Zapier Pricing in 2026: What It Actually Costs

Zapier is the most popular workflow automation tool. It connects 7,000+ apps with a simple trigger-action model that anyone can use.

But the pricing model has gotchas. This guide breaks down what Zapier actually costs in 2026, where the hidden fees are, and when you might want an alternative.

What is Zapier?

Zapier automates repetitive tasks by connecting apps. You create "Zaps" that trigger when something happens in one app and perform actions in others.

For example: When you get a new email with an attachment, save it to Dropbox and notify your team in Slack. That's a Zap.

Core capabilities:

• 7,000+ app integrations (largest library available)
• Simple trigger → action model
• Multi-step Zaps with filters and paths
• Tables and Forms included free
• AI features for workflow suggestions

Who Uses Zapier?

Zapier is designed for non-technical users who want automation without code. Typical users:

• Marketing teams automating lead capture
• Sales teams syncing CRM data
• Small business owners connecting their tools
• Anyone who wants "if this, then that" automation

Zapier Pricing Plans (2026)

Here's the current pricing:

Annual billing saves roughly 33%. Most users land on Professional or Team.

Understanding Zapier Tasks

This is where people get burned. A "task" is any action your Zap performs:

• Sending an email = 1 task
• Creating a row in a spreadsheet = 1 task
• Updating a CRM record = 1 task
• Each item processed in a loop = 1 task

The trigger doesn't count, but everything after it does. A 5-step Zap uses 5 tasks per run.

The math adds up quickly

Let's say you have a lead notification Zap:

1. Trigger: New form submission (free)
2. Create contact in HubSpot (1 task)
3. Send Slack notification (1 task)
4. Add to Google Sheet (1 task)
5. Send welcome email (1 task)

That's 4 tasks per lead. Get 50 leads/day and you're using 6,000 tasks/month. You've blown past Professional's 750-task limit.

Real-world cost scenarios

Scenario 1: Light automation

• 3 simple Zaps, each 2 steps
• 10 runs per day total
• Monthly tasks: 2 × 10 × 30 = 600 tasks
• Zapier cost: Professional ($29.99/month) covers this

Scenario 2: Lead processing

• 5-step lead Zap
• 50 leads per day
• Monthly tasks: 4 × 50 × 30 = 6,000 tasks
• Zapier cost: Professional + overage fees (~$60-80/month)

Scenario 3: E-commerce automation

• 6-step order Zap
• 100 orders per day
• Monthly tasks: 5 × 100 × 30 = 15,000 tasks
• Zapier cost: Team + significant overages (~$150-200/month)

Scenario 4: Agency managing 10 clients

• 30 Zaps across clients
• 500 total runs per day
• Monthly tasks: 15,000+ tasks
• Zapier cost: Team + major overages or Enterprise

The pattern: simple, low-frequency Zaps are affordable. Complex or high-volume workflows get expensive fast.

Zapier Task Pricing Tiers

If you need more tasks, here's how pricing scales:

At scale, Zapier becomes one of the most expensive automation tools.

Zapier Pricing vs Competitors

Here's how Zapier compares for real-world usage:

Zapier's main advantage is simplicity and integrations. Its main disadvantage is price at scale.

Hidden Fees and Gotchas

Task overages

When you exceed your monthly tasks, Zapier charges per-task overage fees. These can double your bill without warning. Set up usage alerts.

Premium app charges

Some apps require the Team plan or higher:

• Salesforce
• NetSuite
• Oracle
• Workday

If you need these integrations, you're locked into Team pricing regardless of task volume.

Feature gating

Basic features require higher tiers:

• Multi-step Zaps: Professional and above
• Paths (branching): Professional and above
• Shared workspaces: Team and above
• SSO: Enterprise only
• Admin controls: Enterprise only

Free plan limitations

The free tier is extremely limited:

• Only 100 tasks/month (3-4 runs per day)
• Single-step Zaps only (trigger → one action)
• No premium apps
• 15-minute update time (vs 1-minute on paid)

It's a demo, not a real free tier.

When Zapier Works Well

Zapier excels at:

• Simple automations: Trigger → 2-3 actions
• Low volume: Under 750 tasks/month
• Non-technical users: No code required
• Obscure integrations: 7,000+ apps means yours is probably there
• Quick setup: Get running in minutes

When Zapier Gets Expensive

Zapier falls short when:

• High volume: Task costs scale fast
• Complex workflows: Better tools exist for data transformation
• Budget-conscious: Cheaper alternatives do the same thing
• Enterprise needs: SSO requires custom pricing
• AI workflows: No native AI capabilities

Alternatives to Consider

When to choose Make over Zapier

Make (formerly Integromat) offers similar functionality at 50-70% lower cost. Operations are cheaper than tasks. The tradeoff: steeper learning curve and fewer integrations.

When to choose n8n over Zapier

If you can self-host, n8n gives you unlimited executions for infrastructure cost only. You trade money for engineering time.

When to choose Miniloop over Zapier

Zapier requires you to build every Zap manually, step by step. Miniloop takes a different approach: describe what you want, and AI generates the workflow.

Instead of clicking through menus, you say "when I get a new lead, enrich it with company data, score it, and notify sales in Slack." Miniloop writes the code, you review it, and run it.

For complex data processing that Zapier struggles with, Miniloop handles it natively since everything is Python code.

Making the Right Choice

Choose Zapier if:

• Your workflows are simple trigger-action sequences
• You need obscure integrations (7,000+ apps)
• You're non-technical and want the easiest tool
• Volume is low (under 1,000 tasks/month)
• You value ecosystem and community

Budget expectation: $30-150/month for most users. Plan for overages.

Choose Make if:

• You need complex data transformation
• You want Zapier-like functionality at lower cost
• You're comfortable with a learning curve
• Volume is moderate (under 50k operations/month)

Budget expectation: $10-70/month depending on operations.

Choose n8n if:

• You have engineering resources to self-host
• You need unlimited executions
• Data sovereignty requires self-hosting
• You want code-level control

Budget expectation: $0 license + $50-200/month infrastructure.

Choose Miniloop if:

• You'd rather describe what you want than build it manually
• Your workflows involve data processing or enrichment
• You want to see and understand the underlying code
• You value AI-generated workflows that are transparent

Budget expectation: Free - $150/mo

For a deeper comparison, see our guide to Zapier alternatives.

Is Zapier Worth It in 2026?

Zapier is the easiest automation tool. Period. If you're non-technical and want to connect apps quickly, it's hard to beat.

But the pricing model punishes growth. What costs $30/month at 750 tasks can cost $300/month at 20,000 tasks. Make does the same thing for less. Miniloop generates workflows with AI.

If you're spending more on automation tools than the time they save is worth, it's time to evaluate alternatives.

FAQs About Zapier Pricing

How much does Zapier cost per month?

Zapier costs $0-150+/month for most users. Free: 100 tasks, single-step Zaps only. Professional: $29.99/month for 750 tasks. Team: $103.50/month for 2,000 tasks. Prices scale with task volume up to $5,999/month for 2 million tasks.

What counts as a task in Zapier?

Every action in your Zap counts as one task. The trigger is free, but each step after it uses a task. A 5-step Zap processing one item uses 4 tasks. Processing 100 items through a 5-step Zap uses 400 tasks.

Does Zapier have a free plan?

Yes, but it's extremely limited. Free plan includes only 100 tasks/month (about 3-4 runs per day), single-step Zaps only (no multi-step), 15-minute update intervals, and no premium apps. It's a demo, not a usable free tier.

Is Zapier cheaper than Make?

No, Make is 50-70% cheaper for similar functionality. Zapier Professional costs $29.99/month for 750 tasks. Make Core costs $10.59/month for 10,000 operations. At higher volumes, the gap widens significantly.

How can I reduce my Zapier bill?

Consolidate steps, reduce frequency, or switch tools. Combine multiple actions where possible. Run scheduled Zaps less often. Filter early to skip unnecessary processing. Or switch to Make or Miniloop for lower costs at scale.