Both Zapier and Make (formerly Integromat) let you automate tasks between your apps, no coding required. But they're built for different types of users. Here's the honest comparison that helps you pick the right tool and stop paying for the wrong one.
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Choose Zapier if you're new to automation, have simple workflows (2–3 steps), or want to get set up in under an hour. The learning curve is almost flat.
Choose Make if you're comfortable with tech, need complex multi-branch workflows, or are running 10,000+ operations per month and want to cut your automation bill by 60–80%.
Most small businesses start with Zapier and never need to switch. Only upgrade to Make if you're hitting Zapier's pricing ceiling.
| Feature | Zapier | Make | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 100 tasks/month, 5 Zaps | 1,000 ops/month, unlimited scenarios | Make |
| Paid plan (starter) | $19.99/mo, 750 tasks | $9/mo, 10,000 operations | Make |
| Ease of use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5), form-based steps | ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5), visual flowchart canvas | Zapier |
| App integrations | 6,000+ apps | 1,500+ apps | Zapier |
| Multi-step workflows | Yes (paid plans) | Yes (all plans) | Make |
| Conditional logic (if/then) | Yes, Filters & Paths | Yes, more powerful branching | Make |
| Error handling | Basic email alerts | Advanced, error handlers built in | Make |
| Templates library | 3,000+ pre-built Zaps | Fewer, growing library | Zapier |
| Support quality | Excellent (chat + email) | Good (community + tickets) | Zapier |
| Time to first automation | ~20–30 minutes | ~60–90 minutes | Zapier |
| Data processing/transforms | Moderate, Formatter tool | Advanced, built-in functions | Make |
| Visual workflow view | List-based (less visual) | Full visual canvas | Tie (preference) |
Zapier is the world's most popular automation tool, and for good reason. It's genuinely easy for non-technical users. When you create a Zap, you're guided through a clear step-by-step form: pick your trigger app, choose the event, connect your account, test it, pick your action, configure it, test it, turn it on. There's no coding, no flowcharts, no complex logic to manage unless you want it.
Our take: For 90% of small business owners, especially those without a tech background, Zapier is the right choice. Start here, and only consider switching to Make if you hit pricing limits.
Make uses a visual canvas where you drag and drop "modules" (apps) and draw lines between them to create workflows. It's more visually satisfying than Zapier's list-based interface, but also more complex to learn. The payoff is a dramatically lower price and more advanced capabilities like custom error handling, data aggregators, and complex branching logic.
Our take: Make is excellent if you're somewhat tech-savvy and want to keep automation costs low. If you're spending $50+/month on Zapier, rebuilding your workflows in Make will save you real money.
Here's the simple decision framework we give every small business owner who asks us this question:
