Head-to-head
Zapier vs Make: which one in 2026?
Zapier and Make are hosted no-code automation platforms that move data between business apps when a trigger fires. Zapier bills in tasks and publishes dollar prices for its first two paid plans. Make bills in credits, draws flows on a canvas with routers, and did not show dollar prices on the pricing page we read.
Verdict
Zapier edges ahead for most buyers because its prices are readable, its team features are listed by plan and overflow behavior is spelled out. Make is the stronger fit when scenarios branch and handle failures, since routers and error handlers are free of credit charges. Price one real workflow in both free plans, count the steps, and compare the expected monthly usage against each unit before choosing.
Zapier and Make side by side
| Zapier | Make | |
|---|---|---|
| Price entry | $29.99 per month (Pro, 750 tasks, billed monthly) | Quoted |
| Billing unit | Tasks. Every step in a Zap and every external connector call uses tasks, though the rate varies with AI model tier, code runtime and connector type. | Credits. Most actions cost one credit, some advanced AI features cost more, and Router and error-handler modules consume none. |
| Free plan | Free forever with 100 tasks per month, unlimited Zaps, Tables and Forms, two-step Zaps and a 15-minute polling time. | Free plan with 1,000 credits per month, 1 MB of data storage and one data store. |
| Published paid prices | Professional starts from $19.99 per month and Team from $69 per month, with yearly billing saving 33% on the pricing page. | Core, Pro and Teams exist, but the page we read gave no dollar amounts for them. Annual billing is stated to cost less than monthly. |
| Running out of quota | Hitting the task limit moves the account to pay-as-you-go unless you turn that off or move to a higher tier. | Scenarios stop until credits are added. Webhooks queue up to a limit, and extra credits come in bundles of 1,000 or 10,000. |
| Unused allowance | The pricing page did not say what happens to unused tasks at month end, so check before committing to a large tier. | Unused credits expire at the end of the term. Extra credits expire after one month on monthly plans. |
| Team and admin features | Team adds 25 users, shared Zaps and app connections, and SAML SSO. Enterprise adds unlimited users, SCIM provisioning and an audit log. | Start-up offer gives eligible companies under 20 employees 50% off Business. Seat limits per plan were not shown on the page we read. |
| Compliance statements | The security page was not checked for this comparison, so confirm certifications and data location with Zapier directly. | Make states ISO 27001 for its security program, SOC 2 Type II and SOC 3 audits, and GDPR adherence. No EU region is named. |
| Payment methods | Billing currency can be switched between USD, EUR, GBP and many others on the pricing page. | Core, Pro and Teams accept cards, ACH direct debit and Google Pay. Enterprise can pay by wire transfer after invoice. |
Where each one wins
Zapier wins on
- Dollar prices for Free, Professional and Team are printed on the page, so a budget can be drafted before talking to anyone.
- Team plan includes SAML SSO and shared connections for up to 25 users, with Enterprise adding SCIM.
- Overflow switches to pay-as-you-go by default, so a busy month does not silently halt automations.
Make wins on
- Router and error-handler modules cost no credits, which helps flows that branch and recover from failures.
- Free plan allowance of 1,000 credits is ten times Zapier's 100 free tasks.
- Security page names ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II and SOC 3, which gives a procurement team something concrete to cite.
Which to pick
Pick Zapier if
You want published prices, a gentle editor for colleagues outside IT, and SSO on a mid-sized team plan without a sales call.
Pick Make if
Your flows branch, loop over lists or need explicit error routes, and you are willing to confirm paid pricing with Make before budgeting.
Each tool in context: Zapier, Make, and the full Best Workflow Automation Software in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Make cheaper than Zapier?
We could not confirm it. Zapier prints $19.99 per month for Professional and $69 for Team, while Make's pricing page showed credits and a free plan but no paid dollar amounts when we read it. Count the steps in one workflow, estimate monthly runs and ask Make for a quote before assuming either one is lower.
What counts as a task in Zapier and a credit in Make?
Zapier counts every Zap step and external connector call as tasks, with rates varying by AI model, code runtime and connector. Triggers do not count. Make charges one credit for most actions, more for some AI features, and nothing for Router and error-handler modules. A long flow can cost several times more in either unit.
Which one is better for non-technical colleagues?
Zapier is aimed at people who do not code, and its pricing page states you do not need to know how to code. Make uses a visual canvas that suits builders comfortable with routers and iterators. A mixed team often lets one builder own Make scenarios while others use simpler Zaps.
Do Zapier and Make offer enterprise security features?
Zapier lists SAML SSO on Team and SCIM, audit log and custom data retention on Enterprise. Make states ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3 and GDPR adherence on its security page, but names no EU region. Neither claim about EU hosting or AI training was confirmed here, so ask each vendor in writing.