Make vs Zapier 2026: which is better?
Make and Zapier can both automate repetitive work, but they take different approaches. If you want powerful visual workflows for less money, I would start with Make. If the widest possible app ecosystem is your priority, Zapier deserves a closer look.
Mike Says is currently a Make affiliate, not a Zapier affiliate. If you sign up to Make through a labelled affiliate link and later make a qualifying purchase, I may earn commission at no extra cost to you. That relationship does not change the points where Zapier is stronger.
Fact-checked: 9 September 2026 against the companies' current published product and pricing pages. Prices can change; check the provider before paying.
Quick verdict
Make gives you a visual workflow canvas, 1,000 free credits per month and 3,000+ integrations. Zapier has the much larger app ecosystem at 9,000+ apps and may feel simpler for straightforward automations. For value and more involved workflows, Make is the one I would try first.
Make vs Zapier at a glance
| Category | Make | Zapier | My pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free usage | 1,000 credits/month | 100 tasks/month | Make |
| Free workflow limits | Visual scenarios; 15-minute minimum scheduled interval | Two-step Zap workflows | Make |
| App ecosystem | 3,000+ apps | 9,000+ apps | Zapier |
| Entry paid plan | Core: $12/month at 10k credits on monthly billing | Professional: starts $19.99/month | Make |
| Complex workflow visibility | Visual canvas with routes, modules and filters | Multi-step Zaps on Professional+ | Make |
| Best reason to choose | Visual control and value | Huge integration catalogue | Depends on your apps |
Make uses credits and Zapier uses tasks, so the usage numbers are not directly equivalent. The real cost depends on what your workflow actually does.
1. Pricing and free plans
Make: the Free plan currently includes up to 1,000 credits each month with no time limit. At 10,000 credits per month, Core is currently $12/month on monthly billing, Pro $21 and Teams $38. Make says annual billing is cheaper.
Zapier: Free currently includes 100 tasks per month and two-step Zaps. Professional starts at $19.99/month and adds multi-step Zaps, premium apps and webhooks. Zapier also offers yearly billing savings.
Winner: Make for starting value. The billing units differ, so I would not pretend 1,000 Make credits equals 1,000 Zapier tasks. But Make gives a new user considerably more room to experiment before paying.
2. Ease of use
Zapier's trigger-and-action approach is attractive when the job is simple: something happens in one app, then Zapier does something in another. Make is also no-code, but its visual canvas exposes more of the workflow at once.
That extra visibility is one of Make's strengths, although a completely new user may need a little longer to understand modules, routes, filters and data mapping.
Winner: Zapier for the simplest first automation; Make once you want more visual control.
3. Integrations
This is Zapier's clearest advantage. Zapier currently advertises 9,000+ app connections, while Make advertises 3,000+ pre-built apps.
Numbers are not everything: what matters is whether the exact trigger and action you need exists. Check your important apps before choosing either platform.
Winner: Zapier.
4. Complex workflows
Make is built around a visual-first canvas. You can see modules, branches and the movement of data through a scenario. It also includes routers and filters on its Free plan, while paid plans add features such as unlimited active scenarios and tighter scheduling.
Zapier supports multi-step workflows on Professional, so it is capable of much more than simple two-app automation. I still prefer Make's canvas when a workflow has several branches or needs troubleshooting because the structure is easier to see.
Winner: Make.
5. AI automation
Both platforms now go well beyond traditional app-to-app automation. Make promotes AI agents, AI apps, its AI Toolkit and MCP alongside its visual workflows. Zapier offers AI automation across its platform and separate products including Agents, Chatbots and MCP.
If your aim is to combine AI with a visible multi-step automation, Make is particularly interesting. If you already rely on Zapier's wider app ecosystem, Zapier's AI layer may fit naturally into that setup.
Winner: no universal winner. Choose around the workflow and apps you actually need, not the word “AI” on the pricing page.
Make pros and cons
Pros: generous free starting allowance; visual workflow builder; strong branching and filtering; 3,000+ apps; lower entry paid price than Zapier's Professional headline price.
Cons: the canvas can take longer to learn; credits are not always as simple as counting one completed automation; Zapier supports substantially more listed apps.
Zapier pros and cons
Pros: 9,000+ app connections; straightforward trigger/action model; strong choice when a niche app is missing elsewhere; mature automation ecosystem.
Cons: Free is limited to 100 tasks and two-step Zaps; multi-step Zaps require Professional; the entry paid headline price is higher than Make Core.
Which should you choose?
Choose Make if: you want to build multi-step automations visually, want more room to experiment for free, care about price, or expect workflows to branch and become more sophisticated.
Choose Zapier if: your must-have app is only available there, your automation needs are very straightforward, or the breadth of its 9,000+ app ecosystem matters more to you than Make's visual approach.
My recommendation: try Make free first
You don't need a paid plan to see whether Make suits you. Build one real workflow on the Free plan. If the visual approach works for you, you can decide later whether paying is worthwhile.
Ad · Try Make free →Affiliate link · I may earn commission from a qualifying purchase at no extra cost to you.
Final verdict
For most individuals, creators and small businesses choosing between the two today, I would start with Make. Its visual builder, free allowance and paid entry price make it a strong place to learn automation and grow into more complex workflows.
Zapier remains the better choice when integration breadth is decisive. Its 9,000+ app catalogue is a genuine advantage, and it would be misleading to ignore it just because Mike Says currently has a commercial relationship with Make.
Want a deeper look at Make itself? Read my Make.com review, or learn the basics in What is workflow automation?.