Zapier vs Make: which fits your business in 2026?
The two automation giants — widest app coverage against the most power per dollar. Cost at 1k/10k/50k tasks-credits and 3-year TCO included.
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Pricing verified 2026-06-12 · updated 2026-07-19→ Run the full cost calculator for your exact volume
Quick answer
At ~10,000 tasks/credits/mo, Make costs about $9/mo vs $345/mo for Zapier (entry verified tiers; see assumptions).
Best overall value score: Make (4.8/5). Easiest to start: Zapier (4.5/5 ease).
Editor's pick
MMake — Visual automation canvas for complex workflows. Score 4.2/5, free plan available.
Cost at 1k / 10k / 50k
| Volume / mo | ZZapier | MMake |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $69/mo · Team | $0/mo · Free |
| 10,000 | $345/mo · Team (scaled) Extrapolated from 2,000 tasks @ $69/mo |
$9/mo · Core |
| 50,000 | $1,725/mo · Team (scaled) Extrapolated from 2,000 tasks @ $69/mo |
$45/mo · Core (scaled) Extrapolated from 10,000 credits @ $9/mo |
Volumes = tasks (Zapier) / credits (Make) / executions (n8n Cloud). Billing units differ — same numeric volume is not the same workload. n8n Community self-host is $0 for executions (VPS only); table shows Cloud. Prices verified from vendor pages in our pricing index.
3-year TCO (at 10,000/mo)
| ZZapier | MMake | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly (est.) | $345 | $9 |
| 3-year total | $12,420 | $324 |
Make saves about $12,096 over 3 years at this volume (list price only).
Volumes = tasks (Zapier) / credits (Make) / executions (n8n Cloud). Billing units differ — same numeric volume is not the same workload. n8n Community self-host is $0 for executions (VPS only); table shows Cloud.
At a glance
| ZZapier | MMake | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.2/5 | 4.22/5 |
| Starting price | $20/mo | $9/mo |
| Pricing basis | per month, 750 tasks, billed annually | per month, 10,000 credits, billed annually |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Trial | 14 days | 0 days |
| Integrations | 8000+ | 3000+ |
| Best for | Non-technical users who need the widest app coverage for automations | Power users who want complex, branching automations at a fraction of Zapier's cost |
| Zapier review → | Try Make → |
Winner by use case
- Tightest budget: Make — entry plan is $11/mo cheaper ($132/year at entry tier).
- Fastest to learn: Zapier (4.5/5 ease of use).
- Most capability: Zapier (4.6/5 feature depth).
- Best value overall: Make (4.8/5 value score).
Feature matrix
| ZZapier | MMake | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trial days | 14 | 0 |
| AI features | 4 | 3 |
| Integrations | 8000+ | 3000+ |
| Ease of use | 4.5/5 | 3.7/5 |
| Feature depth | 4.6/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Value for money | 3.7/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Support | 4.0/5 | 3.8/5 |
Pricing, side by side
ZZapier
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Free / custom |
| Professional | $20/mo |
| Team | $69/mo |
Verified 2026-06-12 · Pricing source
Strengths and weaknesses
ZZapier
- If an app exists, Zapier probably connects it
- Easiest mental model: trigger then actions
- AI builder turns plain text into working Zaps
- Huge documentation and community
- Task-based pricing gets expensive at volume
- Complex logic clunky vs Make's visual canvas
- Multi-step Zaps need paid plan
- Polling delays on lower tiers
MMake
- Lower entry price than many task-based competitors
- Visual canvas shows entire flow at a glance
- Real programming primitives (loops, arrays)
- Generous free plan for testing
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier
- Smaller app catalog than Zapier
- Credit counting takes getting used to; AI modules may consume variable credits
- Support response can be slow on lower tiers
Our verdict
The honest framing: Zapier is the automatic transmission, Make is the manual gearbox. Both get you there; one gives you more control and better fuel economy, the other is easier to drive. Quick answer + volume cost table + 3-year TCO sit above — Zapier tasks vs Make credits are not 1:1 for the same workflow.
Best for small businesses
Zapier if one person runs the business and automations must be built in minutes without training. Make if someone on the team is comfortable with flowcharts and you run more than ~5,000 tasks/month — the per-operation pricing usually wins quickly.
Best for technical teams
Make handles loops, arrays, routers and error branches in one scenario. Workflows that need three separate Zaps on Zapier often fit in one Make scenario. The trade-off is setup time and debugging when something breaks.
Hidden costs and limits
- Zapier charges per task; multi-step Zaps multiply fast. Premium apps and team seats add up on higher plans.
- Make bills per operation; complex scenarios with many branches can still spike unexpectedly — model your worst-case month in the automation cost calculator.
- Both hit plan ceilings; migrating off either tool later has switching cost — document your critical flows.
When to choose neither
If you only need two apps connected with a simple trigger-action once a month, native integrations (Shopify → Google Sheets, etc.) may be free. If you need enterprise audit logs and SSO, look at Workato or Tray.io instead.
Zapier's 8,000+ integrations mean the obscure app your accountant uses probably connects. Its trigger-action model is understood quickly, and the AI builder turns plain English into draft Zaps. The cost: task-based pricing can rise at volume; compare same workflow and billing interval before deciding.
Make's visual canvas handles loops, arrays, routers and error handling with rollback. A workflow that needs several Zaps may fit in one Make scenario. The cost: steeper learning curve and smaller, though still large, 3,000+ standard app catalog.
Choose Zapier if the people building automations are non-technical, or your apps are niche. Choose Make if you (or anyone on the team) can think in flowcharts — the price difference compounds every month.
Pricing sources
- Zapier pricing — verified 2026-06-12
- Make pricing — verified 2026-06-12
Model your task volume in the automation cost calculator.
FAQ
Is Make cheaper than Zapier?
Yes. Make starts at $9/mo versus $20/mo for Zapier (per month, 10,000 credits, billed annually). Over a year that is a $132 difference at entry tier.
Which is easier to use, Zapier or Make?
Based on our scoring, Zapier is easier to get started with (ease-of-use 4.5/5 vs 3.7/5).
Which has more features, Zapier or Make?
Zapier scores higher on feature depth (4.6/5). Key differentiators: 8,000+ app integrations - largest catalog; Multi-step workflows with branching; Webhooks and code steps.
What is the 3-year TCO of Zapier vs Make?
At ~10,000 units/mo on verified tiers, Zapier is about $12,420 over 3 years ($345/mo) versus Make at $324 ($9/mo). Make saves roughly $12,096 across 3 years before add-ons. Volumes = tasks (Zapier) / credits (Make) / executions (n8n Cloud). Billing units differ — same numeric volume is not the same workload. n8n Community self-host is $0 for executions (VPS only); table shows Cloud.
Full reviews: Zapier review · Make review
Related comparisons
Run the numbers: cost calculator · pricing index