Zapier charges for every action step, so long or frequent workflows get expensive. On official prices checked in October 2026, Make Core starts at $9 a month billed annually, Activepieces counts a whole run as one credit, and n8n can be self-hosted free. The cheapest choice depends on how many steps your workflows run.
- Zapier counts every action step as a task, so cost grows with steps times runs.
- n8n and Activepieces count a whole run once, however many steps it has. Make counts a credit for each module.
- For a five-step workflow run 300 times a month, Zapier needs its $39.00 plan billed annually; Make Core is $9 and Activepieces Free covers it.
- Self-hosting n8n or Activepieces removes the licence fee, not the server, updates and backups.
Why Zapier gets expensive
Zapier counts a task each time an action step succeeds. A workflow with four actions uses four tasks every time it runs. Double the steps or the runs and the bill follows.
Triggers, Filter, Formatter and Paths steps do not use tasks, and failed actions are not counted. For a few short automations, Zapier's Free plan of 100 tasks a month may be all you need. The alternatives below pay off when workflows are long or run often.
Cheaper Zapier alternatives compared
Prices come from each tool's official pricing page, checked on 22 October 2026. n8n lists euros, the others list dollars.
| Tool | What it counts | Free option | Cheapest paid plan | Self-hosting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | Each action step (task) | 100 tasks a month | $19.99 a month billed annually, 750 tasks | No |
| Make | Each module action (credit) | 1,000 credits a month | Core: $9 a month billed annually, 10,000 credits | No |
| n8n | Each run of a whole workflow (execution) | Community edition, self-hosted | Starter: €20 a month billed annually, 2,500 executions | Yes |
| Activepieces | Each run, one credit (AI steps cost more) | 1,000 credits | Plus: $20 a month, 10,000 credits | Yes, Community Edition |
Billed monthly, Zapier's 750-task plan is $29.99 and Make Core at 10,000 credits is $10.59. Make says annual billing saves 15%, n8n says 17%.
One workflow, costed on each
The workflow: a new form entry triggers four actions. It creates a CRM contact, adds a row to a sheet, sends an email and posts a team message. It runs 300 times a month.
| Tool | What is counted | Plan that covers it | Monthly price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | 1,200 tasks | Professional, 1,500 tasks | $39.00 billed annually, $58.50 monthly |
| Make | 1,500 credits (trigger plus 4 modules) | Core, 10,000 credits | $9 billed annually, $10.59 monthly |
| n8n cloud | 300 executions | Starter, 2,500 executions | €20 billed annually |
| n8n self-hosted | 300 executions | Community edition | €0 licence, plus your server |
| Activepieces | 300 credits | Free, 1,000 credits | $0 |
The Make figure assumes an instant trigger, one that fires when the form is sent. A scheduled trigger also uses a credit each time it checks for new data: every 15 minutes is 2,880 checks in a 30-day month.
Make one step an AI step and the picture moves again. Activepieces charges 2, 10 or 20 credits for AI steps, Make charges more for some AI features, and some Zapier AI actions cost more than one task.
Costs the price list leaves out
| Cost | Where it bites |
|---|---|
| Going over your allowance | Zapier charges 1.25 times its task rate on annual plans and 2.5 times on monthly plans. Activepieces charges $0.007 a credit. Make sells extra credits in bundles. |
| Unused allowance | Make credits expire at the end of the term. |
| Self-hosting | The licence is free. The server, updates, backups and outages are yours. |
| Missing apps | Zapier lists more than 9,000 apps and Make more than 3,500. Check every app you use before you move. |
| Rebuilding | Plan to rebuild and test each Zap in the new tool. |
Count the rebuild hours next to the monthly saving. A switch that saves $30 a month pays back slowly if it takes a week of someone's time.
Building with AI models? AIGROW API credit runs Claude, GPT and Grok models up to 75% below list price.
Which alternative fits
| If you | Look at |
|---|---|
| Run a few short automations | Zapier Free or Activepieces Free |
| Run long workflows in the cloud on a small budget | Make Core or Activepieces Plus |
| Have a developer and long or frequent workflows | n8n |
| Must keep data on your own servers | n8n or Activepieces, self-hosted |
| Depend on niche apps | Zapier, for the widest catalogue |
For a closer look at two of these, read n8n vs Zapier and Make vs Zapier. Both cover AI agents as well as price.
Before you switch
- List every Zap with its number of action steps and its runs last month.
- Multiply steps by runs to get tasks, then price the same volume on the new tool with the table above.
- Check that every app in those Zaps has an integration on the new tool.
- Rebuild your busiest Zap first and run both versions side by side for a week.
- Turn off the Zap only when the new version has matched it.
If you would rather not rebuild anything, AIGROW's ready solutions are pre-built systems set up on your own tools, and AI operations puts an agent in charge of a whole function, such as the support inbox or invoice reminders.
Sources
Official pages checked on 22 October 2026:
Prices change. Check the vendor's page before you buy.
The newest Claude, GPT and Grok models, up to 75% below list price
One API key for Claude, GPT and Grok models. It works with the OpenAI and Anthropic SDKs and with Claude Code.
Each model’s rate through AIGROW credit sits beside its maker’s list price, never above it.
Frequently Asked Questions
