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Make.com vs Zapier Pricing: Which Is Cheaper in 2026?
If you’re comparing Make (formerly Integromat) and Zapier, the pricing difference is stark: Make costs 3-10x less at equivalent usage levels. But there’s more to the story than just price-per-operation.
The short version: Choose Make if budget matters. Choose Zapier only if you need integrations Make doesn’t have or enterprise features like SSO.
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Quick Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Make | Zapier | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 1,000 ops/month | 100 tasks/month | Make gives 10x more |
| Entry | $9/month (10K ops) | $20/month (750 tasks) | Make 55% cheaper |
| Mid | $29/month (47.5K ops) | $50/month (2K tasks) | Make 3x cheaper |
| High | $299/month (250K ops) | $600/month (50K tasks) | Make 2x cheaper |
Bottom line: At 10,000 operations, Make costs $9 vs Zapier’s ~$200. That’s a 22x difference.
Understanding the Pricing Models
How Make Counts Operations
Make counts operations — each time a module runs counts as one operation. A 5-step automation running once = 5 operations.
- Free: 1,000 operations/month
- Core: $9/month for 10,000 operations ($0.0009/op)
- Pro: $29/month for 47,500 operations ($0.0006/op)
- Teams: $299/month for 250,000 operations ($0.0012/op)
How Zapier Counts Tasks
Zapier counts tasks — each successful action counts as one task. A 5-step Zap running once = 5 tasks.
- Free: 100 tasks/month (very limited)
- Starter: $19.99/month for 750 tasks ($0.027/task)
- Professional: $49.99/month for 2,000 tasks ($0.025/task)
- Team: $599/month for 50,000 tasks ($0.012/task)
The Key Difference
Both count similarly (steps = count), but Make’s unit cost is dramatically lower:
- Make Core: $0.0009/operation
- Zapier Professional: $0.025/task
That’s a 28x difference in unit cost.
Free Tier Comparison
| Feature | Make Free | Zapier Free |
|---|---|---|
| Operations/Tasks | 1,000/month | 100/month |
| Scenarios/Zaps | 2 active | 5 active |
| Apps | 1,000+ | 6,000+ |
| Filters | Yes | Yes |
| Webhooks | Yes | No |
| Multi-step | Yes (up to ~10 steps) | Yes (up to 3 steps) |
Winner: Make’s free tier is actually usable for real automations. Zapier’s 100 tasks/month is just for testing.
Real-World Cost Examples
Example 1: Small Business (500 ops/day = 15,000/month)
Make:
- Core plan ($9) = 10,000 ops
- Overage: 5,000 × $0.0015 = $7.50
- Total: ~$16.50/month
Zapier:
- Professional ($50) = 2,000 tasks
- Overage: 13,000 × $0.02 = $260
- Total: ~$310/month
Savings: $293.50/month ($3,522/year)
Example 2: Growing Startup (2,000 ops/day = 60,000/month)
Make:
- Teams plan ($299) = 250,000 ops
- Total: $299/month
Zapier:
- Team plan ($599) = 50,000 tasks
- Overage: 10,000 × $0.01 = $100
- Total: ~$699/month
Savings: $400/month ($4,800/year)
Example 3: Enterprise (10,000 ops/day = 300,000/month)
Make:
- Teams + overage: $299 + 50,000 × $0.0012 = $359
- Total: ~$359/month
Zapier:
- Company plan (custom, ~$1,000+)
- Total: ~$1,000-1,500/month
Savings: $641-1,141/month ($7,700-13,700/year)
What You’re Paying Extra For With Zapier
If Make is so much cheaper, why does anyone use Zapier?
1. Integration Coverage
- Zapier: 6,000+ apps
- Make: 1,000+ apps
If your stack includes niche tools, Zapier might be your only option.
2. Enterprise Features
| Feature | Make | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| SSO (SAML) | Enterprise only | Team+ |
| Audit logs | No | Yes (Team+) |
| Admin controls | Basic | Advanced |
| Support | Priority | |
| SLA | None | 99.9% (Enterprise) |
3. Ease of Use
Zapier’s linear “if this then that” model is easier for beginners. Make’s visual scenario builder has more power but requires more learning.
Hidden Costs to Watch
Make Hidden Costs
- Data retention: Free/Core only keep data 3 days. Longer retention requires higher tier.
- Data stores: Limited data store usage on lower tiers
- Overages: $0.0015-0.002 per operation over limit (can add up fast)
Zapier Hidden Costs
- Overages: Expensive at $0.02-0.05/task
- Premium apps: Some apps require higher tiers
- Multi-step Zaps: Each step counts as a task (same as Make, but more expensive)
Who Should Pick What?
Choose Make If:
- Budget is a concern
- You’re running 1,000+ operations/month
- Your apps are in Make’s catalog
- You want visual workflow building
- You’re comfortable with slight learning curve
Choose Zapier If:
- You need a specific integration Make doesn’t have
- Enterprise features (SSO, audit logs) are required
- Your team needs the simplest possible setup
- You’re running <500 tasks/month (Zapier Starter is fine)
- You need 99.9% SLA guarantees
The Bottom Line
For 90% of users, Make is the better value. You get:
- 10x more operations on the free tier
- 3-10x lower costs at every paid tier
- More powerful visual workflows
- Webhooks on free tier
Only choose Zapier if:
- You need a specific integration Make lacks
- Enterprise security/compliance is required
- Your team refuses to learn a new tool
FAQ
Is Make harder to use than Zapier?
Slightly. Make’s visual builder has more options, which means a steeper learning curve. But most users are productive within a day.
Can I switch from Zapier to Make?
Yes, but you’ll need to rebuild your automations. There’s no automatic migration. Budget a few hours per complex scenario.
What happens if I exceed my limit?
- Make: Operations continue, you’re charged overage fees
- Zapier: Tasks stop running until you upgrade or the month resets
Which has better support?
Zapier has faster response times and priority support for paid tiers. Make’s support is email-based and slower.
Do both have free trials?
Both have free tiers. Make’s is usable for production; Zapier’s is mostly for testing.
Feature Comparison Beyond Pricing
Workflow Complexity
| Feature | Make | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Max steps | Unlimited | 100 |
| Branching | Full visual branching | Only via Paths (Pro) |
| Loops | Native iterator support | Only via Loop app |
| Error handling | Visual error routes | Basic retry logic |
| Scheduling | Per-scenario | Per-Zap |
Winner: Make handles complex workflows better.
Data Transformation
| Feature | Make | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Data mapping | Visual drag-and-drop | Step-by-step mapping |
| Functions | 200+ built-in | 50+ built-in |
| Array handling | Native iterators | Requires workarounds |
| JSON parsing | Native | Built-in but limited |
Winner: Make’s data transformation is more powerful.
Team Collaboration
| Feature | Make | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| User seats | 2 (Teams), unlimited (Enterprise) | Varies by plan |
| Shared scenarios | Yes | Yes |
| Permissions | Basic | Advanced (Team+) |
| Comments | Yes | No |
Winner: Zapier for larger teams, Make for small teams.
Migration Considerations
Switching From Zapier to Make
If you’re on Zapier and considering Make:
Time investment: Budget 2-4 hours per complex automation to rebuild.
What’s easy to migrate:
- Simple 2-3 step Zaps
- Common apps (Google, Slack, email)
- Basic triggers and actions
What requires rethinking:
- Multi-branch workflows (Make handles these differently)
- Formatter steps (Make’s functions work differently)
- Custom webhooks (need reconfiguration)
Migration tip: Start with your most expensive Zapier workflow. The cost savings will pay for your migration time.
Switching From Make to Zapier
Uncommon (Make is cheaper), but if you need a Zapier-only integration:
Time investment: Similar - 2-4 hours per complex scenario.
What’s easy:
- Linear workflows
- Common apps
- Basic schedules
What’s harder:
- Complex branching (Zapier’s Paths are more limited)
- Data loops (require Zapier’s Loop app)
- Error handling (less flexible in Zapier)
When the Math Changes
Scenario: You Only Use Zapier-Exclusive Apps
If your stack includes tools like:
- Airtable (better in Zapier)
- Webflow (native Zapier integration)
- Specific CRMs or industry tools
And Make doesn’t support them… Zapier might be worth the premium.
Scenario: Your Team Refuses to Learn New Tools
Zapier’s onboarding is faster. If your team will struggle with Make’s visual builder, the “ease tax” of Zapier might be worth it.
Scenario: You Need Enterprise Compliance
If you need:
- SOC 2 compliance documentation
- SSO across your org
- Detailed audit logs
- 99.9% SLA with penalties
Zapier’s enterprise tier provides these. Make is catching up but isn’t there yet.
Pricing Prediction for 2026
Based on pricing trends:
Make: Likely to maintain or slightly increase prices. Their value proposition is cost leadership.
Zapier: Expect continued premium pricing. They compete on breadth and enterprise features, not cost.
Prediction: The gap will remain or widen. Make will stay 3-10x cheaper at equivalent usage.
Quick Decision Matrix
| Your Situation | Choose |
|---|---|
| Budget-conscious, any size | Make |
| Running 1,000+ ops/month | Make |
| Complex multi-branch workflows | Make |
| Need self-hosting option | Make (but consider n8n) |
| Need specific app integration | Zapier (check catalogs first) |
| Enterprise compliance required | Zapier |
| Team of non-technical users | Zapier |
| Just testing automation | Make free tier |
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