Teams look past Zapier when per-task billing grows with every action, when they want self-hosting or code steps, or when governance needs a quoted plan. Most go to Make or n8n for lower or different metering, Activepieces for an open option, and Power Automate when they already live in Microsoft.
Visibility in our rankings can be paid for. Payment moves a vendor's position within
the shortlist; it never adds a vendor, and it never changes a word of the review or of this page. How it works:
placement disclosure · editorial process.
What each alternative does differently
1. Make
Visual scenario builder for multi-step automations · Czech Republic
The nearest visual rival, counting each module action as one credit. A free plan gives 1,000 credits a month, and Core starts at $9 for 10,000 credits. Unused monthly credits do not roll over, so spiky workloads need a bigger bundle than the average suggests.
Switch from Zapier if you want a visual scenario builder and a lower entry price per action.
Pricing: Free plan with 1,000 credits; paid plans start at $9 a month (Core) for 10,000 credits, then $16 (Pro) and $29 (Teams), plus a quoted Enterprise tier. (free plan)
Full review: #2 of 12 in our ranking ·
Visit Make →
2. n8n
Node-based workflow builder with code steps and self-hosting · Germany
Bills by workflow execution, however many steps it holds, and every plan includes unlimited users and workflows. Starter covers 2.5K executions on annual billing. A self-hosted Community Edition exists but leaves out SSO, environments and external secrets, which need a paid license.
Switch from Zapier if your workflows have many steps and you want per-execution pricing or self-hosting.
Pricing: Cloud plans are published: Starter at 20 euros a month and Pro at 50 euros a month, both billed annually, with Business at 667 euros a month (self-hosted only) and a quoted Enterprise tier. (free trial)
Full review: #1 of 12 in our ranking ·
Visit n8n →
3. Activepieces
Open-source, no-code automation with an MIT community edition · United States
Free plan with 1,000 credits, unlimited flows and up to 5 users. Plus is a $20 flat monthly fee, and Team is $200 with 25 users. Every tier lists cloud or on-prem hosting, so self-hosting is not reserved for a top tier.
Switch from Zapier if you want an open, flat-priced tool with an on-premises option.
Pricing: Free plan with 1,000 credits and up to 5 users; Plus is $20 a month for 10,000 credits, Team $200 a month for 50,000 credits and 25 users, with a custom Ultimate tier. (free plan)
Full review: #3 of 12 in our ranking ·
Visit Activepieces →
4. Microsoft Power Automate
Microsoft's cloud flows and desktop automation · United States
Priced per user at $15 a month on annual billing, or per bot for unattended runs at $150. It adds desktop flows alongside cloud flows. The free trial lasts 30 days and is limited to standard connectors, so premium connectors need a paid license.
Switch from Zapier if your apps are mostly Microsoft and you also need desktop automation.
Pricing: Per-user Premium at $15 a month billed yearly, Process (unattended) at $150 per bot a month and Hosted Process at $215 per bot a month, with a free trial limited to standard connectors. (free trial)
Full review: #5 of 12 in our ranking ·
Visit Microsoft Power Automate →
5. Pabbly Connect
Low-cost automation with lifetime plan options · India
Counts only action steps as tasks; Filter, Router and Formatter are free. A free plan gives 100 tasks, and paid plans are listed in rupees, with one-time lifetime plans as well. The lifetime option has no equivalent at Zapier, which only bills monthly or yearly.
Switch from Zapier if you want a one-time lifetime price instead of a recurring task bill.
Pricing: Free plan with 100 tasks a month; paid plans were listed in rupees at about 1,138 a month (Standard, yearly billing) and 4,999 a month (Unlimited), plus one-time lifetime plans. (free plan)
Full review: #7 of 12 in our ranking ·
Visit Pabbly Connect →
6. Windmill
Open-source engine that turns scripts into workflows and UIs · France
A developer-first engine that turns scripts into workflows and apps. Its free open-source edition allows unlimited executions with up to 50 users and three workspaces. Cloud and self-hosted plans bill by seat and compute, which suits engineers more than non-technical builders.
Switch from Zapier if your builders write code and you want unlimited executions on your own servers.
Pricing: Free and open-source self-hosted edition; Enterprise is seat-based at $20 per developer and $10 per operator a month, plus compute units at $50 a month per 2 CU. (open source)
Full review: #6 of 12 in our ranking ·
Visit Windmill →
7. Tines
No-code automation and orchestration platform with a free edition · Ireland
Built for security and IT teams. The free edition has unlimited users, spaces and connectors but only three live workflows, plus a one-time $50 AI allowance. Paid editions are quoted, with unlimited workflows and flexible hosting. Not meant for marketing-ops automations.
Switch from Zapier if you automate security or IT response and need case handling with real governance.
Pricing: Free edition with unlimited users, spaces and connectors but 3 live workflows; paid editions are quoted, with unlimited workflows. (free plan)
Full review: #8 of 12 in our ranking ·
Visit Tines →
8. Workato
Enterprise integration and automation platform · United States
Enterprise integration with iPaaS, B2B and EDI, RPA and data orchestration under one vendor. Its pricing page publishes no figures and routes to sales, with a start-for-free link. It is positioned for IT-led programs, not for a first Zap built in an afternoon.
Switch from Zapier if automation is run by IT across ERP and CRM systems under central control.
Pricing: The pricing page offers a free trial and a path to demo or sales; entry prices are not published on the page we checked. (free trial)
Full review: #10 of 12 in our ranking ·
Visit Workato →
9. Celigo
Integration platform priced by endpoints and flows · United States
Charges for endpoints and flows rather than per task or transaction, and states there are no overage fees. Prices are not published and a free trial is offered. Its pricing unit suits steady integrations between business systems more than occasional Zaps.
Switch from Zapier if task counts keep climbing and you prefer paying for connected systems instead.
Pricing: Pricing is by endpoints and flows rather than per task, in Standard, Professional and Enterprise editions, with a 30-day free trial; no prices are published. (free trial)
Full review: #9 of 12 in our ranking ·
Visit Celigo →
10. Tray.ai
iPaaS and AI agent platform for larger teams · United States
Plans are separated by workspace count: Pro includes 3 workspaces and 700+ connectors, Team 20 workspaces, with Enterprise above. Sales sets prices. It is aimed at departments running several automation programs, not individuals building a first Zap.
Switch from Zapier if several teams need their own workspaces and an IT-owned governed platform.
Pricing: Pro, Team and Enterprise plans differ by workspace count (3, 20, unlimited); pricing is based on usage and features and quoted by sales, with a free trial. (free trial)
Full review: #11 of 12 in our ranking ·
Visit Tray.ai →
11. Boomi
Enterprise integration platform with editions and pay-as-you-go · United States
A broad enterprise platform spanning integration, data management and API management, sold in editions with a free trial. Its pricing page lists editions rather than dollar prices. Much larger than a task-automation tool, so it fits integration projects more than quick fixes.
Switch from Zapier if you need integration, API management and data governance in one platform.
Pricing: Tiered editions from Professional to Enterprise Plus, a pay-as-you-go option and a 30-day free trial; the page checked listed no dollar prices. (free trial)
Full review: #12 of 12 in our ranking ·
Visit Boomi →
Questions and answers
What counts as a task in Zapier?
A task is any successful action step, and only successful actions count. Triggers, Filter and Paths steps, failed actions and built-in apps such as Formatter, Delay and Looping do not count, per Zapier's help center. Zapier MCP calls use 2 tasks each.
How many tasks does the Zapier free plan include?
The Free plan includes 100 tasks a month, with unlimited Zaps, Tables and Forms but only two-step Zaps. Multi-step Zaps, webhooks and unlimited premium apps are listed under Professional.
What does Zapier cost to start?
Professional starts at $19.99 a month and Team at $69 a month, both billed annually, on the pricing page. Choosing a larger monthly task tier raises the price, and Enterprise is quote only.
Can I move Zaps to another tool automatically?
We could not confirm that you can. Zapier's help center article on exporting Zaps did not load for us, and no alternative we checked advertises an importer for Zaps. Budget for rebuilding.
Is there a self-hosted alternative to Zapier?
Yes. n8n offers a self-hosted Community Edition, Windmill has a free open-source edition with unlimited executions, and Activepieces lists cloud or on-prem hosting on every plan. Each has limits on which features are included without a paid license.
Which alternative has the closest pricing to Zapier?
Pabbly Connect is closest in unit, with 100 free tasks and only action steps counted. Make bills per credit instead, so one multi-step scenario can cost more or fewer credits than Zapier tasks.
