Make vs Zapier: The Real Comparison

I’ve used both Make (formerly Integromat) and Zapier for years. Built hundreds of automations in each.

Here’s the honest breakdown of when to use which.

The Quick Summary

Pricing: Make Wins Easily

This is the biggest difference.

Free Tier

Zapier: 100 tasks/month, 5 Zaps (automations) Make: 1,000 operations/month, unlimited scenarios

Make’s free tier is 10x more generous.

Paid Plans

Make is 3-5x cheaper at every level.

Why I switched to Make: I was paying $49/month on Zapier. Moved to Make for $9/month with MORE capacity. Same automations, lower cost.

Ease of Use: Zapier Wins

Zapier is simpler. Period.

Zapier’s approach:

• When THIS happens → Do THAT
• Linear, step-by-step
• Minimal learning curve
• Good for beginners

Make’s approach:

• Visual flowchart builder
• Multiple paths and branches
• More powerful but more complex
• Steeper learning curve

My honest take: If you’ve never built automations, start with Zapier. You can always switch to Make later. But if you’re comfortable with logic and flowcharts, Make’s visual builder is actually intuitive.

Power and Flexibility: Make Wins

Make can do things Zapier can’t (or makes difficult):

Routers and Branches

Make lets you split a workflow into multiple paths based on conditions. Zapier requires separate Zaps.

Example: When a form is submitted:

• If it’s a sales inquiry → notify sales AND add to CRM
• If it’s a support request → create ticket AND notify support
• If it’s spam → delete

In Make: One scenario with a router. In Zapier: Three separate Zaps.

Iterators (Loop Over Data)

Processing multiple items? Make handles it natively. Zapier’s loops are clunky.

Error Handling

Make shows exactly where errors occur and lets you handle them. Zapier’s error handling is basic.

Data Transformation

Make has better built-in functions for manipulating data - dates, text, arrays, JSON.

App Integrations

Zapier: 6,000+ apps Make: 1,500+ apps

Zapier has more integrations, but the gap is smaller than it looks. Make has all the major apps. You’re unlikely to hit integration issues with either.

Missing something? Both support webhooks for custom connections.

Real World Comparison

Simple automation: Email → Spreadsheet

When someone fills out my contact form:

1. Add their info to a spreadsheet
2. Send me a notification

Zapier: 5 minutes to set up. Simple, works perfectly. Make: 5 minutes to set up. Also simple.

Winner: Tie for simple automations.

Medium automation: CRM → Email Sequence

When a deal moves to “Proposal Sent”:

1. Wait 3 days
2. Check if deal status changed
3. If not, send follow-up email

Zapier: Possible but requires Paths (paid feature) and delay (paid feature). Make: Built-in delays, conditions, and scheduling.

Winner: Make - more flexible and cheaper.

Complex automation: Multi-step workflow

When an order is placed:

1. Check inventory
2. If in stock → fulfill, update inventory, email customer
3. If out of stock → notify supplier, email customer different message
4. Log everything to spreadsheet

Zapier: Requires multiple Zaps, Paths, and careful coordination. Make: One scenario with routers and conditions. Clean and maintainable.

Winner: Make - significantly easier for complex workflows.

When to Use Each

Choose Zapier if:

• You’re new to automation
• Your automations are simple (trigger → action)
• You need a specific rare integration
• Your company already uses Zapier
• You value simplicity over power

Choose Make if:

• Budget matters (most people)
• You need complex workflows
• You’re comfortable with visual logic
• You process high volumes
• You want more control over data

My Personal Setup

I use Make for 90% of automations. It’s cheaper and more powerful.

I keep a Zapier free account for the occasional integration Make doesn’t have.

Migration: Zapier to Make

If you’re switching:

1. List your current Zaps
2. Identify equivalents in Make (most apps are covered)
3. Rebuild in Make (often faster once you know the interface)
4. Run both in parallel briefly
5. Cancel Zapier

It took me a weekend to migrate 15 automations. Worth it for the cost savings.

The Verdict

For most people: Make

Unless you specifically need Zapier’s simplicity or a rare integration, Make gives you more power for less money.

For beginners: Zapier free tier

Learn automation basics, then graduate to Make when you hit limits or want more power.

For enterprise: Evaluate both

At enterprise scale, other factors (security, compliance, support) matter more than price. Both have enterprise offerings.

Bottom Line

Make is better for:

• Power users
• Complex workflows
• Budget-conscious users
• High volume automations

Zapier is better for:

• Beginners
• Simple automations
• Rare integrations
• Teams already invested in Zapier

For most readers, I recommend starting with Make’s free tier. 1,000 operations per month is enough to test real workflows and see if automation helps your business.