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Short answer: choose Zapier if you want the easiest setup and the biggest library of app integrations, and you'll run a modest number of automations. Choose Make (formerly Integromat) if you want more power for less money, especially for multi-step workflows or higher volumes, and you're happy to spend an extra hour learning it.
Both tools connect your apps so work happens automatically: a form fills in your CRM, a new sale triggers a welcome email, a blog post becomes social media drafts. The biggest differences are pricing, how you build automations, and how they handle complex logic.
Verdict at a glance
| Zapier | Make | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Beginners, simple automations, widest app support | Multi-step workflows, higher volumes, tighter budgets |
| How you build | Step-by-step list | Visual canvas (drag-and-drop flowchart) |
| Pricing unit | Tasks (each action step that runs) | Operations (each module that runs) |
| Free plan | Limited tasks, simpler Zaps | Limited operations, multi-step allowed |
| App integrations | Largest library | Large, slightly smaller |
| Learning curve | Low | Medium |
| AI features | Built-in AI steps and AI-assisted Zap building | AI modules and integrations with major AI providers |
Pricing: what you'll pay at real usage
This is where most small businesses decide.
Both tools charge by how much your automations run. Zapier counts tasks; Make counts operations. In practice, Make is often cheaper for the same workload, especially as automations get longer or run more often. Zapier's higher price buys ease of use and more integrations.
| Workload | Zapier plan + monthly cost | Make plan + monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| 3 simple automations, ~500 runs/month | See site | See site |
| 5 multi-step automations, ~2,000 runs/month | See site | See site |
| 10 automations, ~10,000 runs/month | See site | See site |
Tip: whichever you choose, start on the free plan and watch your usage for two weeks before upgrading.
Ease of use
Zapier feels like filling in a form: choose a trigger app, choose an action, map the fields. Most people build their first Zap in 10 to 15 minutes. Its AI can also draft a Zap from a plain-English description.
Make shows your automation as a flowchart of connected circles. It's very clear once you understand it, and makes branching ("if this, do that, otherwise do something else") easy to see. Expect your first scenario to take 30 to 60 minutes.
Winner: Zapier.
Integrations
Zapier connects to more apps than any other automation tool. If you use niche or industry-specific software, check it's supported. Make covers all the mainstream small business tools (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Notion, HubSpot, Shopify, Stripe, Kit and more) and has an HTTP module for connecting almost anything with an API.
Winner: Zapier, though for most small businesses both cover every app you use. Check your 5 most important apps in both directories before deciding.
Complex workflows
For anything with branches, loops, filters or data transformation, Make shines: routers split a workflow into paths, iterators process lists item by item, and you can see the whole thing at once. Zapier supports paths, filters and formatting too, but long Zaps get harder to read and can cost more in tasks.
Winner: Make.
AI features
Both tools now include AI steps: summarise text, classify an email, extract data from a message or draft a reply, and both connect to OpenAI, Anthropic and other providers. Zapier also lets you describe an automation in plain English and builds a draft for you, which helps beginners.
Winner: tie, with a slight edge to Zapier for beginners.
Reliability and support
Both are mature, reliable platforms with error notifications and run history. Turn on error alerts in whichever you use, so a broken automation doesn't silently lose leads.
Who should choose Zapier
- You want automations running today with minimal learning
- You use niche apps that only Zapier supports
- You'll run a small number of simple automations
- Your time is worth more than the price difference
Start Zapier free (affiliate link)
Who should choose Make
- You want to automate more for less money
- Your workflows have several steps, branches or loops
- You run automations frequently (hundreds or thousands of times a month)
- You like seeing the whole process visually
Start Make free (affiliate link)
Our recommendation
For a small business just starting with automation, start with Zapier to get your first 2 or 3 automations running fast (our 10 Zapier + ChatGPT automations are a good place to begin). If your monthly bill starts to climb or your workflows get complex, move those workflows to Make. Many businesses end up using Make for heavy workflows and Zapier for quick one-off connections.
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FAQ
Is Make cheaper than Zapier?
Usually, yes, for the same amount of automation, especially multi-step workflows and higher volumes. Compare both pricing pages against your expected monthly runs.
Is Make harder to learn than Zapier?
A little. Zapier is quicker for your first automation; Make's visual builder takes an hour or two to get comfortable with, then it's very clear.
Can I use Zapier and Make together?
Yes. Some businesses use Zapier for quick connections to niche apps and Make for complex, high-volume workflows.
Does Make have a free plan?
Yes, Make has a free plan with a monthly operations limit. Check the current limits on its pricing page.
What is the best Zapier alternative?
Make is the most popular alternative for small businesses. Others include n8n (open source, can be self-hosted) and the built-in automations in tools like HubSpot, Notion and Kit.
