Both Zapier and Make let you connect apps — for example, “when someone fills in my website form, add them to my CRM and send me a WhatsApp alert.” The difference is in how you build and how usage is counted.
How they approach automation
Zapier is built around a step-by-step flow: a trigger, then one or more actions. Building feels like filling in a form, which makes simple automations quick to set up.
Make (formerly Integromat) uses a visual canvas. Each app is a module you connect with lines, and you can branch, loop and transform data visually. It offers a lot of control, with a little more to learn.
Side-by-side thinking
| Question | Zapier | Make |
|---|---|---|
| Building style | Linear, guided steps | Visual canvas of connected modules |
| Best fit | Fast, straightforward automations | Complex, branching or data-heavy workflows |
| Learning curve | Gentler for beginners | Steeper but more granular |
| Usage metering | Counts usage in its own units | Counts usage in its own units |
The usage row matters: a workflow with many steps can consume usage differently on each platform. Read the definitions on each pricing page and estimate with your own numbers.
How to decide in one afternoon
- Pick your most important workflow — the one that would save the most time.
- Check both platforms support your apps, and that the triggers and actions you need exist (not just the app’s name).
- Build it on both using free plans or trials.
- Break it on purpose — send bad data and see how each tells you something went wrong.
- Estimate monthly runs and compare costs on official pricing pages.
Tips that apply to both
- Name every automation clearly (“Website form → CRM + alert”).
- Turn on error notifications.
- Keep a simple list of what’s automated and who owns it.
- If data passes through as JSON, our JSON formatter makes it readable.
More options are listed under automation tools. Planning your wider software stack? Start with how to choose business software.