Zapier vs Make
Last updated . Figures are approximate and change with the market, so check current prices before you decide.
Both tools connect your apps so one event triggers another: a form submission adds a row to a sheet, a new order sends a Slack alert. They look similar on a feature list, but they bill differently and feel different to build in. This comparison uses the vendors' own pricing and help pages, and flags where we are summarising rather than quoting. If you want the jobs built for you, see our workflow automation service.
The short comparison
| Zapier | Make | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | Tasks | Credits |
| Free plan | 100 tasks a month, two-step Zaps, 15-minute polling | 1,000 credits a month |
| Paid plans | Pro from $19.99 a month for 750 tasks on annual billing ($29.99 monthly) | Core, Pro and Teams, priced by credit volume |
| What uses usage | Successful actions | Most module actions, 1 credit each |
| What is free | Triggers, polling and built-ins such as Filter, Paths and Delay | Router and error handler modules |
| Apps listed | 10,371+ | 3,500+ |
| Build style | Linear steps, with branches | Visual canvas with routers and iterators |
| Best for | Quick, simple connections | Multi-step logic and data handling |
Sources: Zapier pricing, Zapier apps, Make pricing and Make integrations. Make's pricing page we read did not show dollar amounts for paid plans, so check the page for the current figure at your volume.
Pricing model: tasks versus credits
Zapier charges per task. Its pricing page says a task is used when Zapier successfully completes a unit of work, and failed actions do not count. Triggers, polling and built-in tools such as Formatter, Paths, Filter and Delay do not count either. Some actions, especially AI steps, can cost more than one task. The page lists Pro plans at $19.99 a month for 750 tasks on annual billing, rising with volume.
Make charges per credit. Its page says most actions consume 1 credit, including reading, searching, creating, updating and transforming data, and that a scenario can use anywhere from two credits to thousands in a single run depending on its complexity. Error handler modules and the Router module do not consume credits. Unused credits expire at the end of the term.
What this means in practice: a job with ten steps that runs 100 times a month is roughly 1,000 actions on either tool, so compare the real step count of your job rather than the headline plan size. Zapier's free built-in steps and Make's free router and error handler modules can change the maths, so list your real steps and estimate both before choosing.
Free plans
- Zapier Free: 100 tasks a month, Zaps limited to a trigger and one action, checks every 15 minutes, one seat.
- Make Free: 1,000 credits a month, plus a small storage and data transfer allowance.
For a one-off test, either is enough. For a real workflow that runs daily, the free tiers fill up quickly. Zapier's two-step limit rules out most useful automations.
Ease of use
This part is our judgement, not a vendor claim. Zapier is the easier start: you pick a trigger, pick an action, map fields and switch on. Make shows the whole flow as a canvas of connected modules, which is clearer once a job has branches, loops or several data sources, and harder on day one.
A rule of thumb that holds for most small teams:
- One trigger and one or two actions, run by a non-technical person: Zapier.
- A job that filters, loops through rows or sends data to several places: Make, or hand it to someone who builds these for a living.
Complexity and logic
Both tools support branching. Zapier has Paths and Filter as built-in tools. Make has a Router module and iterators and aggregators for working through lists of items. When a job has to process an order with ten line items, a canvas that shows each item moving through is easier to debug than a long linear Zap.
Error handling
Zapier has a custom error handling step, described in its help centre. You add an error handler to a step, and the Zap splits into a success path and an error path. The article notes limits: autoreplay turns off once a Zap with error handlers is published, and you cannot replay individual runs that have handlers.
Make documents several error handler types in its help centre: Ignore, Resume, Rollback, Commit and Break. Newer help pages use Skip for Ignore and Retry for Break. Break stores the remaining modules as an incomplete execution that can be retried, and Rollback reverts changes in modules that support transactions.
For a small business the practical question is simple: when a step fails at 2 a.m., who finds out? Whichever tool you choose, add an alert to the error path.
Integrations
Zapier lists 10,371+ apps and Make lists 3,500+, according to their own pages. The count matters less than whether your five apps are on the list. Check the exact apps and the exact actions you need, such as "update row" or "create invoice", because a listed app can still lack the action you want. When an app has no ready connector, both tools offer webhooks or a generic HTTP call, which need a little technical setup.
A word on n8n
n8n is a third option. Its pricing page counts an execution as a single run of the whole workflow, however many steps it has. It lists Starter at €20 a month for 2.5K executions on annual billing, and a free Community Edition you host yourself. Self-hosting means you handle servers, updates and backups, so it suits people with technical help.
Who each one suits
- Choose Zapier if you want to be live in an afternoon, your jobs are short and you rarely touch them.
- Choose Make if your jobs branch, loop or move a lot of data, and someone is happy to learn the canvas.
- Consider n8n if you have technical help and want to pay by run, not by step.
- Skip all three if the job is a single email after a form: your email tool probably already does it. See our email marketing and automation page.
If you are still deciding how your leads should be tracked, read CRM automation for small business first.
FAQ
Is Make cheaper than Zapier?
Not always. Zapier bills per successful task and does not charge for triggers or built-ins. Make bills per credit, with most actions costing 1. Which is cheaper depends on how many steps your jobs have and how often they run. Count your real steps and compare.
Does Zapier have a free plan?
Yes. The free plan includes 100 tasks a month, two-step Zaps, 15-minute polling and one seat. It suits a small test, not a busy workflow.
Which is easier for a beginner?
Zapier, in our experience, because the build is linear. Make takes longer to learn but shows complex jobs more clearly.
Can I switch from Zapier to Make later?
You can rebuild the job, but there is no one-click migration that we can cite, so expect to recreate each automation. Keep a written list of what each one does.
Do I own my automations if someone builds them for me?
You should. Ask for them to be built in your own account, and make sure you can see and edit every step. That is how we work.
What if a connected app has no ready connector?
Use a webhook or an HTTP request step if the app has an API. If it does not, you may need a different tool or a manual step.
How OnePDA can help
We build the first automation with you: lead tracking, order alerts, stock sync, a morning summary or checks on your email flows. Small builds start at €490, with a written scope and fixed price, testing on your data and a short guide for your team. Larger projects are quoted in writing after a call. Prices exclude VAT where it applies. Everything runs in your own accounts, and you pay for the tool subscriptions yourself. We cannot promise hours saved, and we tell you up front if a tool blocks outside access. See workflow automation or our prices.