Our verdict: count the workflow in each unit before switching
Zapier's bill grows with successful actions. [2] The alternatives here use different units, so they only save money if your workflow happens to be small in their unit. A long workflow that runs often is cheapest in per-run units like n8n's; a polling workflow with few actions is cheap in task units like Pabbly Connect's.
Who should switch: someone on a Zapier tier above 2,000 tasks for a handful of predictable workflows on mainstream apps. Who should stay: anyone relying on niche apps, Zapier-only features or a team that cannot afford rebuild time.
The sample workflow
Hypothetical: a new order in a store app triggers the workflow. A Filter drops test orders, a Formatter cleans the customer name, then four actions run: create an invoice, add a spreadsheet row, add the customer to an email list, and post a message to the team. It runs 1,000 times a month after filtering.
Zapier: triggers, Filter and Formatter steps do not count, so each run is 4 tasks, or 4,000 a month. [2] Pabbly Connect: triggers, Filter and Text Formatter are free internal steps, so each run is 4 tasks, or 4,000 a month. [5] Make: one credit for the trigger read and one per action is about 5 credits per run, or about 5,000 a month; if the formatting is done in a separate module, add one more. [4] n8n: each run is one execution, so 1,000 a month. [6]
Same workflow, four bills
Prices displayed on official pages on 2026-10-29. Currencies differ because each page showed a different one to our fetch; compare in your own currency at checkout.
| Tool | Monthly usage | Plan that covers it | Price shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | 4,000 tasks | Professional 5,000 tasks [1] | $89/mo billed annually or $133.50 monthly [1] |
| Pabbly Connect | 4,000 tasks | Standard 10,000 tasks [5] | INR 1,138/mo as displayed; the buy link pointed to 3-year billing, and the page lists yearly, 2-year and 3-year savings of 15, 20 and 25 percent [5] |
| n8n Cloud | 1,000 executions | Starter 2.5K executions [6] | 20 EUR/mo billed annually [6] |
| n8n self-hosted | 1,000 executions | Community edition [7] | No subscription; you pay for the server and upkeep [7] |
| Make | About 5,000 credits | Paid tier covering 5,000 credits; Free is 1,000 [3] | Not readable in page text; check the live grid |
When the cheaper option stops being cheaper
Add a polling trigger and the ranking shifts. Zapier and Pabbly Connect do not charge for polling checks, while Make charges credits for reading data from an app. [2] [5] [3] n8n counts each workflow run as an execution, so if your build starts a run on every scheduled check, those checks count too. [6] A workflow that checks every 15 minutes but rarely finds anything can cost more on Make, and possibly on n8n Cloud, than on task-based tools.
Also check Zapier's own tiers before leaving: 2,000 tasks is $49 a month billed annually on Professional, so trimming one action or filtering earlier can drop you a tier without switching. [1]
What you give up by leaving Zapier
- App coverage: Zapier states 9,000+ connected apps; Make states 3,000+ in its pricing page header, Pabbly Connect 2,000+, and n8n 2,000+. [1] [3] [5] [8]
- Fast polling on paid plans: Professional lists a 2-minute polling interval and Team 1 minute. [1]
- Free tools inside workflows: Formatter, Delay, Looping, Digest and Storage steps do not use tasks on Zapier. [2]
- Team access on Pabbly Connect monthly plans: the page says team members are not available on monthly plans. [5]
- Managed hosting, if you choose n8n self-hosted: maintenance becomes your job. [7]
Checklist before you cancel Zapier
- Export task usage per Zap for the last two months.
- Recount the top three Zaps in each alternative's unit using the rules above.
- Confirm every app has a connector in the alternative.
- Rebuild one workflow and run both in parallel for a cycle.
- Turn off pay-per-task on Zapier during the overlap to avoid overage. [1]
- Cancel only after the new tool's counts match your estimate.
Questions before you decide
Why can the same workflow cost so differently?
Each vendor counts something different. Zapier counts successful actions, Pabbly Connect counts actions on external apps, Make charges credits per module action including trigger reads, and n8n counts one execution per workflow run. [2] [5] [3] [6]
What happens if I go over my Zapier task limit?
With pay-per-task enabled, extra tasks are billed at 1.25 times the base rate on annual plans and 2.5 times on monthly plans, and usage pauses at 3 times your subscription. Without it, usage stops at the limit. [1]
Is the cheapest option the best one?
Not by itself. Check app coverage, team access, and who maintains a self-hosted instance before switching. [7]
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Zapier pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Zapier Help: How is task usage measured in Zapier? Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Make pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Make Help Center: Credits Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Pabbly Connect pricing page (prices displayed in INR to our fetch) Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- n8n pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- n8n Docs: Choose how to use n8n Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- n8n integrations directory Accessed 29 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.