Zapier vs Make: Which Automation Tool Is Cheaper and Easier?

Pick Zapier if you want the largest app library and the simplest setup, and you run a modest number of automations. Pick Make if you want a visual builder for branching, multi-step workflows and more runs for less money.

Both are cloud tools that connect your apps without code. They differ in how they count usage, how much the free plan covers, and how you build a workflow.

Zapier vs Make at a glance

Which is cheaper, Zapier or Make?

Make is cheaper. Its Core plan starts at $9 a month on annual billing for 10,000 credits. Zapier's Professional plan starts at $19.99 a month.

The units are close in meaning. Zapier says each successful action in a Zap counts as one task, and checking for new data is free. Make says each module that processes data in a scenario typically uses one credit, though modules that handle many bundles of data or use AI can use more. So for a plain workflow, one Zapier task and one Make credit cover roughly the same work, and Make's entry plan gives you far more of them.

Both charge less if you pay yearly. Make's pricing page says annual payment in advance is cheaper than monthly, and it offers a Start-up plan with 50% off Business for organizations with fewer than 20 employees. Zapier gives every new account a free 14-day trial of Professional with no credit card.

What do the free plans actually allow?

Make's free plan gives you more monthly usage. On 6 November 2026, we checked both pricing pages. Make's pricing FAQ said the Free plan gives 1,000 credits a month, which comes with 1 MB of data storage and 1 data store, and that a cancelled paid plan drops back to Free rather than closing the account.

Zapier's free plan that day allowed 100 tasks a month and unlimited Zaps, but only two-step Zaps: one trigger and one action. It checked for new data every 15 minutes, against every 2 minutes on Professional. Multi-step Zaps, premium apps and webhooks were Professional features.

That two-step limit matters. A free Zap can copy a form entry into a spreadsheet, but it cannot then also send an email.

Which is easier to use?

Zapier is easier to start with. A Zap is a straight list: a trigger, then actions, one after another. For "when X happens, do Y" that is hard to beat.

Make uses a visual canvas. You place modules and connect them, and Make describes its builder as including routers, filters, error handling and data mapping between apps. That takes longer to learn, but it shows complex logic, like one trigger splitting into three paths, more clearly than a list.

Both now add AI help. Make has Maia, an assistant that builds and edits scenarios from a plain-language description, and AI agents that can call your scenarios as tools. Zapier offers Copilot on its free plan, and sells AI agents and chatbots as separate products.

For teams with many automations, Make also has Make Grid, a visual map of every workflow, app and dependency in an organization. Make says its paid plans include its AI apps, Make AI Agents and Make Grid, so you do not buy them separately.

Which has more integrations?

Zapier. It says it connects to 9,000+ apps, more than any other automation tool. Make lists 3,500+ apps in its directory, and says anything with an API can also be connected through its HTTP modules or a custom app.

For mainstream tools such as Google Sheets, Slack or HubSpot, both have you covered. If you rely on a niche app, search both directories first. For more options beyond these two, see our list of Make.com alternatives, which also covers n8n, Power Automate and IFTTT.

Which should you choose?

• You want the most free usage each month: Make, with 1,000 credits against Zapier's 100 tasks.
• You want the cheapest paid plan: Make Core, from $9 a month billed yearly.
• You need an app that only Zapier supports: Zapier.
• You want the quickest, simplest setup: Zapier.
• Your workflows branch, loop or need error handling: Make.
• You run a small startup with fewer than 20 people: check Make's Start-up offer of 50% off Business.

FAQ

Is Make cheaper than Zapier?

Yes. Make Core starts at $9 a month on annual billing for 10,000 credits, while Zapier Professional starts at $19.99 a month.

Is Make's free plan really free forever?

Make says its Free plan gives 1,000 credits a month with no time limit. Zapier's free plan is also free forever, with 100 tasks a month.

What is the difference between a Zapier task and a Make credit?

A Zapier task is one successful action in a Zap. A Make credit is usually one module processing data, but AI features and modules handling many data bundles can use more than one.

Can I self-host Zapier or Make?

Neither offers a self-hosted version on its pricing page. Make has an on-premise agent that lets cloud scenarios reach local apps and databases. If you want to self-host, look at n8n.