The best Zapier alternatives, and when to switch
Make, n8n, Activepieces and Power Automate compared on price, power and who each one suits.
Zapier is the easiest way to start automating, and for many businesses it stays the right choice. But two things push people to look elsewhere: the bill grows with every action step, and complex workflows get hard to build. These are the alternatives we actually use, and when each one makes sense.
The best Zapier alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | How usage is counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make | Visual, complex workflows at low cost | Free (1,000 credits); paid from about $9 to $12/mo yearly | Credits per module action |
| n8n | Technical teams, high volume, AI agents | Free self-hosted; cloud from €20/mo yearly | Executions per workflow run |
| Activepieces | Simple, open-source automation | Free (1,000 credits/mo); Plus $20/mo | Credits per run, AI steps extra |
| Power Automate | Microsoft 365 companies, desktop automation | Premium $15/user/mo yearly | Per user, or per bot for unattended |
For comparison, Zapier's Professional plan is $19.99 a month billed yearly for 750 tasks, and its free plan is limited to two-step Zaps. Sources: Zapier, Make, n8n, Activepieces, Power Automate.
Why people leave Zapier
- Task-based pricing. Every action step counts, so a five-step Zap uses five times the tasks of a one-step Zap.
- Complex logic. Loops and heavy branching are possible but harder to read than on a visual canvas.
- Data control. Zapier is cloud-only, which rules it out for some data rules.
If none of these hurt you, staying on Zapier is often the cheapest option in time.
1. Make: the visual all-rounder
Make shows your workflow as a map of connected modules. Each action costs far less than a Zapier task, and routers, iterators and error paths are easy to build and read.
- Choose it if your workflows have branches and many steps, and you want a hosted tool with nothing to maintain.
- Watch out for credits expiring each term and scheduled triggers using credits on empty checks.
2. n8n: per-run pricing and self-hosting
n8n bills one execution per full workflow run, however many steps it has, and you can self-host the Community Edition for free. It has strong AI agent features and code steps.
- Choose it if you run long or high-volume workflows, must keep data on your own servers, or want AI agents.
- Watch out for the work of hosting and updating it, and paid licenses for team features like SSO.
3. Activepieces: open source with flat plans
Activepieces counts one credit per run regardless of steps, with extra credits for AI steps. The Free plan includes 1,000 credits a month, Plus is $20 a month for 10,000, and Team is $200 a month for 50,000 with 25 users. You can also self-host it.
- Choose it if you want something simpler than n8n with open-source and self-hosting options.
- Watch out for a smaller library of ready-made connections than Zapier or Make.
4. Power Automate: for Microsoft 365 shops
Power Automate connects tightly with Outlook, Teams, SharePoint and Excel, and can automate desktop apps with RPA. Premium is $15 per user a month billed yearly; unattended bots are priced per bot.
- Choose it if your business runs on Microsoft 365 and you want automation inside that world, including old desktop software.
- Watch out for licensing that is harder to understand, and a builder that feels less friendly outside Microsoft apps.
A worked example: one 5-step workflow, 1,000 runs a month
| Tool | Usage | Plan that fits |
|---|---|---|
| Zapier | 5,000 tasks | A 5,000-task Professional or Team tier |
| Make | About 6,000 credits | Core (10,000 credits) |
| n8n Cloud | 1,000 executions | Starter (2,500 executions) |
| Activepieces | 1,000 credits | Plus (10,000 credits), or Free with daily limits |
These are estimates from published prices. Longer workflows widen the gap, because Zapier and Make charge per step and n8n and Activepieces charge per run.
Common mistakes when switching
- Switching before measuring. Pull your task history from Zapier and price each option with real numbers.
- Moving everything at once. Migrate your most expensive workflows first and leave simple ones where they work.
- Forgetting error alerts. Rebuild failure notifications on the new platform from day one.
- No documentation. Write down each trigger, step and field mapping before you rebuild.
FAQ
What is the cheapest Zapier alternative?
Self-hosted n8n or Activepieces can cost little more than a small server. Among hosted tools, Make and Activepieces are usually far cheaper than Zapier for multi-step workflows.
Is there a free Zapier alternative?
Yes. Make and Activepieces have free plans, and n8n's Community Edition is free to self-host. Each has limits, so check them against your volume.
Can I import my Zaps into another tool?
No tool imports Zapier workflows directly. You rebuild them, which is usually quick if the logic is documented.
Should I leave Zapier at all?
Only if cost, complexity or data rules are hurting you. For a handful of simple automations, Zapier's ease of use is often worth the price.
Final verdict
Most businesses outgrowing Zapier should try Make first for hosted, visual workflows, or n8n if they have technical help, high volume or AI plans. Activepieces is a good open-source middle ground, and Power Automate makes sense if you live in Microsoft 365. See the detailed Zapier vs Make vs n8n and Make vs n8n comparisons.
Want us to move your automations?
We audit your current Zaps, price the alternatives with your real numbers, and rebuild the workflows that save the most. See which processes are ready to automate with our free AI readiness quiz, then book a free strategy call.
Not sure which one fits your business?
We build automations on all of these every week. Tell us what you want to automate and we will tell you which tool, what it costs, and whether it is worth doing.
Book a free strategy call