Who should pick Make
Non-technical teams who want quick, reliable automations across thousands of apps.
Pros
- Easiest to learn
- Largest app ecosystem
- Mature reliability
Cons
- Costs climb with task volume
- Complex logic is harder
Compare
Make vs Zapier AI
Make vs Zapier AI: editorial comparison with pricing, features, and buying guidance.
Zapier and Make are the two best-known no-code automation platforms, both with AI steps and agents. Zapier is easier to start with and has the largest app directory. Make uses a visual scenario builder that handles complex branching and data transformation and is significantly cheaper per operation. Choose Zapier for simplicity and breadth; choose Make for complex workflows on a budget.
Who should pick Zapier AI
Operations teams, agencies and power users building complex multi-step workflows at volume.
Pros
- Much cheaper per operation
- Powerful visual builder
- Affiliate pays 35% for 12 months
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- Smaller app directory
Feature comparison
- Builder: Zapier uses linear steps with paths; Make uses a visual canvas.
- AI: both offer AI steps and agent features.
- Pricing unit: Zapier counts tasks; Make counts credits.
- App coverage: Zapier's directory is the largest; Make covers most popular apps plus HTTP modules.
Pricing snapshot
As of October 2026: Zapier Professional starts at $19.99/month billed annually for 750 tasks ($29.99 monthly). Make Core is $9/month billed annually for 10,000 credits; Pro is $16/month annually; Teams $29/month.
- https://zapier.com/pricing
- https://www.make.com/pricing
- https://neomanex.com/news/make-cuts-paid-plan-pricing-september-2026
Pricing notes as of 2026-10-18.
How to choose
- Choose Zapier if you want the fastest setup and the most app connections.
- Choose Make for complex logic and lower cost at volume.
- Estimate monthly tasks or credits before comparing price.
- Consider n8n if you want self-hosting.
- Check whether your key apps have native integrations on each.
- Start with the free tiers and migrate as complexity grows.
FAQ
- Which is cheaper?
- Make, by a wide margin per operation, as of October 2026.
- Is n8n an alternative?
- Yes, n8n is a popular self-hostable alternative.
- Do both have free plans?
- Yes, both offer free tiers with limits.
- Which has better AI features?
- Both ship AI steps and agents; evaluate on your use case.
Editorial comparison based on vendor documentation and public sources; not based on hands-on benchmark testing. Prices change frequently - verify on vendor sites. Some links may be affiliate links.
| Spec | Make | Zapier AI |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 81.8 | 86.1 · lead |
| Overall rank | #39 | #23 · lead |
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $9 · lead | $20 |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Editor score | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Launched | Jan 1, 2012 | Oct 1, 2011 · lead |
Primary category for this matchup: Agents & Automation. Individual profiles: Make · Zapier AI.