Make vs Zapier for beginners
We may earn a commission from some links. It never changes our picks. How we make money
We may earn a commission from some links. It never changes our picks. How we make money
Both connect your apps so repetitive work happens automatically, and both can add AI steps. Zapier is usually quicker for simple automations; Make gives you a visual canvas and more room for multi-step logic on a smaller budget.
Start with Zapier if…
You want the quickest route to a simple “when this happens, do that” automation, with the largest app library and an AI Copilot to help you build.
Start with Make if…
You want multi-step automations with branching on the free plan, and you like seeing every step laid out visually.
A useful first comparison
Pick one repetitive task, such as saving new form responses to a Google Sheet and emailing yourself a summary. Build it on both free plans with test data. Note how long setup took, how easy it was to fix a mistake and how many tasks or credits one run used.
EDITORIAL GUIDANCE · NOT A HANDS-ON BENCHMARK| At a glance | MakeProductivity | ZapierProductivity |
|---|---|---|
| A useful fit for | Building multi-step automations, including AI steps, on a visual canvas | Reducing repetitive app-to-app work |
| In plain English | A visual, no-code automation builder for connecting apps and AI tools into multi-step workflows. | Connect apps and build automated workflows, with AI features available across its products. |
| Getting started | Free plan | Free plan |
| Learning curve | Allow time for setup | Allow time for setup |
| What to watch | There is a learning curve, runs use credits and plans are listed in US dollars. Test every scenario before switching it on. | AI products and task limits have separate plan conditions; setup needs testing. |
| Paid pricing | Check current plans ↗ (opens in new tab) Prices, currency and tax vary by location. | Check current plans ↗ (opens in new tab) Prices, currency and tax vary by location. |
| Our first-step suggestion | Try Make on one small automate a task task. Review the result before upgrading. | Try Zapier on one small automate a task task. Review the result before upgrading. |
| Next step | Paid link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t change our recommendations. Affiliate disclosureTry Make ↗ (opens in new tab) | Try Zapier ↗ (opens in new tab) |
What these tools actually do
Automation tools watch for a trigger in one app (a new email, form response or spreadsheet row) and then perform actions in others (save a file, add a row, send a message, or ask an AI model to summarise something). Zapier calls these automations Zaps. Make (opens in new tab) (paid link: we may earn a commission) calls them scenarios and shows them as connected bubbles on a canvas.
Both are no-code, both have free plans and both now include AI features. The differences are in how you build, how usage is counted and what the free plan lets you do.
Side-by-side comparison
| Make | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Multi-step workflows with branching on a budget | Quick, simple automations with the widest app choice |
| How you build | Visual canvas of connected modules | Step-by-step list editor, plus AI Copilot and Canvas |
| Free plan | 1,000 credits a month; routers and filters; scheduled runs every 15 minutes at most | 100 tasks a month; two-step Zaps only; checks for new data every 15 minutes |
| Usage unit | Credits: most module actions use 1 credit; some AI features use more | Tasks: each successful action step usually uses 1 task; triggers and built-in tools don’t count |
| App library | 3,500+ apps listed on its pricing page | 9,000+ apps |
| Multi-step and branching | Included on Free (routers and filters) | Multi-step Zaps, Filters and Paths need a paid plan |
| Learning curve | Steeper: data mapping takes practice | Gentler for simple automations |
Who each is best for
Zapier: best for the simplest start
Zapier suits busy people and small businesses who want one or two dependable automations running quickly: save email attachments to Google Drive, add form responses to a spreadsheet, post a Slack message when a sale comes in. Its huge app library means the app you use is very likely supported, and Copilot can draft a Zap from a plain-English description. The free plan is a good test, but limited to two-step Zaps and 100 tasks a month, so most regular users end up on Professional. Read our Zapier profile.
Make: best for more complex workflows on a budget
Make suits people ready to go a step further: a form response that is summarised by an AI step, routed differently depending on the answer, then logged and emailed. Seeing the whole scenario on a canvas makes longer workflows easier to understand and fix. The free plan includes routers and filters, which Zapier keeps for paid plans. The trade-off is a steeper learning curve: mapping data from one module to the next takes practice, and you need to keep an eye on credits. Read our Make profile.
Pricing in plain English
| Plan | Make | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Free | US$0: 1,000 credits a month | US$0: 100 tasks a month, two-step Zaps |
| Entry paid | Core: check current pricing | Professional: US$19.99/month billed annually, or US$29.99 monthly (750 tasks) |
| Next step | Pro: check current pricing | Professional 2,000 tasks: US$49/month billed annually, or US$73.50 monthly |
| Teams | Teams: check current pricing | Team: from US$69/month billed annually, or US$103.50 monthly (2,000 tasks, 25 users) |
| Enterprise | Contact Make | Contact Zapier |
Prices checked on 14 October 2026 from the official pricing pages (make.com/en/pricing and zapier.com/pricing. Make’s pricing page did not display paid-plan figures to our check today, so its paid prices are marked “check current pricing”. Zapier lists prices in USD and can bill in AUD, converted at the exchange rate at the time of payment). Prices are shown as listed, usually in US dollars (USD). Australian GST and currency conversion may apply, and plans change often, so check current pricing on the provider’s site before you pay.
Usage is where costs really differ. Count the steps in your automation and multiply by how often it runs each month. A five-step workflow that runs 200 times a month is about 1,000 credits on Make (most modules use 1 credit) and about 800 tasks on Zapier (the trigger doesn’t count, and built-in tools such as Formatter and Filter are free), which would already exceed Zapier’s free plan and its entry Professional tier. AI steps can use more credits or tasks on both, so test with real data first.
Pros and cons
Make
✓ Pros
- Visual canvas shows every step and branch
- Routers and filters on the free plan
- 1,000 free credits a month
- Good value for multi-step, high-volume workflows
↳ Cons
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Credits run out if scenarios loop or run often
- Free scheduled runs no more often than every 15 minutes
- Smaller app library than Zapier
Zapier
✓ Pros
- Easiest way to build a simple automation
- 9,000+ apps
- AI Copilot builds Zaps from plain English
- Tables and Forms don’t use tasks
↳ Cons
- Free plan limited to two-step Zaps and 100 tasks
- Filters, Paths and multi-step Zaps need a paid plan
- Costs rise quickly with task volume
- Monthly billing costs more than annual
What about n8n and built-in automations?
If you’re comfortable with a more technical tool, n8n (opens in new tab) is a popular alternative that you can self-host. It is powerful but not where we’d send a complete beginner. Also check what your existing apps already do: Microsoft Power Automate comes with many Microsoft 365 plans, and Google, Notion and many CRMs have their own built-in automation features. Our beginner’s guide to AI automation tools covers these options.
Safety tips before you switch anything on
- Start small. Automate one task, test it with real data and check it again after a few days.
- Watch AI steps. AI can misread or invent details. Keep a person in the loop for anything sent to customers.
- Protect data. Only connect the accounts you need, and avoid sending sensitive personal information through AI steps.
- Set limits. Use error notifications and usage alerts so a broken automation doesn’t burn through your allowance.
Our verdict
For a first, simple automation, Zapier is the easiest place to start. If you want multi-step workflows with branching and AI steps without paying straight away, Make offers more on its free plan and is usually better value as your automations grow, as long as you’re willing to learn its canvas. Try the same task on both free plans; the one you can fix confidently when it breaks is the right one for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Make or Zapier better for beginners?
Zapier is usually easier for a first, simple automation. Make is better value for multi-step workflows with branching, but has a steeper learning curve.
Is Make cheaper than Zapier?
Often, for multi-step or high-volume workflows, because Make’s free plan includes 1,000 credits a month and routers and filters. Compare your own usage, and check current pricing on both sites.
How much does Zapier cost?
When we checked, Zapier Professional started at US$19.99 a month billed annually, or US$29.99 monthly, for 750 tasks. Team started at US$69 a month billed annually. Prices are in USD and GST may apply.
What is the difference between Make credits and Zapier tasks?
On Make, most module actions use 1 credit and some AI features use more. On Zapier, each successful action step usually uses 1 task, while triggers and built-in tools such as Formatter and Filter don’t count.
Can Make and Zapier use AI?
Yes. Both can add AI steps to automations. Zapier includes AI by Zapier on paid plans and Copilot to help you build. Make can call AI services in scenarios; some AI features use more credits.
Do I need to code?
No. Both are no-code tools, though Make’s data mapping takes more practice.
Popular AI tool comparisons
Start with a specific decision, then explore the differences in plain English.
Prices in US dollars; Australian GST and currency conversion may apply. Confirm the final price at checkout.
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