Make vs Zapier (2026) Compared
Zapier's the one everyone knows. Make's the one power users switch to. The gap between them is closing, but the price difference isn't.
The Short Version
Make is the better choice for ops professionals and agencies who build automations regularly, need complex branching logic, and care about cost per operation. Zapier wins for non-technical teams that need the simplest possible setup and the widest integration library (6,000+ apps vs 1,500+). Make's $9/mo Core plan covers what costs $49/mo on Zapier. But Zapier's simpler interface means faster adoption for teams that aren't automation-native.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Make | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free (1,000 ops/mo) | Free (100 tasks/mo) |
| Mid-tier Price | $10.59/mo (Core) | $29.99/mo (Starter) |
| Pro Price | $18.82/mo (Pro) | $73.50/mo (Professional) |
| App Integrations | 1,500+ | 6,000+ |
| Workflow Builder | Visual, node-based (branching, loops) | Linear, step-by-step |
| Error Handling | Built-in error routes and retries | Basic error alerts |
| Learning Curve | Moderate to steep | Low |
| Pricing Model | Operations-based (cheaper per action) | Task-based (adds up fast) |
| Best For | Technical ops teams, agencies | Non-technical teams, quick setups |
| The Big Risk | Steeper learning curve slows adoption | Costs 3-5x more at scale |
Deep Dive: Make
What They're Selling
Make (formerly Integromat) is the visual automation platform that ops professionals graduate to after hitting Zapier's limits. The node-based builder lets you create branching logic, loops, error handlers, and multi-path scenarios that Zapier's linear format can't match. It's built for people who think in flowcharts, not simple if-then rules.
What It Actually Costs
The free tier gives you 1,000 operations/month and 2 active scenarios. Core ($10.59/mo) bumps you to 10,000 operations with unlimited scenarios. Pro ($18.82/mo) adds priority execution and custom variables. Teams ($34.12/mo) adds collaboration features. The critical difference from Zapier: Make counts each operation, not each step. A 5-step workflow triggered once costs 5 operations on Make vs 5 tasks on Zapier, but Make's 10,000 operations cost $10.59/mo while Zapier's equivalent volume hits $49-73/mo.
What Users Say
Power users describe Make as Zapier on steroids. The visual builder clicks once you learn it, and most users say they can't go back. The main friction is onboarding. Non-technical teammates struggle with the node-based interface, and documentation could be better for advanced features.
Pros
- Visual workflow builder handles complex branching and loops
- 3-5x cheaper than Zapier for the same automation volume
- Built-in error handling routes prevent silent failures
- Free tier is functional enough to build real automations
Cons
- Steeper learning curve discourages non-technical users
- Fewer integrations (1,500 vs Zapier's 6,000+)
- Only 4 job postings signals smaller market adoption
- Enterprise governance features lag behind Workato and Tray
Deep Dive: Zapier
What They're Selling
Zapier is the default automation platform for a reason. It connects 6,000+ apps with a trigger-action model that anyone can learn in 30 minutes. No flowcharts, no node graphs. Just pick a trigger, pick an action, and turn it on. For RevOps teams that need non-technical stakeholders to build their own automations, that simplicity has real value.
What It Actually Costs
Free tier gives you 100 tasks/month and 5 single-step Zaps. Starter ($29.99/mo) opens up multi-step Zaps with 750 tasks/month. Professional ($73.50/mo) adds custom logic and webhooks with 2,000 tasks/month. Team ($103.50/mo) adds shared workspaces and SSO. The catch: a 'task' is each action in a Zap. A 5-step Zap triggered once uses 5 tasks. High-volume, multi-step workflows can burn through task limits fast. Teams doing serious automation often spend $150-300/mo on Zapier.
What Users Say
Users love the simplicity and reliability. Zapier just works for basic integrations, and the support documentation is excellent. Frustrations center on pricing at scale. Teams that start on the free tier get sticker shock when they need Professional or Team plans. Power users also hit walls when they need branching logic or error handling that Zapier doesn't support well.
Pros
- 6,000+ integrations, the largest ecosystem of any automation platform
- Anyone can build a basic Zap in under 30 minutes
- Reliable execution with strong uptime history
- Excellent documentation and template library
Cons
- Task-based pricing gets expensive at 3-5x Make's cost for equivalent volume
- Linear workflow model limits complex branching and loops
- No built-in error routing for failed steps
- 1-2 minute polling delay on most triggers (not real-time)
Which Should You Pick?
The Honest Take
Zapier won the iPaaS market by being dead simple. Make is winning over the power users by being 3-5x cheaper and far more capable for complex workflows. But the job market tells a clear story: 17 Zapier postings across 11 companies vs 4 Make postings across 3 companies. Zapier is the tool companies hire for. Make is the tool individual operators choose. If you're a RevOps team where non-technical people need to build their own automations, Zapier's simplicity isn't a weakness. It's the whole point. But if you've got an ops person who builds automations daily and you're spending $200/mo on Zapier, you should be on Make. The learning curve takes a week. The savings last forever. The honest recommendation for most teams: start with Zapier for simplicity, switch to Make when your monthly bill starts hurting or you need workflow complexity that Zapier can't handle.
Questions to Ask Before Buying
- How technical is the person who'll be building and maintaining automations?
- How many automation steps do you run per month? (Calculate current or projected Zapier task usage)
- Do you need complex branching logic, loops, or error handling in your workflows?
- Which specific apps do you need to integrate? Check both platforms' integration libraries.
- Is your priority cost efficiency or ease of onboarding?
- Will multiple non-technical teammates need to create their own automations?
- Are you an agency building automations at scale for multiple clients?
- Do you need real-time triggers or is polling every 1-2 minutes acceptable?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Make really cheaper than Zapier?
Yes, often by 3-5x. Make's Core plan ($10.59/mo) includes 10,000 operations. Zapier's Professional plan ($73.50/mo) includes 2,000 tasks. Even accounting for differences in how operations vs tasks are counted, Make delivers significantly more automation per dollar.
Can Make replace Zapier?
For most workflows, yes. Make supports 1,500+ integrations and handles everything Zapier does, plus complex branching and loops. The main gap is integration breadth: Zapier has 6,000+ apps. If your stack includes niche tools, check Make's integration library before switching.
Which has more job demand?
Zapier has 17 job postings across 11 companies in our data vs Make's 4 postings across 3 companies. Zapier is the more marketable skill, but the salary data shows a gap: Zapier roles average $101K-$131K vs Make roles at $62K-$70K, likely reflecting that Make adoption skews toward smaller companies and agencies.
What about n8n as an alternative?
n8n is the open-source option. It's self-hosted (free) or cloud-hosted (from $20/mo) with 400+ integrations. It's ideal for engineering teams that want full control. For ops teams without engineering support, Make or Zapier are more practical choices.