Make vs Zapier, which automation tool is right for you?

9 minutes
Make vs Zapier

When choosing between Make vs. Zapier, the points of comparison are pricing, API connection to existing software and the need for collaborators to interact around future automated tasks.

Automation and, more broadly, the digitization of business operations are important issues for organizations to address. Nevertheless, the panorama of software solutions has never been clearer. Finding the right software requires resources and knowledge that are not readily available to most companies. So which automation software should you choose? There are two software solutions in this vertical: Make vs Zapier.

These two software programs attract a lot of attention, but you should be aware that other alternatives exist (such as Lapala) that allow you to go beyond automation.

Automation software comparison chart

What is Zapier?

Introducing Zapier

Zapier is a software program for automating no-code tasks on a company’s various applications. A workflow automation is called a Zap. The Zap consists of two parts:

  • The definition ofa single trigger for this Zap. For example, the receipt of an email with the word “Request” in the subject line.
  • A set of actions that follow on from each other in a linear fashion, with no turning back. However, conditions and filters are available to create different paths according to configurable criteria. For example, if the request contains the word logistics, then the request is sent to Marc, otherwise a transaction is created in the company’s ticketing tool.

On paper, the number of shares is unlimited. However, there are three points to bear in mind:

  • There can only beone trigger per Zap. If you want several triggers, you need to make several Zaps.
  • Zapier is a linear automation software. An action can have only one entry. In other words, once a condition is set, it can never be repositioned on a neighboring path.
  • Similarly, Zapier doesn’t allow for retroactive loops or backtracking.
Make vs Zapier linear and tree-based automation software

Automation examples with Zapier

Find out more in our article on process automation

Process automation

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of automation with Zapier?

The main advantages of Zapier and Zaps :

  • This workflow automation software is easy to use, thanks to its “consumer” ergonomics.
  • Integrations and API connections to the best software on the market.
  • New database creation and interface design functionalities not integrated with automated workflows.

The main drawbacks of Zapier :

  • Linear scenario only (tree structure, no backtracking or multiple entries).
  • Automation doesn’t take human interaction into account. Automation is good, but making the processes between robots and humans more efficient is better.
  • Zapier is known as the most expensive automation software.

The price may be seen as a drawback, but Zapier saves time and money… So if Zapier saves all your teams 1 hour a day… it quickly becomes a minor problem.

Pricing Make

In this Make vs Zapier match, it’s Make’s turn to go under the microscope.

What is Make (formerly Integromat)?

Presentation Make (Integromat)

Zapier, on the other hand, is American. Make is owned by a German company, Celonis.

Make is no-code automation software for automating workflows and tasks. Like Zapier, an automation in Make is broken down into a single trigger and a set of specific actions (enriched with filters and conditions).

Like Zapier, Make can handle linear automations (see diagram in Zapier section). An automation is called a Scenario. If you need several triggers in a process, you’ll need to create several scenarios.

As with Zapier, you can connect many of the best web applications on the market via API.

Getting to grips with Make takes a little getting used to. But once you’ve got the hang of it, the interfaces are very easy to master.

Automation on Make

Examples of automation with Make (Integromat)

Advantages and disadvantages of Make

The main advantages of Make :

  • This workflow automation software is easy to use, thanks to its no-code workflow editor.
  • Integrations and connections to the best software on the market.
  • Handles more complex workflows than Zapier

The main drawbacks of Zapier :

  • Linear scenario only (tree structure, no backtracking or multiple entries).
  • Automation doesn’t take human interaction into account. Automation is good, but making the processes between robots and humans more efficient is better.

Make’s pricing is more competitive than Zapier’s, see next paragraph.

Pricing Make

Make vs Zapier, the comparison

Make vs Zapier vs Lapala comparison chart

CriteriaZapierMakeLapala
Number of triggers per workflow1 trigger1 triggerMulti-
trigger
Publisher No-code✅ + low-code
Logical condition and filter
Branching / Multi-entry action❌ (linear workflow)❌ (linear workflow)
Number of software integrations60001000400
Integration of non-standard software✅ (Basic)✅ (Basic)⚛️ (Advanced)
Database management✴️ Yes, but not integrated into workflow✅ integrated into workflow
Creating human interaction✴️ Yes, but not integrated into workflow✅ integrated into workflow
Nationality🇺🇸 USA🇩🇪 Germany🇫🇷 France
LanguageEnglishEnglishFrench and English
Ease of use /10877
DeploymentSaaSSaaSSaaS or Private Cloud
Customer type< 500 employees< 500 employees< 500 employees

Contact us if you think we’ve made a mistake

As you can see from the comparison table, the Make vs Zapier match-up is very close. Indeed, Make and Zapier share the same automation principle: 1 trigger + actions and conditions.

Admittedly, Zapier has more connections to software on the market, but this is not really a differentiating argument, since a company doesn’t have thousands of software applications in its information system.

Although Make takes a little longer to master, both are very easy to learn, thanks to their no-code editor, which requires no computer development skills.

Zapier has database and user interface functionalities. However, the fact that they are not directly integrated into automations doesn’t really differentiate it from Make. Indeed, with Make, all you have to do is connect an Airtable, Excel, Typeform or Bubble and you’ll get the same result.
This feature is also the strength of Lapala software.

Accounting process automation

The big difference between Make and Zapier is pricing and API connection to software.

On the free side, Make offers 1000 operations per month on up to 2 scenarios. Zapier offers 5 Zaps a.k.a. workflows.

On the first pay plan. Make offers 10,000 operations per month with unlimited scenarios for around 11 euros per month. Between 100 and 10,000 operations, Zapier will cost between 19 and 130 euros per month.
It’s more expensive, but you’re more likely to have access to your company’s existing software. As a reminder, Zapier connects to 6,000 applications, compared with 1,000 for Make.

How to choose Make vs Zapier

To choose between the two, we suggest the following approach:

  • Find out whether your software is included in the Zapier and Make catalogs.
    • If only one tool connects to your software, then your choice is no longer between the two.
    • If none of the tools has your software, it’s important to compare other tools
    • If both can connect to your software, go to the next point.
  • Do you need human interaction among automated tasks? For example, for enrichments, validations, controls, annotations, various productions…
  • Make and Zapier both turn out to be good tools for you. So the choice will come down to the least expensive tool.
    • Make is billed in Ops (Operations in scenarios) and Zapier is billed in tasks (Tasks in Zaps).
    • Experimenting is the only way to understand how you’ll be billed by these automation tools. Once you’ve done the tests, simply calculate your future use of these tools and go for the cheapest.
Automation software comparison chart

Make vs Zapier, an alternative could be Lapala, a French solution focused on employees

Lapala is the only French Zapier alternative for integrating human interaction into an automated workflow.

For example, in the case of a purchase requisition automation workflow, Lapala integrates a “human” validation if the budget exceeds a certain amount.

Lapala can also handle complete non-linear processes with rollbacks or multiple input actions.

Make vs Zapier, Lapala the French alternative

Here’s an example of a Lapala sales administration use case.

It’s easy to use, intuitive and no-code. Its configuration is not dependent on technical teams or the IT department.

Accounting process automation

Now you know all about Make vs Zapier. Now it’s your turn! See you soon for more content!


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