Fair-code workflow automation and AI agent builder, cloud or self-hosted.
Make vs Zapier
Features, pricing, strengths and trade-offs — and which one fits your situation.
The verdict
Editor’s verdict
Zapier prioritises ease of use and the largest app library, while Make offers a visual canvas with more control over complex logic at a lower cost per action. Choose Zapier if your team is non-technical, relies on niche SaaS tools that only Zapier supports, or wants simple trigger-and-action automations running within minutes; its Human in the Loop steps, Tables and Forms also cover many lightweight needs without extra tools. Choose Make if your workflows branch, loop over lists or transform data, since routers, iterators and aggregators are easier to see and manage on its canvas, and its credit-based pricing is usually cheaper at similar volumes. Make has a steeper learning curve, and Zapier costs climb quickly as task counts grow. If you need to keep automation data on your own servers, neither fits, because both are cloud only; n8n is the usual choice in that case.
Both Make and Zapier offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which should you choose?
Choose Make if…
- You need visual, multi-branch automations across thousands of SaaS apps at a moderate cost
- You're one of: operations teams, automation agencies, small businesses scaling workflows
- Visual canvas makes complex branching logic easy to follow
Choose Zapier if…
- You need connecting the widest range of SaaS apps with the easiest setup
- You're one of: non-technical business teams, small businesses, marketing and sales ops
- You want something quicker to learn
- Largest app library of any automation platform
At a glance
| Make | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Visual, multi-branch automations across thousands of SaaS apps at a moderate cost | Connecting the widest range of SaaS apps with the easiest setup |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | From $9/mo | From $19.99/mo |
| Learning curve | Medium | Low |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, API | Web, Chrome extension, API |
| Ideal for | Operations teams, Automation agencies, Small businesses scaling workflows, Marketers with multi-step processes | Non-technical business teams, Small businesses, Marketing and sales ops, Companies using many niche SaaS tools |
Feature comparison
| Make | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Visual workflow builder | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations, approx. | 3,000+ | 9,000+ |
| AI agents | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosting | No | No |
| Custom code steps | Yes | Yes |
| Webhooks | Yes | Paid plans only |
| Human approval steps | — | Yes |
| Billed per | Credit (per module action) | Task |
IncludedLimited / higher plansNot available— Not confirmed
Security & enterprise
| Make | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Business / enterprise plan | Yes | Yes |
| SSO (SAML / OIDC) | Enterprise plan | Enterprise plan |
| SCIM user provisioning | — | Enterprise plan |
| SOC 2 | Type II | Type II |
| ISO 27001 | Yes | — |
| HIPAA (BAA available) | — | — |
| GDPR DPA | Yes | Yes |
| Data residency options | US, EU | No |
| No training on your data | — | — |
| Audit logs | Enterprise plan | Enterprise plan |
| Admin controls | Yes | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
From each vendor's security documentation. "—" = not confirmed. What to ask vendors · Compare all tools
What each tool does
Make
Make is a cloud automation platform where users build scenarios on a visual canvas, connecting modules with routers, filters and iterators. Billing is per credit, with each module action generally counting as one credit and AI or code steps costing more. It is used by operations teams, agencies and small businesses that outgrow simple linear automations.
Key features- Drag-and-drop scenario canvas with routers and iterators
- 3,000+ app integrations
- Make AI Agents available on all plans
- Maia assistant that builds scenarios from chat
- Code app for JavaScript or Python
- Make Grid map of scenarios and dependencies
Zapier
Zapier is a cloud automation platform where users build Zaps: a trigger in one app followed by actions in others, with filters, paths and formatting steps. It connects 9,000+ apps and adds Tables, Forms, Canvas and Zapier Agents, with Zaps billed per successful task and agents billed per activity. It is used by non-technical teams and businesses of every size for everyday app-to-app automation.
Key features- Step-by-step Zap editor with paths and filters
- 9,000+ app integrations
- Zapier Agents for AI agents that act across apps
- Human in the Loop approval and data-collection steps
- Code by Zapier (JavaScript or Python) and Webhooks by Zapier
- Tables, Forms and Canvas included
Pricing
Make
Free plan (1,000 credits/mo); Make plan from $9/mo
Zapier
Free plan (100 tasks/mo); Professional from ~$19.99/mo annual ($29.99 monthly); Team $69/mo annual
Prices last checked September 2026. Plans change often — confirm on each vendor's site.
Pros and cons
Make
Strengths- Visual canvas makes complex branching logic easy to follow
- Large app library with detailed module options
- Generally cheaper per action than Zapier at similar volumes
- Free plan available for testing
- Free plan limited to two active scenarios and 15-minute intervals
- Data mapping, iterators and aggregators take time to learn
- Cloud only: no self-hosted edition, just an on-prem agent for local network access
- Credit costs for AI and code steps are harder to estimate than plain module actions
Not ideal for: Teams that must keep data on their own servers should look at n8n, and complete beginners may find Zapier quicker to start with.
Zapier
Strengths- Largest app library of any automation platform
- Easiest to learn for non-technical users
- Failed actions do not count towards task usage
- Extensive templates and help documentation
- Per-task billing gets expensive for high-volume or long multi-step workflows
- Free plan limited to two-step Zaps with no webhooks or premium apps
- Agents are billed separately from Zap tasks
- Cloud only, with no self-hosting option
Not ideal for: High-volume or developer-heavy teams will usually get more for their money from Make or self-hosted n8n.
Integrations
Make
Zapier
FAQ
What is the main difference between Make and Zapier?
Make is built for visual, multi-branch automations across thousands of SaaS apps at a moderate cost; Zapier is built for connecting the widest range of SaaS apps with the easiest setup.
Is Make or Zapier cheaper?
Make starts from $9/mo and Zapier starts from $19.99/mo (as of September 2026). On entry price, Make is cheaper — but compare what each plan includes, since limits differ. Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site.
Do Make and Zapier have free plans?
Both Make and Zapier offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which is easier to use, Make or Zapier?
Zapier is generally quicker to learn (Make: medium, Zapier: low learning curve).
What are good alternatives to Make and Zapier?
Other automation tools worth comparing include n8n, Gumloop and Lindy.
