Make vs Zapier Pricing (2026): Which Costs Less?
Make and Zapier use different billing units, so a simple price comparison can be misleading. Make prices usage in credits; Zapier prices successful workflow actions in tasks. Here is the practical comparison for someone choosing an automation platform in 2026.
| Make | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Free allowance | 1,000 credits/month | 100 tasks/month |
| Free workflow structure | Visual scenarios with routers & filters | Two-step Zap workflows |
| Free polling interval | 15 minutes | 15 minutes |
| Entry paid plan | Core: $12/month at 10k credits | Professional: starts at $19.99/month |
| Integration catalog | 3,000+ apps | 9,000+ integrations |
Why credits and tasks are not equivalent
A Make scenario can consume one credit per non-AI module operation. Zapier generally counts successful actions as tasks. The same business process may therefore produce different billable counts in each product.
Which is cheaper for Gmail automation?
For the multi-step Gmail workflows we tested—filters, date formatting, Drive upload, routing, and logging—Make gives more room to experiment before paying. Zapier is simpler to configure, but its Free plan is limited to one trigger plus one action.
When Zapier can still be the better value
If the app you need exists only on Zapier, or if setup time matters more than workflow complexity, paying more can still be rational. Tool cost should be compared with the value of time saved, not only monthly subscription price.
Our pricing pick
Start Free, measure actual credit consumption, and move to Core only when you need faster scheduling or more capacity.
Try Make with the Free plan
Build one real workflow first, then decide whether your usage justifies a paid plan.
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