Zapier for visual thinkers and pros. Cheaper and more powerful, but harder to learn.
Make (formerly Integromat) is a visual automation platform that lets you connect apps and automate workflows using a drag-and-drop canvas. Unlike Zapier's linear step-by-step builder, Make gives you a full flowchart where you can see all your logic at once. It launched under the Integromat name in 2012 and rebranded to Make in 2022.
The core idea is operations-based pricing: every action in a workflow counts as one operation. At $9/mo for 10,000 operations, Make is dramatically cheaper than Zapier for users running multi-step workflows at any volume. That single fact drives most people to switch.
The first hour with Make is humbling. The canvas is powerful but you will spend time learning what routers, aggregators, and iterators actually do before your first complex scenario works. Zapier holds your hand. Make does not.
Once it clicks, the payoff is real. I built a lead routing scenario with conditional branching that would have been either impossible or buried in filters inside Zapier. The HTTP module alone is worth the switch for anyone who regularly needs to call APIs without a native integration. Scenario debugging is also genuinely good: you can click any module and see exactly what data passed through it on the last run.
Drag modules onto a canvas and connect them with lines. Branching, looping, and routing are visible at a glance. Complex logic that Zapier buries in filters lives on the canvas where you can see it.
Split a scenario into multiple paths based on conditions. A new order can simultaneously update your CRM, send a Slack alert, and trigger a fulfillment webhook, all from one trigger.
Call any API endpoint directly, even if Make has no native integration for that app. This alone covers a huge range of custom use cases without writing a single line of code.
Process arrays item by item (iterator) or collapse multiple bundles into one (aggregator). Essential for bulk operations like processing a list of contacts or consolidating order line items.
Built-in key-value storage inside Make. Store state between scenario runs without connecting an external database. Useful for deduplication, counters, and persistent lookup tables.
Attach fallback paths to any module. If a step fails, the scenario can route to a different action instead of stopping cold. This is more flexible than Zapier's error notifications.
Make supports 1,500+ app integrations including Google Workspace, Slack, Airtable, HubSpot, Shopify, and most major SaaS tools.
$0
Good for testing and light personal use.
$9/mo
Best starting point for most solopreneurs.
$16/mo
For users who need advanced debugging and custom logic.
$29/mo
For agencies or teams collaborating on automations.
Operations math: Zapier's Starter plan is $19.99/mo for 750 tasks. Make's Core plan is $9/mo for 10,000 operations. For workflows with 5+ steps, Make is roughly 10x cheaper per equivalent workload.
| Factor | Make | Zapier | n8n | Pabbly Connect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $9/mo | $19.99/mo | Free (self-host) | $14/mo |
| Integrations | 1,500+ | 6,000+ | 400+ | 1,000+ |
| Visual builder | Canvas (non-linear) | Linear steps | Canvas (node-based) | Linear steps |
| Learning curve | Moderate | Easy | Hard | Easy-Moderate |
| HTTP/API module | Yes | Yes (paid) | Yes | Yes |
| Self-host option | No | No | Yes | No |
Zapier wins on integrations and ease. n8n wins on price if you can self-host. Make sits in between: more capable than Zapier, more accessible than n8n, and cheaper than both cloud options.
Make is the right tool for solopreneurs and small teams who have outgrown Zapier's pricing or need logic that Zapier cannot handle cleanly. The learning curve is real, but so is the payoff. At $9/mo for 10,000 operations, the ROI case against Zapier is straightforward for anyone running more than a handful of multi-step workflows.
If you are just starting with automation, Zapier is still the friendlier on-ramp. Come back to Make when your Zapier bill starts to hurt or when you need a router.
Start Make for free. No credit card required.
1,000 operations/month on the free plan. Upgrade to Core at $9/mo when you're ready to scale.
Try Make FreeThey are competitors, but they cover the same apps.
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