Side-by-Side Pricing
The critical difference: Zapier counts tasks (every action step in a Zap), while Make counts operations(each module execution). A 5-step Zap burns 5 Zapier tasks per run but only counts as 5 Make operations. However, Make gives you 10,000 operations on Core vs Zapier's 750 tasks on Professional.
| Plan | Zapier | Make |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 — 100 tasks/mo, two-step only | $0 — 1,000 ops/mo, 2 active scenarios |
| Core / Professional | Professional $29.99/mo ($239.88/yr) — 750 tasks/mo, multi-step | Core $10.59/mo ($108/yr) — 10,000 ops/mo, unlimited scenarios |
| Pro / Team | Team $103.50/mo ($828/yr) — 2,000 tasks/mo, shared workspace | Pro $18.82/mo ($192/yr) — 10,000 ops/mo, custom functions, priority |
| Teams / Enterprise | Enterprise — custom pricing, SAML SSO | Teams $34.12/mo ($348/yr) — 10,000 ops/mo, team features |
Make Core at $108/yr gives you 10,000 operations vs Zapier Professional at $239.88/yr for 750 tasks — a 13x volume advantage at 55% less cost.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Zapier | Make |
|---|---|---|
| App integrations | 7,000+ | 1,800+ |
| Visual builder | Linear step-by-step | Flowchart with routers/branches |
| Conditional logic | Paths (limited branching) | Routers, filters, aggregators |
| Error handling | Basic retry, error notifications | Built-in error routes, retry, ignore |
| Data storage | Tables (Zapier Tables) | Data stores (key-value) |
| Webhooks | Yes (Professional+) | Yes (all paid plans) |
| Execution speed | 1–15 min polling | Near real-time on paid plans |
| Learning curve | Low — anyone can build a Zap | Medium — takes 2–5 hours to learn |
Decision Framework
Choose Zapier if:
- ✓Your team has zero technical ability
- ✓You need a niche app that only Zapier supports
- ✓You run fewer than 750 tasks/month
- ✓Simple trigger → action workflows are all you need
- ✓Setup speed matters more than per-task cost
Choose Make if:
- ✓You process 1,000+ automations per month
- ✓Your workflows need branching, loops, or error routes
- ✓Cost matters — Make is 60–80% cheaper at scale
- ✓You're comfortable with a slightly steeper learning curve
- ✓You need robust error handling for production workflows
What Zapier Does Better
Simplicity. Building a Zap takes minutes. Select a trigger app, pick an event, connect an action app, map fields, turn it on. Non-technical marketing and operations teams can self-serve without training.
Integration breadth. 7,000+ apps is unmatched. If a SaaS tool exists, it probably has a Zapier integration. Make covers the major apps but misses many niche tools.
Zapier Tables and Interfaces. Zapier has expanded beyond automation into no-code databases (Tables) and simple apps (Interfaces). These create lightweight internal tools directly connected to your Zaps.
What Make Does Better
Complex logic.Make's flowchart-style builder lets you create scenarios with routers (split data into parallel paths), iterators (loop over arrays), aggregators (combine results), and error handlers — all visually. Building equivalent logic in Zapier requires multiple separate Zaps and workarounds.
Cost efficiency.At 10,000 operations/month, Make Core costs $108/yr. Getting 10,000 tasks on Zapier requires the Team plan at minimum — and that only gives you 2,000 tasks for $828/yr. Make is 4–10x cheaper for equivalent volume.
Execution speed.Make scenarios can execute in near real-time on paid plans. Zapier polls on intervals (1–15 minutes depending on plan tier), meaning there's a delay between trigger and action.
Annual Cost at Three Volume Levels
| Monthly Volume | Zapier | Make | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 750 tasks / 10K ops | $239.88/yr (Professional) | $108/yr (Core) | $131.88/yr |
| 2,000 tasks / 10K ops | $828/yr (Team) | $108/yr (Core) | $720/yr |
| 5,000+ tasks / 40K ops | $2,000+/yr (custom) | $348/yr (Teams, additional ops) | $1,650+/yr |
Migration Between the Two
Zapier to Make
Effort: Medium (1–2 hours per complex Zap, less for simple ones). What transfers: Logic and app connections conceptually, but there's no import tool. Each Zap must be manually recreated as a Make scenario. Key challenge:Make's interface is different — budget time for learning the builder (2–5 hours). Most teams can migrate 10–20 workflows in a week.
Make to Zapier
Effort: Medium to high. What transfers: Simple linear scenarios translate 1:1. What breaks: Complex scenarios with routers, error handlers, data stores, and iterators have no direct Zapier equivalent. You may need to split one Make scenario into multiple Zaps, which multiplies your task consumption.
Common Mistakes When Choosing
Not understanding Zapier's task multiplier
A 5-step Zap that runs 100 times consumes 500 tasks, not 100. Multi-step Zaps burn through task allotments fast. Teams frequently hit their Zapier limit mid-month and get charged overages.
Choosing Make for a non-technical team
Make's learning curve is real. If your team won't invest 2–5 hours learning the builder, they'll give up and go back to manual processes. Zapier's simplicity has genuine ROI for teams that need instant adoption.
Staying on Zapier at high volume out of inertia
Teams paying $100+/month on Zapier frequently save 60–80% by migrating to Make. The migration takes a weekend. The savings compound every month. If cost is a concern, do the math.
Frequently Asked Questions
What about n8n as an alternative?
n8n is a self-hostable automation tool ideal for technical teams wanting full control. It's free to self-host but requires server management. The cloud version starts at $24/mo. Choose n8n if you need to run custom code in every node and want data to never leave your infrastructure.
Is Make really called Integromat?
Make rebranded from Integromat in 2022. The product is the same. Old Integromat URLs redirect to make.com.
Can I use both simultaneously?
Yes. Some teams use Zapier for simple 2-step automations (where its ease of setup wins) and Make for complex, high-volume workflows (where its cost and power win). This is a pragmatic approach that optimizes for both simplicity and cost.
Which is more reliable?
Both have strong uptime. Make's built-in error handling with retry routes and fallback paths gives you more control over failure recovery. Zapier relies on basic retry and error notifications.
Does Make support all the same apps as Zapier?
Make supports 1,800+ apps vs Zapier's 7,000+. All major tools (Google, Slack, HubSpot, Salesforce, Shopify, etc.) are covered. The gap is in niche or newer apps. Check Make's app directory before switching if you rely on specific integrations.
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