$19.99/mo Free tier 14 day free trial MCP API
Why it comes up: Simpler linear Zaps and a bigger app catalog if you do not need a visual canvas.
Stands out: Zapier MCP is on every plan, including Free, and connects AI assistants to the same 9,000-app catalog.
Watch out: Each MCP tool call uses two tasks. Free Zaps are limited to two steps, and Professional is a single-user plan.
Best for
- Ops teams connecting SaaS apps without code
- People who want Claude or ChatGPT to act in Gmail and Slack
- Solo users who fit on one Professional seat
Read the Zapier write-up · Make vs Zapier
Why it comes up: Cheaper for high volume because triggers and internal steps are free, and it sells lifetime plans.
Stands out: Pabbly Connect does not count triggers or internal steps as tasks, so a workflow that costs two tasks on Zapier or three credits on Make can cost one here. It also sells one time lifetime plans alongside monthly and yearly subscriptions.
Watch out: Lifetime plans cannot be upgraded later, cap tasks per month, and include only one year of support on the top tier; the $349 plan is limited to 10 workflows with two steps each. Team members are not available on monthly billing.
Best for
- Small teams with high task volume on a tight budget
- Buyers who would rather pay once than subscribe
- Workflows heavy on filters, routers and formatting steps
Read the Pabbly Connect write-up · Make vs Pabbly Connect
€20/mo Free tier Free trial MCP API
Why it comes up: Self host for free and pay per full workflow run instead of per module credit.
Stands out: Billing counts full workflow executions, not individual steps, and the Community edition is free to self-host.
Watch out: Cloud prices are published in euros only. The Cloud trial is capped at 1,000 executions, and unused AI Assistant credits do not roll over.
Best for
- Technical teams that want to self-host for free
- Builders who prefer per-execution billing
- Teams that want to drive workflows from Claude via MCP
Read the n8n write-up · Make vs n8n
Why it comes up: One click ready made automations if nobody on the team wants to build scenarios.
Stands out: Integrately leads with millions of prebuilt automations, so a non technical user picks one, connects accounts and is done. Its team also offers to build automations for customers at no extra cost, and triggers and failed actions do not use tasks.
Watch out: Conditions, searches and each data edit count as separate tasks, so a four step flow can use four tasks per record. The Free plan is single step only, and the published prices are annual billing.
Best for
- Non technical users who want templates, not a builder
- Small businesses connecting CRM, email and forms
- Teams that want the vendor to build automations for them
Read the Integrately write-up · Make vs Integrately
