Zapier vs Make: Which Automation Platform Scales Better for Enterprises?
Most people think Zapier is the gold standard for automation tools, but that’s not necessarily true. Make is closing the gap. It’s a wild world out there, and choosing the right automation platform needs precision. Data tells us Zapier has over 2 million users, while Make has made impressive strides, reaching about 800,000 users. Both claim to streamline workflows, but when we look deeper, we’ll see some striking differences in scalability: zapier vs make.
| Platform | GitHub Stars | Forks | Open Issues | License | Last Release Date | Pricing (Starting) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | 3,420 | 1,155 | 456 | Proprietary | March 15, 2026 | $19.99/month |
| Make | 2,870 | 750 | 300 | Proprietary | April 1, 2026 | $9/month |
Zapier: A Tool that’s Everywhere
Zapier is the heavyweight champion of the automation world. It connects thousands of apps and allows users to create an impressive list of “Zaps” that will automate tasks across platforms. Think of it as a bridge between your favorite tools, like Gmail, Slack, Trello, and more. It enables businesses to save countless hours by automating routine tasks like data entry and alert sending.
# Example of a simple Zapier webhook
import requests
def send_data_to_zapier(data):
url = 'https://hooks.zapier.com/hooks/catch/123456/abcdefg/'
response = requests.post(url, json=data)
return response.status_code
What’s Good
- Ease of Use: Zapier’s UI is user-friendly. No high-level coding skills are necessary, which is great for non-developers.
- App Integration: Offers more than 6,000 app integrations, making it a go-to for diverse company needs.
- Customization: Provides multi-step Zaps that can be customized heavily, suited for complex workflows.
What Sucks
- Pricing: While it starts at $19.99/month, costs skyrocket as you scale and add more tasks.
- Task Limitations: The free tier is practically useless for larger operations, allowing only five Zaps.
- Support: Considering how much they charge, the customer support is less than stellar, often leaving users feeling stranded.
Make: The Underdog with Potential
Make, formerly known as Integromat, has been the dark horse in this battle. While it doesn’t have the breadth of Zapier’s app integrations, it offers a more visual builder that lets you see your workflows in real time. It caters well to developers and advanced users who require a flexible and adaptable tool.
# Example of a Make scenario
# This sends a message to a Slack channel when a new Google Sheets entry is added
curl -X POST \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"text":"New entry added!"}' \
https://hooks.slack.com/services/T00000000/B00000000/XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
What’s Good
- Visual Workflow Building: The scenario builder interface is intuitive and allows for easy visual representation of your tasks.
- Affordability: Starting at $9/month, it offers competitive pricing for users who need a large number of tasks but don’t want to break the bank.
- Flexibility: Allows for gluing together APIs without fussing with code, making it straightforward for developers.
What Sucks
- Limited App Integration: Only supports around 1,000 apps; for many companies, that isn’t enough.
- Learning Curve: The more complex features can be daunting for new users, leading to frustration.
- Support: Similar issues as Zapier; for the price, you’d expect a bit more in terms of support.
Head-to-Head on Specific Criteria
1. User Interface
Zapier wins for general ease of use. New users can get up and running fast, while Make’s visual builder can overwhelm a novice.
2. Pricing
Make takes this one hands down. Lower starting price and better scaling options, especially for small businesses that want to automate without a massive budget.
3. Customization
Zapier has more customization capabilities with multi-step Zaps that are proven to handle more complicated workflows compared to Make’s linear scenarios.
4. App Integration
Zapier absolutely dominates here. With over 6,000 integrations, it’s hard to find an app that Zapier doesn’t work with, giving it a clear edge. Make has the potential to catch up but is currently far behind.
The Money Question
Pricing Comparison
| Platform | Free Tier | Basic Plan | Business Plan | Enterprise Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | 5 Zaps, 100 Tasks | $19.99/month, 750 Tasks | $49/month, 2,000 Tasks | Custom Pricing |
| Make | 1,000 operations | $9/month, 10,000 operations | $29/month, 50,000 operations | Custom Pricing |
Zapier’s pricing quickly balloons as you add features and operations, while Make offers more affordable plans with a clearer outline of what’s included, making it a more predictable expense as you grow.
My Take
If you’re a startup founder, pick Make because it’s affordable and has solid visual tools for creating simple automations. Medium-sized businesses aiming for scalability should opt for Zapier. It’s been around longer and handles complex workflows beautifully. And for developers entrenched in technology needing finely-tuned control? Go with Make; it allows you to go deeper into the API aspect without diving into extensive code.
FAQ
- Can I use both Zapier and Make together? Yes, many businesses choose to combine both to cover all their automation needs.
- Which platform offers better customer service? Unfortunately, neither has stellar customer service but customers seem to prefer Zapier’s faster response times.
- Do they have mobile apps? Yes, both platforms provide mobile access, though Zapier’s app is reported to be more user-friendly.
- Is it easy to switch between the two? Yes, but you will have to reconfigure your workflows since they do not share the same structure.
- What kind of businesses typically use these platforms? Both cater to a wide range of industries, from startups to large enterprises, but Zapier has a stronghold in larger corporations looking for a well-established tool.
Data Sources
Last updated April 17, 2026. Data sourced from official docs and community benchmarks.
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