Zapier vs Make for small businesses (2026)
Last updated October 18, 2026 · Prices and features change, so check the linked sources before you buy.
| Zapier | Make | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 100 tasks/mo, two-step Zaps only, checks every 15 min [1] | 1,000 credits/mo, 2 active scenarios, 15-min interval [2][3] |
| Entry paid plan | Professional $19.99/mo yearly ($29.99 monthly) for 750 tasks [1] | Core $9/mo yearly ($10.59 monthly) for 10,000 credits [3] |
| Team plan | Team from $69/mo yearly, 2,000 tasks, 25 users [1] | Teams $29/mo yearly for 10,000 credits [3] |
| What counts | Each successful action step. Triggers and built-in tools (Filter, Formatter, Paths, Delay) are free [1] | Each module action, including reading or searching data. Router and error handlers are free [2] |
| When you run out | Optional pay-per-task at 1.25× (yearly) or 2.5× (monthly) the base rate [1] | Scenarios stop until you buy more credits or upgrade [2] |
| AI | AI by Zapier steps on paid plans; Agents and Chatbots add-ons [1] | AI apps and Make AI Agents; AI features may use extra credits [2][4] |
| Apps | 9,000+ [1] | “More than 1,000” standard apps plus custom API connections [2] |
Tasks and credits aren’t one-to-one. Take a 4-step “new form entry → add to CRM → send email → post to Slack” automation. In Zapier that’s 3 tasks, because the trigger is free. In Make it’s roughly 4 credits, since the module that watches the form counts too. Make is still much cheaper at volume, but don’t compare 750 to 10,000 head-on.
Choose Zapier if…
- Nobody on the team wants to learn a visual builder. Zapier’s step-by-step editor and Copilot are easier to start with.
- You use a niche app. With 9,000+ integrations, it’s likelier to be there.
- You run under a few hundred automated actions a month.
Choose Make if…
- Someone on the team enjoys tinkering and you run thousands of actions a month.
- You need branching, loops or data transforms without paying for higher tiers.
- You’d rather automations stop than run up overage charges.
Adoptly earns no commission from any tool on this page (as of October 18, 2026). Prices are US list prices from each vendor’s site on the date above unless we label them otherwise.
FAQ
Is Make cheaper than Zapier?
Usually, yes. Make Core is $9 a month billed yearly for 10,000 credits. Zapier Professional is $19.99 a month billed yearly for 750 tasks. Make also counts trigger and read steps as credits, so the gap is smaller than the raw numbers suggest.
Do Zapier triggers count as tasks?
No. Zapier says triggers, polling and its built-in tools such as Filter, Formatter, Paths and Delay don’t count toward task usage.
What happens when I run out of Make credits?
Your scenarios stop until credits are added. You can upgrade or buy extra credits in bundles of 1,000 or 10,000, and paid plans can auto-purchase more.
Which is easier for a non-technical owner?
Zapier. Its editor is linear and it has more ready-made app connections. Make’s visual builder is more flexible but takes more learning.
Sources
- Zapier pricing (checked Oct 18, 2026)
- Make pricing and credits FAQ (checked Oct 18, 2026)
- Jetadmin: Make.com pricing in 2026 (third-party; captured plan prices Sep 26, 2026)
- Make Help: Credits