custom logic)Pick: Make
Make’s custom functions, sub-scenarios, and error handling allow building complex inventory sync between Shopify, QuickBooks, and warehouse systems. Its Pro tier ($16/mo) provides custom functions at a fraction of Zapier’s cost for comparable volume.
- Customer support team auto-responding to tickets using AI (low-code, quick setup)Pick: Zapier
Zapier’s built-in AI actions can auto-respond to Zendesk tickets by classifying intent and generating replies. The natural language builder lets non-technical staff set up flows quickly. Free plan supports 100 tasks for initial testing.
- Developer building internal tools with custom code and API integrationsPick: Make
Make’s custom functions, webhooks, and API connections allow developers to embed automation with precise data transformations. Sub-scenarios and reusable modules enable modular, maintainable workflows. Low cost for high operation volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Make and Zapier in 2026?
Make (formerly Integromat) focuses on a visual canvas for building complex, multi-step automation with custom functions and data transformation tools. Zapier emphasizes ease of use with a large app ecosystem (6,000+) and AI-powered features like natural language workflow creation and built-in AI actions. Make is better for complex logic and budget; Zapier for quick setup and AI.
Which is cheaper: Make or Zapier?
Make is generally cheaper. Its free plan offers 1,000 ops/mo vs Zapier's 100 tasks. Make's Core plan ($9/mo) gives 10,000 ops; Zapier's Starter ($19.99/mo) gives 750 tasks. For volume, Make provides more operations per dollar.
Does Make have a free plan?
Yes, Make’s free plan includes 1,000 operations per month and 2 scenarios. It’s more generous than Zapier’s free plan (100 tasks, 5 Zaps).
Does Zapier have AI features?
Yes, Zapier includes a natural language workflow builder, AI actions that summarize/classify/generate text, and AI assistants (Agents). These are available on paid tiers starting at Professional ($49/mo).
How many integrations does Make have?
Make offers over 2,000 app integrations, including Google Workspace, Slack, Shopify, HubSpot, Salesforce, and OpenAI. Zapier has over 6,000.
Can I build complex automation with Zapier?
Yes, Zapier supports multi-step Zaps with conditional filters and paths, plus recent features like Functions (code editor) and Canvas (visual mapping). However, Make’s visual scenario editor offers more granular control with routers, aggregators, and custom functions.
Which tool is better for non-technical users?
Zapier is generally easier for non-technical users due to its natural language builder and pre-built templates. Make’s visual canvas is intuitive but requires understanding of logic flows for complex scenarios.
Can I migrate from Make to Zapier?
Migration is manual since workflows are platform-specific. You would need to rebuild scenarios as Zaps. Both tools have export options (e.g., blueprints in Make), but no direct import/export between them.
Which is better for enterprise?
Neither tool is explicitly designed for enterprise (no SSO, on-premise, or dedicated support in their public tiers). Both offer higher-tier plans (Team, Enterprise) with advanced features, but in 2026, larger enterprises may need more compliance and support.
What is the learning curve for Make vs Zapier?
Zapier has a lower learning curve thanks to intuitive wizard and natural language builder. Make’s visual canvas is powerful but takes more time to master for complex scenarios, especially when using custom functions and sub-scenarios.
Last reviewed: May 12, 2026