Make vs Zapier (2026): Which Automation Platform Is Better?

TL;DR

• Easiest setup: Zapier — linear workflows, AI Copilot, most integrations
• Best visual builder: Make — canvas-based scenarios with branching and error routes
• Best value: Make Core at $9/mo for 10K credits (Zapier is $19.99 for 750 tasks)
• Most integrations: Zapier with 7,000+ vs Make’s 3,000+
• Budget pick: n8n (free self-hosted) — see our n8n vs Zapier vs Make comparison

What happens when your Zapier bill hits $400 a month?

That’s not hypothetical — it’s what happens at 50,000 monthly tasks on Zapier’s pricing model. The same volume on Make costs approximately $29/month. The difference: $4,400+ per year.

The workflow automation market reached an estimated $27 billion in 2026 (Mordor Intelligence), growing at 9.4% CAGR. As businesses automate more processes, the choice between these two platforms increasingly comes down to a question of scale: Zapier’s simplicity works at low volumes, but Make’s pricing model dominates as workflows grow.

Zapier has automated 81 billion tasks for 3+ million users and generates approximately $310 million in annual revenue (SQ Magazine). Make offers 3,000+ integrations including 350+ AI-specific connectors and was recently enhanced with AI Agents and an MCP Server on all paid plans.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Pricing Comparison

Tier	Make	Zapier
Free	1,000 credits/mo, 2 scenarios	100 tasks/mo, two-step only
Entry Paid	Core: $9/mo (10K credits)	Professional: $19.99/mo (750 tasks)
Mid-Tier	Pro: $16/mo (10K credits, priority execution)	Team: $69/mo (2K tasks, 25 users)
Team	Teams: $29/mo (10K credits, roles/permissions)	—
Enterprise	Custom (SSO, 24/7 support)	Custom (admin controls, VPC)

Cost at Scale

The pricing difference becomes dramatic as automation volume grows:

Monthly Volume	Make (Core)	Zapier (Professional)	Savings with Make
1,000 actions	$9/mo	$19.99/mo	$11/mo ($132/yr)
10,000 actions	$9/mo	$100+/mo	$91+/mo ($1,092+/yr)
50,000 actions	$29+/mo	$400+/mo	$371+/mo ($4,452+/yr)

Important caveat: “Credits” (Make) and “tasks” (Zapier) are not directly equivalent. Make charges for every module action in a scenario — a 5-step workflow uses 5 credits per run. Zapier counts each successful action step but excludes built-in tools (Filter, Formatter, Path, Delay, Looping). The actual cost comparison depends on your workflow structure.

Pricing was last verified on February 19, 2026 from Make pricing and Zapier pricing.

Where Make Wins

Visual Workflow Control

Make’s canvas-based scenario builder lets you see your entire automation as a visual flowchart. Add branching paths (if/else), parallel execution, error routes, and iterators — all visible on a single canvas. Zapier’s linear model works for simple automations but becomes unwieldy when workflows require conditional logic or multiple outcomes.

Cost Efficiency at Scale

At $9/month for 10,000 credits, Make costs a fraction of Zapier at comparable volumes. For growing businesses that automate client onboarding, marketing workflows, or data pipelines, Make’s pricing model scales sustainably. Zapier’s per-task pricing creates cost pressure as automation adoption grows across a team.

Advanced Error Handling

When a step fails in Make, error routes let you define what happens next: retry, skip, alert, or route to a fallback workflow. This visual error handling is critical for production automations where failures need graceful recovery. Zapier offers basic retry but lacks Make’s visual error route system.

Where Zapier Wins

Integration Breadth

With 7,000+ app integrations, Zapier connects to roughly 2x more apps than Make. If you use niche industry tools, specialized SaaS products, or less common apps, Zapier is more likely to have a ready-made connector. Make’s 3,000+ integrations cover all major platforms but may require HTTP modules for niche tools.

Simplicity and Speed

Zapier’s linear workflow model is easier to understand: Trigger → Step 1 → Step 2 → Step 3. The AI-powered Copilot can build entire automations from natural language descriptions. Most simple Zaps take under 5 minutes to create. Make’s power comes with a steeper learning curve.

Bundled Tools

Zapier now includes Tables (database), Forms (data collection), and an MCP Server for AI agent integration on all plans at no extra cost. This turns Zapier from a pure automation tool into a lightweight business operations platform — useful for teams that need a simple database and form builder alongside their automations.

Who Should Choose What

If you need…	Choose	Why
Fastest first automation	Zapier	5-minute setup, AI Copilot builder
Complex branching logic	Make	Visual canvas with error routes
Cheapest at scale	Make	$9/mo for 10K credits vs $100+ on Zapier
Most app integrations	Zapier	7,000+ vs Make’s 3,000+
Training non-technical team	Zapier	Lower learning curve, guided templates
Production-grade error handling	Make	Visual error routes with fallbacks
AI-native automation	Make	AI Agents, AI Toolkit, 350+ AI connectors
Even cheaper self-hosted option	n8n	Free unlimited — see comparison

Methodology

We tested both platforms across identical automation scenarios covering CRM sync, email workflows, data pipelines, and multi-step conditional logic over a 30-day period. Pricing was verified from official vendor pages on February 19, 2026. Cost projections are based on monthly billing rates and standard tier pricing.

For the full three-way comparison including the self-hosted option, see n8n vs Zapier vs Make. For individual reviews: Make review and Zapier review.