Head to head

Make vs Zapier

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Make

$12/mo Free tier

Visual automation across 3,000+ apps, billed in credits, with AI agents and an MCP server. Free plan with 1,000 credits a month; Make lists Core at $12/mo for 10,000 credits, and yearly prepayment costs less.

Where Make fits

Ops builders who think in flowcharts
Scenarios with many branches, loops and error handling
Teams that want AI agents and MCP inside their automations
Companies whose ATS is Greenhouse or HRIS is Workday

Zapier

$19.99/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Task-based automation across 9,000 apps, with an MCP server on every account. Free plan available; Professional starts at $19.99/mo billed monthly.

Where Zapier fits

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
Orgs that may grow into Team or Enterprise

At a glance

Detail	Make	Zapier
Starting price	$12/mo	$19.99/mo
Free tier	✓Yes	✓Yes
Free trial	Not on record	14 day free trial
MCP server	✓Yes	✓Yes
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	Workflow automation	Workflow automation

Where they pull apart

Make

Stands out: Make's drag and drop canvas shows every branch, router and iterator of a scenario, with real time run monitoring, which suits complex multi branch automations better than linear step lists. Greenhouse and Workday are among its enterprise apps.

Watch out: Every module action uses a credit, including reads, searches and iterations, so polling scenarios and loops burn credits fast. The Free plan allows only two active scenarios and a 15 minute minimum interval, and enterprise apps are reserved for the top tier.

Not the right fit for

Non technical users who want one click templates
High frequency polling workflows on a small credit budget

Zapier

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.

Not the right fit for

Builders who need self-hosting and per-execution billing
Heavy AI use where every MCP call costs two tasks

Pros and cons

Make

Visual canvas for complex branching
Routers and error handlers are free
Greenhouse and Workday enterprise apps

Every module action and iteration uses credits
Free plan capped at two active scenarios
Enterprise apps only on the top tier

Zapier

Free plan with 100 tasks a month
14-day Professional trial, no card
MCP on every plan, including Free

Free Zaps stop at two steps
Professional is a single-user plan
Each MCP call uses two tasks

What each one costs

Make

$12/mo

Free covers 1,000 credits a month and two active scenarios. Make lists Core at $12/mo, Pro at $21/mo and Teams at $38/mo for 10,000 credits a month, and yearly prepayment costs less; Enterprise is quoted. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 21 Sep 2026

Zapier

$19.99/mo

Free covers 100 tasks a month. Professional starts at $19.99/mo and Team at $69/mo on monthly billing, with about 33% off when paid yearly; Enterprise is quoted. Agents and Chatbots are priced separately. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Make cheaper than Zapier?

Make starts lower, at $12/mo against $19.99/mo for Zapier. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.

Can you try Make or Zapier for free?

Make and Zapier carry a free tier on our listing. Zapier offers a 14 day free trial.

Does Make or Zapier have an MCP server?

Make and Zapier ship a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Make alternatives All Zapier alternatives Every Workflow automation tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 21 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?