Make vs Zapier
Pick Zapier if you want the simplest setup and the widest app coverage; pick Make if you want more power per dollar and a visual builder that handles complex logic well. Both have free plans, and Make's paid plans generally cost less at the same volume. Zapier is the easy button, Make is the better value once you learn it.
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| Make | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Overlord Score | 9/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Best for | AI content and lead-gen workflows, Automation agencies | Beginners automating their first workflows, Teams that need the widest app coverage |
| Starting price | $16/mo | $19.99/mo (billed annually) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free (1,000 credits/mo); Core from about $9-12/mo for 10,000 credits. | Free (100 tasks/mo); Professional from about $20/mo billed annually. |
| Billing unit | Credits: roughly one per module action. | Tasks: one per successful action step. |
| Builder | Visual drag-and-drop canvas with routers, filters and error handling. | Linear multi-step Zaps with logic. |
| Ease of use | Steeper learning curve. | Very easy to learn. |
| Integrations | Thousands of apps plus HTTP module for any API. | Widest app library available. |
| AI | AI modules priced by usage. | AI agents and chatbot builder. |
Make or Zapier: which should you choose?
Choose Make if…
Choose Make if your workflows branch, loop or handle errors, or you run enough volume that price per operation matters.
Try Make →Choose Zapier if…
Choose Zapier if you want automations working today with minimal learning and need the broadest app support.
Try Zapier →Make vs Zapier pricing
Make
- Free Free
- Core $16/mo
- Pro $28/mo
- Teams $51/mo
- Enterprise Custom
Yes. Make's free plan includes 1,000 credits a month and 2 active scenarios with no time limit, but scheduled runs can be no more frequent than every 15 minutes.
Full Make pricing →Zapier
- Free Free
- Pro $29.99/mo
- Team $103.50/mo
- Enterprise Custom
Yes. Zapier's free plan includes 100 tasks a month with two-step Zaps only, and new accounts get a 14-day free trial of Pro.
Full Zapier pricing →Strengths and weaknesses
Make
The best value automation platform for building AI-powered workflows. More powerful and cheaper than most rivals, once you climb the learning curve.
Strengths
- Excellent price-to-power ratio
- Visual builder makes complex logic readable
- Great for client automation work
Weaknesses
- Steeper learning curve than Zapier
- Operation-based pricing takes some planning
Zapier
The easiest automation tool to start with and the one with the most integrations. You pay a premium for that simplicity at scale.
Strengths
- Very easy to learn
- Widest app coverage
- Reliable and well-documented
Weaknesses
- Gets expensive at high task volume
- Complex logic is clunkier than Make
Questions the Humans Keep Asking
Is Make cheaper than Zapier?
Usually, yes. Make's entry paid plan includes 10,000 credits for roughly $9-12/mo, while Zapier's Professional plan starts around $20/mo for far fewer tasks.
Is Make harder to use than Zapier?
A bit. Make's visual canvas is more powerful for complex logic but takes longer to learn than Zapier's step-by-step builder.
Can I move my Zaps to Make?
There is no one-click import; you rebuild the workflows in Make. Simple Zaps usually take minutes to recreate.