In short: Pick Zapier if you want the quickest way for non-technical staff to connect apps, with simple linear automations. Pick Make if you want visual, branching scenarios and more runs for the money. Both have free plans; Make costs less per run, Zapier is easier to start.
The verdict
Choose Zapier if the people building automations are not technical, most workflows are simple “when this happens, do that” chains, and you value getting something working in minutes. Zapier’s Team plan also suits companies that need shared workspaces and single sign-on.
Choose Make if your workflows branch, loop or transform data, if you run a high volume of automations and want more runs for the money, or if you need EU rather than US hosting.
Many SMEs start on Zapier and move heavy workflows to Make as volume grows. Others start on Make from the outset. Either is a sound choice for connecting a CRM, forms, email, spreadsheets and accounting tools.
Zapier vs Make at a glance
Prices were checked on each vendor’s own website in October 2026 and exclude GST. Zapier states its prices in USD and converts to local currency at payment. Make’s prices were shown with a $ sign.
| Zapier | Make | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 100 tasks a month, two-step Zaps only, 15-minute polling | 1,000 credits a month, 15-minute minimum interval between runs |
| Entry paid plan | Professional, 750 tasks: US$19.99 a month billed annually, US$29.99 monthly | Core, 10,000 credits: $9 a month billed annually, $10.59 monthly |
| Mid plan | Professional, 2,000 tasks: US$49 annually, US$73.50 monthly | Pro, 10,000 credits: $16 annually, $18.82 monthly |
| Team plan | Team, 2,000 tasks: US$69 annually, US$103.50 monthly; up to 25 seats | Teams, 10,000 credits: $29 annually, $34.12 monthly |
| Billing unit | Tasks | Credits (most module actions use 1) |
| Fastest scheduling | 2-minute polling on Professional; 1-minute on Enterprise | Down to the minute on Core and above |
| Builder style | Linear steps, multi-step on paid plans | Visual canvas with routers and filters |
| Data hosting | AWS in the United States | US or EU, chosen per organisation |
| Strongest fit | Simple automations by non-technical staff | Complex or high-volume scenarios |
Pricing in practice
Zapier’s annual plans are billed yearly at 33% off the monthly rate. Pricing scales by task tier, from 750 tasks a month up to two million. Zapier Professional includes multi-step Zaps, premium apps and webhooks. If you enable pay-per-task, overage is charged at 1.25 times the base rate on annual plans and 2.5 times on monthly plans, and usage pauses at three times the subscription.
Make prices by credits. Its pricing page uses 10,000 credits a month as the starting point, with Core at $9, Pro at $16 and Teams at $29 a month billed annually. Unused credits expire at the end of the term, and you can buy extra credits in bundles of 1,000 or 10,000 or turn on automatic top-ups on paid plans. Make also offers a Start-up Plan for organisations under 20 employees.
The practical difference: a workflow that runs often and has several steps can use up a Zapier task allowance quickly, while the same allowance in dollars buys many more Make credits. Build one real workflow on each free plan and compare the usage reported.
Features
Building workflows
Zapier walks you through a trigger and a sequence of actions in a list. It is easy to follow and easy to hand over to a colleague, though long or branching flows can become harder to read in a list.
Make shows each scenario as a diagram of connected modules. Routers split a flow into branches, iterators and aggregators handle lists, and built-in tools transform data. Make says router and error handler modules do not use credits. This suits workflows such as splitting an order into line items, or routing leads by region and size.
Apps and AI
Both have large app directories; Make lists more than 3,500 apps. Both now offer AI features: Make lists AI agents, an AI toolkit and an MCP server on all plans, and Zapier includes Copilot, with a daily message limit on the Free plan. Check that the exact apps and actions you need are supported, especially Singapore-specific tools such as local accounting or payroll software. If a connector is missing, ask whether a webhook or API call can fill the gap; Zapier includes webhooks from Professional upwards.
Teams and governance
Zapier Team adds up to 25 seats, shared app connections, shared workspaces, SAML single sign-on and an audit log. Make Teams adds teams, team roles and shared scenario templates. For larger rollouts, both have Enterprise plans.
Singapore specifics
Data residency and PDPA
Zapier states that it hosts data on AWS in the United States and that region-specific residency is not available unless separately agreed. Make lets you choose US or EU hosting per organisation at creation, and you cannot change it later. Neither lists Singapore hosting. When automations move personal data, for example from a web form to a CRM, map which data passes through the tool and keep only what you need.
Accounting and InvoiceNow
Automations often push won deals or orders into accounting software. Check that your accounting system’s connector supports the actions you need on each platform. InvoiceNow e-invoices are normally sent from the accounting software itself, not the automation tool.
Grants
The Productivity Solutions Grant closed to new applications after September 2026 and EDGE replaced it. We do not claim either tool is eligible. Try the EDGE grant calculator and confirm with the agency.
Questions to ask before you commit
- How many runs will each workflow make? Count triggers per day and steps per run, then estimate monthly usage on each platform.
- What happens when a step fails? Decide who is alerted and how failed runs are retried.
- Who owns the connections? Use a shared service account where possible, so automations do not break when someone leaves.
- Where is the data going? List any personal data each workflow passes through.
Which should you choose?
- Small team automating a handful of simple tasks: Zapier Free or Professional.
- Operations-heavy business with many runs a day: Make Core or Pro.
- Workflows with branches, loops and data clean-up: Make.
- Non-technical staff building their own automations: Zapier.
- Company needing single sign-on and shared connections: Zapier Team or Make Teams; compare governance features.
- Business that prefers EU hosting: Make, choosing the EU region at sign-up.
Automations usually connect a CRM to other systems. See HubSpot vs Pipedrive and Shopify vs WooCommerce for the tools at either end.
Get help choosing
If you want automations designed, built and monitored, with error handling and documentation, see our workflow automation service. To compare several providers, including firms that build AI agents on top of these tools, browse AI development providers or describe what you need, and a concierge will introduce one to five providers that fit, free for businesses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Make cheaper than Zapier?
For the same number of runs, usually yes on list price. In October 2026 Make Core with 10,000 credits a month was listed at $9 a month billed annually, while Zapier Professional with 750 tasks a month was US$19.99 a month billed annually. Tasks and credits are counted differently, so estimate usage for your own workflows.
What is the difference between a Zapier task and a Make credit?
Make says most module actions use one credit, including reading, searching, creating, updating and transforming data, while routers and error handlers use none. Zapier bills in tasks. Because counting rules differ, a workflow can use a different number of units on each platform. Test a real workflow on both free plans.
Where is my data hosted?
Zapier says it stores data on AWS in the United States and that region-specific residency is not available unless otherwise agreed. Make lets each organisation choose US or EU hosting when it is created, and the location cannot be changed afterwards. Neither offers Singapore hosting as standard.
Should we use n8n instead?
n8n is another option, popular with technical teams that want to self-host. This page compares the two hosted tools most SMEs start with. If self-hosting matters to you, speak to an automation provider about the trade-offs.
Do I need a developer for either tool?
Not for simple automations. Help is worth it when workflows touch accounting, payroll or customer data, need error handling, or run hundreds of times a day.