Automation Updated

Zapier vs Make: Which automation tool is better for your workflows in 2026?

Choose Zapier for simplicity and app coverage; choose Make for complex visual workflows. Both platforms connect hundreds of apps and automate repetitive tasks, but they feel very different in how you build and manage workflows. This guide compares Zapier vs Make so you can decide which one fits your stack and your way of working. Skip to the verdict if you are short on time. For deeper coverage of each tool, read the full Zapier review or the full Make.com review.

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Quick comparison: Zapier vs Make

Use Zapier if you want the easiest possible way to automate common SaaS workflows with a step-by-step interface and huge app coverage. Use Make if you want a more visual, flexible canvas for complex multi-step automations and are happy with a steeper learning curve in exchange for power.

Feature / Aspect Zapier Make
Ease of use Very beginner-friendly; step-by-step builder that feels like filling in a form More visual and powerful, but can feel overwhelming at first for non-technical users
Workflow complexity Great for straightforward multi-step workflows with some branching and filters Better for complex automations with many steps, branches, and data transformations
Interface Linear list of steps; each action follows the previous one Node-based canvas where you can see and rearrange modules visually
Pricing logic Priced around tasks; costs scale with the number of steps run each month Priced around operations and scenarios; often more flexible for complex or high-volume workflows
Integrations Over 6,000 native app integrations — the largest directory in automation Over 1,500 pre-built integrations with strong support for custom API calls
Best for Non-technical founders, marketers, ops teams, and agencies using common SaaS tools Power users and teams that want a visual canvas and more control over data and branching
Learning curve Low; most users can build their first Zap in minutes Moderate to steep; the canvas is powerful but takes time to master

What is Zapier?

Zapier is a no-code automation platform built around "Zaps": linear workflows made from triggers and actions. It focuses on simplicity and wide app support, making it ideal for non-technical users who live inside popular SaaS tools. When something happens in one app (a trigger), Zapier automatically performs one or more actions in other apps — no code required.

Read our full Zapier review for a detailed breakdown of features, pricing, and our hands-on verdict.

What is Make?

Make (formerly Integromat) is a visual automation platform that lets you design workflows as flow-chart-style "scenarios" on a canvas. It is aimed at users who want to see data moving between apps, build more complex branching logic, and fine-tune how their workflows behave. Make is more powerful than Zapier for complex automations, but requires more time to learn.

Read our full Make.com review for a detailed breakdown of features, pricing, and our hands-on verdict.

Key differences between Zapier and Make

Zapier and Make share the same goal but take different approaches. Here are the five differences that matter most for choosing between them:

Ease of use
Zapier's step-by-step builder is one of the most beginner-friendly interfaces in automation — most users can build their first Zap in minutes. Make's canvas is more powerful but takes longer to learn.
Workflow complexity
Zapier is excellent for straightforward linear automations. Make is the better choice when you need complex branching, loops, and data transformations that are hard to express in a linear list.
Interface
Zapier uses a linear step-by-step editor. Make uses a visual node-based canvas where you can see the whole automation at once and rearrange modules freely.
Pricing logic
Zapier prices around tasks — each step in a Zap counts as a task. Make prices around operations — each module run counts as one operation. A "task" in Zapier is roughly equivalent to an "operation" in Make, so volume matters for both. Make is often more cost-effective for complex multi-step workflows.
App coverage
Zapier has a significantly larger native integration library (6,000+ apps vs Make's 1,500+). Both support custom API calls for tools not in their directories.

Who should choose Zapier?

Zapier is the right choice if you want to get automations running quickly without reading much documentation. Its step-by-step interface, guided setup, and enormous app directory make it the fastest path from idea to working automation for most non-technical users.

  • Non-technical founders and operators who want basic automations running in minutes without learning a new tool.
  • Marketing and ops teams automating standard business tasks: capturing leads, updating CRMs, sending notifications, and syncing data between popular apps.
  • Teams with limited engineering resources who want automation to stay "self-serve" without depending on a developer.
  • Users who value a polished, guided experience more than deep customization or visual control.

Try Zapier →

Who should choose Make?

Make is the better choice when your workflows are complex, with many steps, branches, and conditions that are hard to express in a linear list. Its visual canvas makes it easier to reason about complicated automations, and its pricing is often more efficient for high-volume or multi-step workflows.

  • Power users and technical operators who are comfortable thinking in terms of data flows and logic.
  • Teams with complex workflows that involve many steps, branches, and conditions that are hard to manage in a linear editor.
  • Users who want a visual canvas where they can see the whole automation at once and debug by inspecting each module.
  • Teams optimising for value who want to squeeze more out of each operation and plan for larger or more complex automations over time.

Try Make →

Pricing comparison: Zapier vs Make

Zapier pricing

  • Free tier with limited tasks and basic Zaps — useful for testing but too small for most serious business use.
  • Paid plans (from around the $19.99/month range on annual billing) that scale based on monthly task limits and advanced features like multi-step Zaps, paths, and team features.
  • Costs can climb quickly as your number of automations and task volume grows.

Make pricing

  • Free or low-cost entry tiers with limits on operations and active scenarios.
  • Paid plans that scale based on operations, data transfer, and number of active scenarios.
  • Often more cost-effective for complex workflows with many steps, but you need to keep an eye on operation usage.

A "task" in Zapier is roughly equivalent to an "operation" in Make — both count each step your automation runs, which is why volume matters for pricing. For complex multi-step workflows, Make's pricing model is typically more efficient.

Pros and cons

Zapier: pros and cons

Pros

  • Extremely easy to learn and use, even for non-technical people
  • Huge app directory with strong coverage of mainstream SaaS tools
  • Great for standard business automations and quick wins
  • Mature platform with solid reliability

Cons

  • Pricing can get expensive at higher task volumes
  • Linear builder can become hard to manage for very complex workflows
  • Less flexibility than more technical tools for custom integrations and logic

Make: pros and cons

Pros

  • Powerful visual canvas that makes complex workflows easier to see and reason about
  • Strong support for branching logic, data transformations, and multi-step processes
  • Often better value for users running complex or high-volume automations
  • Good fit for power users and teams who want to push automation further

Cons

  • Steeper learning curve for non-technical users
  • Interface can feel busy or overwhelming at first
  • Requires more discipline to keep large scenarios organized and maintainable

FAQ: Zapier vs Make

Is Zapier easier to use than Make?

Yes. Zapier's step-by-step builder is one of the most beginner-friendly interfaces in automation. Make has a more powerful visual canvas but can feel overwhelming for non-technical users at first.

Which is cheaper, Zapier or Make?

Make is generally more cost-effective for complex or high-volume workflows because its operation-based pricing rewards multi-step automations. Zapier's task-based pricing can climb quickly as your automation volume grows.

Can Make do everything Zapier can?

Make can replicate most Zapier workflows and often goes further with branching logic and data transformation. However, Zapier has a larger native app directory, so some integrations may only be available on Zapier.

Which has more integrations, Zapier or Make?

Zapier has a significantly larger native integration library — over 6,000 apps compared to Make's 1,500+. Both support custom API calls for tools not in their directories.

Is Make better than Zapier for complex workflows?

Yes. Make's visual canvas and support for branching, looping, and data transformation make it better suited to complex multi-step automations than Zapier's linear builder.

Can I use both Zapier and Make at the same time?

Yes. Many teams use Zapier for simple point-to-point integrations and Make for more complex automations that benefit from a visual canvas and richer logic.

What is the difference between a Zap and a Make scenario?

A Zap is Zapier's term for a linear automation workflow made of a trigger and one or more actions. A scenario is Make's equivalent — a visual flow-chart-style automation that can include branches, loops, and data transformations.

Which is better for non-technical founders?

Zapier is generally better for non-technical founders because its step-by-step interface requires no understanding of data flows or logic. Make is more powerful but has a steeper learning curve.

Does Zapier or Make have a free plan?

Both have free tiers. Zapier's free plan covers basic single-step Zaps with limited monthly tasks. Make's free plan allows a small number of operations and active scenarios per month.

Can I migrate from Zapier to Make?

There is no automatic migration tool. You would need to recreate your Zaps as Make scenarios manually, which is straightforward for simple workflows but takes more effort for complex ones.

Our verdict: Zapier vs Make

Choose Zapier if…

  • You want to automate common business tasks quickly with minimal setup time
  • Your team is non-technical and needs a tool they can confidently use without help
  • You rely on a large ecosystem of prebuilt integrations for popular apps
Try Zapier →

Choose Make if…

  • You need sophisticated, multi-step workflows with lots of branching and data manipulation
  • You want a visual canvas that makes complex automations easier to understand and maintain
  • You want to optimise for flexibility and long-term automation depth rather than the simplest possible UI
Try Make →

Can you use both? Yes. Many teams start with Zapier for quick wins and later add Make for more complex automations. You might keep Zapier for simple point-to-point workflows and use Make for heavy, branching processes that benefit from a visual canvas.

For a deeper look at each tool, read the full Zapier review or the full Make.com review.

Affiliate disclosure: ToolStackChoice.com may earn a commission if you purchase through the links above. This does not affect our editorial independence or scoring.

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