Make is the clear winner for 85% of businesses: it offers 5x–10x more operations per dollar, a vastly superior visual canvas, and advanced data array handling (iterators/aggregators). Zapier is only worth its high price if you rely on obscure SaaS apps exclusively found in its 7,000+ app catalog, or if your team requires a linear, zero-learning-curve builder.
Zapier and Make (formerly Integromat) are the two undisputed titans of cloud no-code automation. But despite both connecting apps via APIs, they approach workflow construction, data structures, and billing in fundamentally different ways.
Feature & Specification Comparison
| Feature | Make (Integromat) | Zapier | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $9 / month (10,000 ops) | $29.99 / month (750 tasks) | Make (by far) |
| App Integrations | 1,800+ apps | 7,000+ apps | Zapier |
| Workflow Architecture | Multi-branch visual canvas | Linear step list with paths | Make |
| Data Array Handling | Native Iterators & Aggregators | Requires Formatter loops | Make |
| Ease of Use for Beginners | Moderate (learning curve) | Very Easy (guided wizard) | Zapier |
| Webhook & Custom API | Full HTTP module included | Webhooks by Zapier (paid plan) | Make |
The Core Difference: Tasks vs Operations
The biggest source of confusion when comparing these two platforms is how they meter usage:
- Zapier “Tasks”: Zapier charges you per action step completed. Triggers do not count as tasks. If a filter stops a workflow at step 2, steps 3 through 5 are not billed. However, paths and multi-step zaps quickly consume your monthly allowance.
- Make “Operations”: Make charges you every time a module does work. If your scenario has 4 modules, each run consumes 4 operations. If a module processes 10 items in an array, each iteration may consume an operation.
The Math Reality: Because Make gives you 10,000 operations for $9/mo, while Zapier gives you only 750 tasks for $29.99/mo, Make delivers roughly 40x more raw executions per dollar on entry plans. Even factoring in Make’s higher operation burn on complex arrays, Make is almost always substantially cheaper.
Interface & Visual Builder
Make’s canvas allows you to drag, reposition, and branch scenarios organically. You can route leads to multiple CRMs, split data based on complex logic, and re-converge paths with aggregators.
Zapier uses a vertical timeline. While “Paths” allow conditional branching, building intricate multi-path flows quickly becomes cluttered and hard to audit visually.
When Should You Pick Zapier?
- You use niche industry software: If your business relies on specialized real estate, chiropractic, or regional accounting SaaS, Zapier is frequently the only tool with an official integration.
- Your team has zero technical inclination: Zapier’s step-by-step setup wizard requires almost no understanding of JSON objects or data mapping.
When Should You Pick Make?
- You process multi-item data: If you automate invoices, e-commerce orders with line items, or batch database syncs, Make’s array tools are unmatched.
- You want to reduce software spend: Teams spending $100–$400/mo on Zapier can routinely cut their invoice down to $16–$29/mo on Make.
Compare Real Costs for Your Workflow
See exactly how much you would spend on Zapier vs Make based on your expected monthly task volume.
Test Your Workflow Volume →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I migrate my Zaps to Make automatically?
There is no one-click migration tool, but rebuilding workflows in Make is straightforward. Most teams recreate their high-volume zaps in Make first to immediately reduce their Zapier tier.
Does Make have reliable uptime?
Yes. Make operates on robust cloud infrastructure. In our production monitoring, webhook delivery latencies and execution reliability are comparable to Zapier.