Make.com vs Zapier for Indian SMEs · 2025

Make.com vs Zapier — which should your Indian SME pick?

Answer-first comparison for sales, ops, and support teams in India. We cover pricing reality, app coverage, complexity, DPDP/GST considerations, and how to migrate in days—not months.

TL;DR — quick recommendation

Zapier fits “simple & sales-led” stacks
Fastest setup for common CRM/ads/apps & multi-step zaps
Huge app catalog; ideal for lead routing, handoffs, and alerts
Clear task-based pricing for smaller volumes
GST invoices DPDP-aware flows LLM steps possible
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India stacks: Tally • Zoho • Razorpay KPIs: TAT ↓ • Errors ↓ • Revenue ↑ EN/HI playbooks

Make.com vs Zapier — Feature comparison for Indian SMEs

Facts-based view of app coverage, pricing units, power features, and governance—so you pick the right tool for 2025.

Feature
Zapier
Make.com
App coverage
How many official integrations
8,000+ apps
Largest catalog; many “premium” apps gated by plan.
2,700–2,800+ apps
Fast-growing library + powerful generic modules (HTTP, JSON, iterators).
Pricing unit
What you “spend” as automations run
Tasks
Each successful action = 1 task (plan caps apply).
Free plan basics

Free: ~100 tasks/month, 2-step Zaps, 15-min polling (as of 2025).

Operations & credits
Each module run=operation; credits track operations/AI/etc.
How operations add up

One trigger + 10 items downstream can multiply operations across modules.

Branching, loops, iterators
Complex logic, arrays, multi-path
Robust filters/paths; loops via utilities; advanced needs scripts or Code by Zapier.
Native routers (branches), iterators/aggregators, array tools—great for complex pipelines.
Triggers (webhooks vs polling)
Speed, reliability, control
Webhooks + polling; free plan typically 15-min polling interval.
Webhooks first; schedulers and instant triggers common; visual run history.
Data transformation
Parsing, mapping, JSON, spreadsheets
Formatters, Code steps, Tables/Interfaces options.
Mappers, JSON tools, iterators/aggregators, Data Stores; strong for ETL-ish work.
Governance & access
SSO, roles, audit trails vary by plan
SSO/roles on higher tiers; org features for larger teams.
SSO/SOC2 & GDPR statements; roles/spaces; logs in scenario history.
India specifics
GST billing, DPDP alignment, local stacks
Global billing; check GST invoices via account; strong app catalog for Indian tools via partner connectors.
Wide HTTP/API flexibility helps integrate India-first tools (Tally, Zoho, Razorpay) when no native app exists.
When to pick which?

Choose Zapier if you want the biggest app catalog and quick wins with simple multi-step flows.

Choose Make if you need visual branching, iterators, heavy JSON work, and cost control on high-volume pipelines.

Estimate your monthly usage (tasks vs. operations)

Model your flows and volume to compare Zapier tasks vs Make.com operations. Add optional ₹/unit and GST to approximate cost.

Scenario inputs

Tips: Triggers usually don’t consume a task/operation until an action runs. Iterating over arrays multiplies Make operations.

Estimated monthly usage

—
Zapier tasks
Enter ₹/task to estimate cost
—
Make operations
Enter ₹/operation to estimate cost

Compare these totals with the official plan caps for each tool to choose a tier. For complex pipelines (branches/loops), expect higher Make operations due to iterators/aggregators.

Migration playbook: Zapier ➜ Make.com (or hybrid)

A safe, step-by-step path used by Indian SMEs to reduce costs, add flexibility, and keep governance clean.

6-step timeline (2–4 weeks)

1) Inventory & tag

Export your Zap list, note triggers/actions, premium apps, throttling, and env vars (keys, webhooks).

Zaps CSV Premium apps Secrets

2) Group by pattern

Batch similar Zaps (same trigger, different branches). Pick 1–2 pilots with measurable ROI.

Branching KPI pilot

3) Rebuild as Make scenarios

Map triggers → modules, replace multiple Zaps with one scenario using routers/iterators/aggregators.

Routers Iterators

4) Secrets & retries

Move keys into variables; set retries/backoff and error routes with alerts to Slack/Email.

Error handlers Alerts

5) Parallel test

Run Zapier + Make in shadow mode, compare payloads, dedupe with idempotency keys.

Shadow run Idempotency

6) Cutover & monitor

Pause Zaps, enable Make schedules, add dashboards & alert thresholds; review weekly.

Enable KPI dashboards
Want a zero-downtime cutover plan? We’ll map pilots & KPIs free.

Which should you pick? Use our quick decision helper

Tick what matches your workflows. We’ll suggest Make.com, Zapier, or a Hybrid stack for Indian SMEs.

Your requirements

Flow complexity
Apps & integrations
Team & budget
India specifics

Make.com vs Zapier — FAQs for Indian SMEs

Clear answers on pricing, features, migration, and India-specific compliance (GST, DPDP).

What’s the practical difference between a Zapier “task” and a Make “operation”?
In Zapier, a task is usually one action step that runs (e.g., “Create lead”). In Make, an operation is one module execution (triggers/actions, including routers/iterators). Complex flows with loops/arrays tend to consume fewer operations in Make than equivalent tasks in Zapier, which is why Make often wins on cost for branch-heavy automations.
Tip: If you mostly do 1–2 step automations, Zapier’s templates may be faster to start with.
Which has more integrations?
Zapier has a very large app directory (thousands of apps), great for niche tools. Make has thousands as well plus strong webhook/API tooling. If your must-have app is Zapier-only, use a hybrid: keep that on Zapier, move branch/iteration flows to Make.
What about pricing for India (GST invoices)?
Both platforms support business billing; GST handling varies by payment processor and entity. We help structure invoices and export usage logs for finance. For budget-sensitive teams, Make’s operation-based billing is cost-efficient for complex journeys; Zapier’s task tiers are predictable for simpler automations.
How to stay compliant with DPDP while syncing data?
Keep payloads minimal, redact PII in logs, and restrict access with SSO/RBAC. Store opt-in/consent timestamps in your CRM and use per-flow retention rules. We configure auditable webhooks and encrypted data stores where needed.
Can you migrate existing Zaps to Make without downtime?
Yes. We run a hybrid cutover: clone logic in Make, replay recent events from logs/webhooks, then switch triggers flow-by-flow during low traffic windows. Rollback stays one click away until KPIs match.
Which is best for high-volume e-commerce events?
Make’s routers/iterators are ideal for order line-item loops, batching, and retry logic. Zapier shines for quick plug-and-play handoffs between popular store apps and marketing tools. Many stores use a hybrid to balance both.
Our team is non-technical. Which is easier?
Zapier’s template library and simple builder are very approachable. Make’s visual canvas is powerful (routers, variables, error handlers) but has a slightly steeper learning curve. We offer role-based training for either choice.
Not sure? We’ll benchmark both on your stack and send a one-page recommendation.

Sources, definitions & India notes (2025)

Facts in this guide come from official docs so your team can trust the numbers.

Official sources we referenced

Zapier Make.com India context
  1. Zapier app directory — 8,000+ integrations.
  2. Zapier plan selection — task counting, multi-step & premium app gating: Help: Choose a plan and Blog: Which plan?.
  3. Zapier Free plan basics (100 tasks, single/2-step zaps): see plan docs above and pricing updates plan improvements.
  4. Make.com operations definition — Help: Operations.
  5. Make.com pricing model update (credits replacing operations, 2025) — Credits announcement.
  6. Make.com integrations directory — 2,000+ apps.
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