Side-by-side comparison
Make vs Zapier: which automation platform fits creator workflows?
Make and Zapier are the two most common no-code automation platforms for creators. Both connect your tools, but they bill differently, handle complex flows differently, and target different skill levels. This comparison uses verified 2026-08-13 pricing from both official pages.
Comparison table
The same five fields are shown for both products so the comparison does not quietly favor one side.
| Decision | Make | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Business teams and non-developers who want to visually automate multi-app workflows and build AI agents without writing code. | Creators and small teams who want app-to-app automation (email, sheets, social, storage) without writing code or self-hosting — and who prefer predictable task-based pricing over credit systems. |
| Core uses | Multi-app workflow automation with 3,000+ pre-built apps, Building AI agents and agentic automation, Social media posting and content creation workflows, Lead management and email marketing automation, Sales, finance, and HR process automation, Data integration between SaaS tools via scenarios | Publish video to multiple platforms, Sync leads from forms to CRM/email, Trigger AI video generation from new uploads, Send Slack/Discord alerts on channel activity |
| Pricing note | Free plan: US$0/mo with up to 1,000 credits/month and no time limit. Paid plans (price for 10,000 credits/month, per make.com/en/pricing): Core US$12/mo, Pro US$21/mo, Teams US$38/mo, Enterprise custom pricing. Credit tiers range from 10k up to 8M+ credits/month, and paying annually saves 15% or more compared to monthly billing. | All prices USD, verified live on zapier.com/pricing 2026-08-13 (yearly billing shown by default, saves 33%). Free: $0 — 100 tasks/mo, 2-step Zaps, unlimited Zaps/Tables/Forms, Copilot Beta, 15-min polling, 1 seat; premium apps not included. Professional (annual, 1 seat) from $19.99/mo (750 tasks); task tiers: 2K $49, 10K $129, 100K $489, 1M $2,199/mo. Team (annual) from $69/mo (2,000 tasks); tiers: 10K $169, 100K $599, 1M $2,499/mo; 25 seats, shared connections, SAML SSO, priority support. Enterprise: contact sales (unlimited users, SCIM, audit logs, custom data retention). Add-ons: Agents free (400 activities/mo) or Pro $400/yr; Chatbots free (2) / Pro $160/yr / Advanced $800/yr. New accounts get a 14-day Professional trial; 15% nonprofit discount. |
| Main checks | Free plan is limited to 1,000 credits/month with a 15-minute minimum interval between runs Each module action in a scenario counts as one credit, so usage costs scale with workflow complexity Advanced features (custom functions, enterprise app integrations, 24/7 support, overage protection) are Enterprise-only Paid plan prices are quoted per 10,000 credits/month and scale with the credit volume selected | Task-based usage: every successful Zap action consumes from the task pool; AI/code steps and some connectors consume at higher rates Free plan: 100 tasks/mo, 2-step only, premium apps excluded, Copilot daily limit Polling caps: 15 min Free, 2 min Professional, 1 min Team/Enterprise Hitting the task limit pauses Zaps unless pay-per-task billing is enabled (higher per-task rate — surprise overage risk) Zapier Agents on Enterprise don't support app/action restrictions; AI output is non-deterministic |
| Pricing checked | Aug 13, 2026 | Aug 13, 2026 |
The short answer
Zapier is the default for non-technical teams: 9,000+ apps, task-based pricing, and a free plan that covers light automation. Make is stronger for creators who need visual, branching workflows with more credits per dollar on paid plans — its free plan (1,000 credits/month) is much more generous than Zapier's 100 tasks, and the visual editor handles loops and routers naturally.
Pricing model
Zapier Free: 100 tasks/month, 2-step Zaps. Professional from $19.99/month (multi-step, unlimited premium apps). Team from $69/month (25 users, SAML SSO). Yearly billing saves 33%.
Make Free: 1,000 credits/month, no time limit. Core $9/month, Pro $16/month, Teams $29/month (all per official pricing page).
Zapier counts each task in a workflow; Make counts operations/credits. Complex flows consume both faster, but Make's credit economy is more generous at entry levels.
Biggest differences
Ecosystem: Zapier 9,000+ apps vs Make ~2,000+ (still large but narrower).
Editor: Make's visual canvas is built for complex branching and error handling; Zapier leans on linear steps with filters and paths.
AI: Zapier ships Copilot, AI fields, chatbots, agents, MCP and SDK; Make has AI agents too but Zapier's AI product surface is broader.
Self-hosting: neither is self-hostable — n8n covers that case (see the n8n comparison).
Which creator should choose Make?
Choose Make when you need visual multi-branch automation, want the more generous free tier (1,000 credits vs 100 tasks), or are comfortable with a steeper initial learning curve for richer flows.
Which creator should choose Zapier?
Choose Zapier when app coverage is the priority (9,000+), you want the safest no-code default with strong support and enterprise features (SSO), or you already use Zapier's AI products (Copilot, chatbots, agents).
Pricing comparison
Both platforms change pricing frequently. Verified 2026-08-13: Zapier Free 100 tasks / Professional $19.99 / Team $69; Make Free 1,000 credits / Core $9 / Pro $16 / Teams $29. Check the official pricing pages before committing.
How to choose
Choose Make if…
Business teams and non-developers who want to visually automate multi-app workflows and build AI agents without writing code.
Choose Zapier if…
Creators and small teams who want app-to-app automation (email, sheets, social, storage) without writing code or self-hosting — and who prefer predictable task-based pricing over credit systems.
Questions creators ask
- Is Zapier cheaper than Make?
- At entry level Make is cheaper: its paid tiers start at $9/month vs Zapier's $19.99, and the free plan gives 1,000 credits vs 100 tasks. For heavy, multi-branch automation Make usually delivers more per dollar.
- Can I migrate from Zapier to Make?
- Yes — both export/import common integrations, but you rebuild the logic: Make's canvas model differs from Zapier's linear steps. Budget time to re-map error handling and routing.
- Which has more integrations?
- Zapier leads with 9,000+ apps; Make has a large but smaller catalog (~2,000+). If a specific app is only on Zapier, that settles it.
Continue the decision
Use the source-checked profiles and workflow guide before selecting a paid plan.
Sources
Verify changing features, pricing, and usage rights before purchasing.