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

By AdAI Research Team | February 25, 2026 | 9 min read

Quick Verdict

For absolute beginners who want the simplest setup possible, choose Zapier. For businesses that need complex workflows, better pricing, or more control over data transformations, choose Make. Make offers significantly more value per dollar for most SMB use cases.

Choose Zapier if:

You are brand new to automation, use niche software that might not be on Make, or want the simplest possible setup with native AI actions built in.

Choose Make if:

Budget matters, you need complex workflows with branching or loops, or you plan to scale to dozens of automations. Make is 50-70% cheaper at equivalent usage.

Key Takeaways

Zapier is the easiest automation tool on the market. If simplicity is your top priority, it wins.
Make is 50-70% cheaper than Zapier at equivalent usage levels and handles complex workflows better.
Zapier has 7,000+ integrations versus Make at 1,500+. For rare or niche apps, Zapier has better coverage.
Make supports branching, looping, and parallel paths. Zapier is mostly linear (step by step).
Both offer free tiers. Start with whichever feels more intuitive and switch later if needed.

Feature	Zapier	Make
Starting price	Free / $19.99/mo (Professional)	Free / $9/mo (Core)
Ease of use	10/10 (simplest on market)	8/10 (visual but more complex)
Integrations	7,000+ apps	1,500+ apps
Workflow complexity	Linear (step-by-step)	Branching, looping, parallel paths
AI capabilities	AI actions (ChatGPT, Claude built-in)	HTTP modules for any AI API
Free tier	100 tasks/month, 5 Zaps	1,000 ops/month, 2 scenarios
Error handling	Basic (retry, alert)	Advanced (error routes, fallbacks)
Data transformation	Limited (Formatter steps)	Extensive (built-in functions)
Pricing model	Per task (each step counts)	Per operation (more generous)
Best for	Beginners, simple automations	Complex workflows, power users

Where Zapier Wins

Ease of use

Zapier is the gold standard for simplicity. Its wizard-style setup walks you through each step: choose a trigger app, choose a trigger event, connect your account, choose an action app, map the fields, and turn it on. A first-time user can build a working automation in under 5 minutes. Make is visual and powerful, but the canvas interface has a steeper learning curve.

Integration breadth

Zapier connects to over 7,000 apps, nearly five times Make's library. If you use niche industry software (specific dental practice management tools, boutique CRMs, or regional accounting platforms), Zapier is far more likely to have a native integration. Make covers all the major platforms but may require workarounds for less common tools.

AI actions

Zapier recently added native AI actions that let you use ChatGPT, Claude, and other models directly within your automations without configuring API keys. You simply add an "AI by Zapier" step, write your prompt, and the AI processes your data. Make can do the same via HTTP modules, but it requires more manual configuration.

Where Make Wins

Pricing

Make is dramatically cheaper for most use cases. Its free tier offers 1,000 operations per month (versus 100 tasks on Zapier). At paid tiers, Make at $9/month provides 10,000 operations. Zapier at $19.99/month provides 750 tasks. The pricing model also differs: Zapier charges per step in a workflow, while Make is more generous in how it counts operations. For a growing business running dozens of automations, Make can cost 50-70% less than Zapier.

Workflow complexity

Make's visual canvas supports branching (if/then logic with multiple paths), parallel execution (doing two things simultaneously), iterators (looping through lists), and error-specific handling routes. Zapier workflows are mostly linear: trigger, then step 1, then step 2, then step 3. For complex business logic, Make is significantly more capable.

Data transformation

Make includes extensive built-in functions for text manipulation, date formatting, math operations, and data structure changes. You can transform data between steps without external tools. Zapier handles basic formatting but requires additional "Formatter" steps that count toward your task limit for anything complex.

Pricing Breakdown

Tier	Zapier	Make
Free	100 tasks/mo, 5 Zaps	1,000 ops/mo, 2 scenarios
Starter/Core	$19.99/mo (750 tasks)	$9/mo (10,000 ops)
Professional/Pro	$49/mo (2,000 tasks)	$16/mo (10,000 ops, more features)
Team	$69/mo (unlimited users)	$29/mo (unlimited users)

Prices as of February 2026. Both platforms offer annual billing discounts of approximately 20%.

AdAI's Recommendation

Choose Zapier if...

You are brand new to automation and want the simplest possible experience. You use niche software that might not be on Make. You want native AI actions without configuring API keys. You are building simple, linear automations (5 steps or fewer).

Choose Make if...

Budget matters and you want more automation for less money. You need complex workflows with branching, loops, or parallel paths. You are comfortable with a slightly steeper learning curve in exchange for more power. You plan to scale to dozens or hundreds of automations.

Our overall pick for SMBs: Make

For most small businesses building 5-20 automations, Make offers the best balance of capability and cost. The learning curve is modest (1-2 hours), and the cost savings compound as your automation library grows. Start with Make, and only switch to Zapier if you need a specific integration that Make does not support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zapier or Make cheaper?

Make is significantly cheaper for most use cases. Make offers 1,000 operations/month free versus Zapier 100 tasks. At paid tiers, Make at $9/month gives 10,000 operations. Zapier at $19.99/month gives 750 tasks. Make also counts operations differently: Zapier charges per step in a workflow, while Make is more generous with what counts as an operation. For a 5-step automation running 100 times/month, Zapier uses 500 tasks. Make uses roughly 500 operations but at a lower per-operation cost.

Can I switch from Zapier to Make?

Yes. There is no automatic migration tool, but most simple automations (3-5 steps) can be rebuilt in Make in 15-30 minutes. Make has equivalents for nearly all Zapier integrations, though the naming differs (Zapier calls them "Zaps" and Make calls them "Scenarios"). Start by identifying your most critical automations and rebuild those first.

Which is better for AI automation workflows?

Make has an edge for complex AI workflows because it supports branching, looping, and parallel execution. You can build workflows where an AI processes a document, then conditionally routes the output to different actions based on the results. Zapier is catching up with AI actions and can handle simpler AI integrations well. For basic "send this to ChatGPT and put the result in a spreadsheet" tasks, either works fine.

Do I need a developer to use either platform?

No. Both are designed for non-technical users. Zapier is the easier of the two, with a wizard-style setup that walks you through each step. Make uses a visual canvas that takes slightly more learning but offers more flexibility once you are comfortable. Most users are productive with Zapier in 30 minutes and with Make in 1-2 hours.