IFTTT vs Zapier in 2026: Which Automation Tool to Choose?

IFTTT and Zapier are the two most recognizable names in automation. Both connect apps and trigger actions automatically. But they're built for different users with different needs.

IFTTT is simple personal automation. Zapier is business workflow infrastructure. Choosing between them depends on what you're actually trying to do.

IFTTT vs Zapier Comparison Table 2026

What is IFTTT?

IFTTT (If This Then That) pioneered simple automation for regular people. The concept: when something happens (trigger), do something else (action). That's it.

Core strengths:

• Dead simple interface
• Strong smart home integration
• Works with IoT devices
• Location-based triggers
• Voice assistant support

IFTTT excels at personal automation. Turn off lights when you leave home. Save Instagram posts to Dropbox. Get weather alerts in the morning. Simple, useful, no learning curve.

Limitations:

• Only 2 applets on free tier
• Single action per trigger (unless you pay for Pro+)
• No data transformation
• Limited business app integrations
• Can't handle complex logic

What is Zapier?

Zapier is the standard for business automation. Connect apps, build multi-step workflows, add conditional logic. If your company uses SaaS tools, Zapier probably connects them.

Core strengths:

• 8,000+ app integrations
• Multi-step workflows (Zaps)
• Conditional paths and filters
• Webhooks for custom integrations
• Reliable and well-tested

Zapier handles business use cases that IFTTT can't touch. Lead capture to CRM to email sequence. Support ticket routing. Data sync between systems. Real workflow automation.

Limitations:

• Task-based pricing gets expensive
• Each step counts as a task
• AI features feel bolted on
• Complex workflows burn through quota fast

Pricing Comparison

IFTTT Pricing

IFTTT is cheap if your needs are simple. The free tier is basically a demo (2 applets is nothing), but Pro at $2.99 is reasonable for personal use. See our complete IFTTT pricing breakdown for real-world cost scenarios.

Zapier Pricing

Zapier costs more because it does more. But the task-based model adds up fast. A 4-step Zap running 200 times uses 800 tasks. That exceeds the Professional plan. See our complete Zapier pricing breakdown for real-world cost scenarios.

The Real Cost Difference

For personal automation with simple needs: IFTTT Pro at $2.99/month is the obvious choice.

For business automation with multiple workflows: Zapier Professional at $29.99/month minimum, likely Team at $103.50/month for real usage.

The gap is 10-35x in price, which reflects the gap in capability.

Feature Comparison

Workflow Complexity

IFTTT: One trigger, one action (or multiple actions with Pro+). No branching, no conditions, no data transformation. "If this, then that" is literally all it does.

Zapier: Multi-step workflows with paths, filters, delays, and formatters. You can build actual business logic. Routes, conditions, data manipulation.

Winner: Zapier, decisively. IFTTT's simplicity is also its ceiling.

Integrations

IFTTT: Around 1,000 services, strongest in smart home, IoT, and consumer apps. Philips Hue, Ring, Nest, social media platforms.

Zapier: 8,000+ apps, strongest in business SaaS. Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, Google Workspace, and basically every business tool.

Winner: Zapier for business. IFTTT for smart home devices.

Ease of Use

IFTTT: Extremely simple. Pick a trigger, pick an action, done. Non-technical users can set up automations in minutes.

Zapier: More complex but still accessible. The visual builder is intuitive, though multi-step workflows take more thought.

Winner: IFTTT for pure simplicity. Zapier is easy enough for most users.

Reliability

IFTTT: Generally reliable for simple tasks. Update frequency varies by plan (slower on free tier).

Zapier: Enterprise-grade reliability. Faster trigger checks on paid plans. Built for business-critical workflows.

Winner: Zapier. When automation matters, reliability matters.

When to Choose IFTTT

IFTTT is the right choice when:

• Your automation is personal. Smart home, fitness tracking, social media.
• Simplicity matters most. You want the easiest possible interface.
• Budget is tight. $2.99/month covers most personal needs.
• Smart home is the focus. IFTTT has strong IoT device support.
• You don't need complex logic. Single trigger, single action is enough.

IFTTT Use Cases

• Turn off lights when you leave home
• Save Spotify songs to a playlist when you like them
• Get weather notifications each morning
• Post Instagram photos to Twitter automatically
• Track workout data across fitness apps

When to Choose Zapier

Zapier is the right choice when:

• You're automating business processes. CRM, marketing, support workflows.
• You need app integrations. Zapier connects to almost everything.
• Workflows have multiple steps. Data needs to flow through several actions.
• Reliability is critical. Business processes can't fail silently.
• You have budget. $30-100+/month is acceptable.

Zapier Use Cases

• Route leads from forms to CRM with enrichment
• Sync customer data between platforms
• Automate onboarding email sequences
• Create support tickets from multiple channels
• Generate reports from multiple data sources

When Neither is Ideal

Both IFTTT and Zapier follow the same paradigm: configure triggers and actions through a visual interface. The automation runs, and you trust it's doing the right thing.

This works well for simple, predictable workflows. It struggles when:

• You need data transformation. Neither handles complex data manipulation well.
• Transparency matters. You can't see exactly what's happening.
• AI should generate the workflow. Both require manual configuration.
• You want code-level control. Visual builders have limits.

Alternatives to Consider

When to choose Miniloop over IFTTT or Zapier

IFTTT and Zapier connect apps through configured rules. Miniloop generates workflows from descriptions.

You describe what you want ("enrich these leads with company data and score by employee count"), and AI writes Python code to do it. You can read the code, understand exactly what happens, and run it in secure sandboxes.

Choose IFTTT if:

• Personal automation is the goal
• Smart home devices are the focus
• You want the simplest possible tool

Choose Zapier if:

• Business app integration is the priority
• You need the most integrations
• Multi-step workflows are essential

Choose Miniloop if:

• You want AI to generate workflows
• Data processing is the focus
• You want to see exactly what code runs
• Transparency matters more than visual configuration

For more options, see our guides to IFTTT alternatives and Zapier alternatives.

Should You Choose IFTTT or Zapier?

IFTTT and Zapier aren't really competitors. They serve different markets with different needs.

IFTTT is for personal automation. Smart home, simple triggers, consumer apps. It's cheap, easy, and limited by design. If "when X happens, do Y" covers your needs, IFTTT works fine.

Zapier is for business automation. App integrations, multi-step workflows, conditional logic. It costs more because it does more. For connecting business tools, it's the default choice.

The decision is usually obvious: personal use means IFTTT, business use means Zapier. The harder question is whether either tool fits your actual workflow needs, or whether you need something with more capability, transparency, or AI assistance.

FAQs About IFTTT vs Zapier

Is IFTTT or Zapier better?

IFTTT is better for personal automation. Zapier is better for business. IFTTT costs $2.99/month for simple smart home and personal triggers. Zapier costs $29.99/month but offers 8,000+ business app integrations and multi-step workflows. The choice depends entirely on your use case.

Can IFTTT replace Zapier?

For personal automation, yes. For business workflows, no. IFTTT lacks multi-step logic, has only 1,000 integrations (vs Zapier's 8,000+), and doesn't support conditional branching. Businesses need Zapier's workflow capabilities.

Is IFTTT still free?

IFTTT's free tier allows only 2 applets, making it impractical for real use. Pro costs $2.99/month for 20 applets. Pro+ costs $8.99/month for unlimited applets. The free tier is essentially a demo.

Is Zapier worth the price?

For business automation with low-volume workflows, yes. The $29.99/month Professional plan includes 750 tasks. For high-volume or complex workflows, costs escalate quickly. Consider Make ($10.59/month for 10,000 operations) or n8n (free self-hosted) as alternatives.

What's a good alternative to both IFTTT and Zapier?

Make offers the best value for visual automation at $10.59/month for 10,000 operations with 2,000+ integrations. n8n is best for self-hosting with unlimited free executions. Miniloop is best for AI-generated workflows where you want to see the code (Free, $29/mo+).