Comparisons

Top 15 Zapier Alternatives in 2026: AI-Powered

March 9, 2026·16 min read

Quick Answer: The 15 Best Zapier Alternatives in 2026

Looking for a Zapier alternative that fits your workflow? Here are the 15 best options, organized by type: Clarilo AI (AI-powered delegation), Lindy AI (AI agent builder), Relay.app (human-in-the-loop automation), Make (visual workflow builder), n8n (open-source visual builder), Tray.io (enterprise visual builder), Workato (enterprise iPaaS), IFTTT (simple applets), Bardeen (browser-based automation), Automate.io (lightweight workflows), Pipedream (developer-first), Activepieces (open-source developer tool), Power Automate (Microsoft ecosystem), Automatisch (open-source self-hosted). Each solves different problems. This post breaks down exactly who should use which tool -- with honest pricing, real feature comparisons, and no filler.

Why You Are Searching for a Zapier Alternative

Zapier is the default name in automation. It has been around since 2011, supports 7,000+ integrations, and popularized the trigger-action model that most non-developers now associate with the word "automation."

But Zapier is not the right tool for everyone. And in 2026, there are real reasons people are looking elsewhere.

Pricing scales with usage. Zapier bills by task. The free tier caps at 100 tasks per month. Paid plans start at $19.99/month for 750 tasks. If you run multi-step Zaps with loops and filters, tasks burn fast. A single workflow touching 50 CRM records once a week eats your monthly quota in days.

You are the automation engineer. Every Zap you need is a Zap you must build, test, and maintain. Zapier gives you a canvas and connectors -- it does not do the work for you. For non-technical founders, this is a bigger time investment than it first appears.

No AI-native execution. Zapier has added AI features, but its core architecture is still if-this-then-that. It moves data between apps. It does not draft emails, make judgment calls, or complete multi-step tasks end-to-end.

Maintenance burden. When an API changes, a connected app updates its data structure, or your process evolves, you manually update every affected Zap.

If any of this resonates, the alternatives below offer fundamentally different approaches. Some are cheaper. Some are more powerful. Some eliminate the need to build flowcharts entirely.

For a deeper dive into why the flowchart model is losing ground to AI delegation, see our Zapier vs AI executive assistant comparison.

Master Comparison Table

Before we dive into individual tools, here is the full picture at a glance.

Tool	Type	Starting Price	Integrations	Best For
Clarilo AI	AI Assistant	$19/mo	900+	Non-technical founders who want to delegate
Lindy AI	AI Agent Builder	$49/mo	100+	Building custom AI agents
Relay.app	AI + Visual	$9.99/mo	100+	Teams needing human approvals
Make	Visual Builder	Free (1,000 ops)	1,800+	Complex multi-branch workflows
n8n	Visual + Code	Free (self-host)	400+	Technical users who want control
Tray.io	Visual Builder	Custom pricing	600+	Mid-market teams
Workato	Enterprise iPaaS	Custom pricing	1,200+	Large organizations with IT teams
IFTTT	Simple Applets	Free (2 applets)	800+	Smart home and simple personal automations
Bardeen	Browser Automation	Free tier	100+	Sales teams doing browser-based tasks
Automate.io	Simple Workflows	$9.99/mo	200+	Small teams wanting basic integrations
Pipedream	Developer Platform	Free tier	2,200+	Developers who want code-first automation
Activepieces	Open-Source Dev	Free (self-host)	200+	Developers wanting open-source flexibility
Power Automate	Enterprise	$15/user/mo	1,000+	Microsoft-heavy organizations
Workato	Enterprise iPaaS	Custom pricing	1,200+	Enterprise integration and automation
Automatisch	Open-Source	Free (self-host)	40+	Privacy-focused self-hosters

AI-Powered Zapier Alternatives

These tools represent the next generation. Instead of asking you to build flowcharts, they use AI to execute tasks directly. You describe what needs to happen, and the AI does the work.

1. Clarilo AI -- Best Zapier Alternative for Non-Technical Founders

Clarilo AI is not a workflow builder. It is an AI executive assistant that takes your instructions in plain English and executes them across 900+ business tools. Where Zapier gives you a canvas to wire together triggers and actions, Clarilo gives you an operator that does the work end-to-end -- drafting emails, updating CRMs, creating documents, scheduling follow-ups -- and waits for your approval before executing anything sensitive.

The core difference from every other tool on this list is the paradigm. With Zapier, you are the automation engineer. With Clarilo, you are a manager delegating to a capable assistant. You do not build flowcharts. You do not map data fields. You do not configure conditional logic. You describe a task the way you would describe it to a human, and the AI handles execution.

Key differentiator from Zapier: Plain English delegation instead of flowchart building. AI execution with persistent memory instead of static if-then rules. Human-in-the-loop approval on every write action -- nothing sensitive fires without your sign-off.

What makes it stand out:

Persistent memory -- Clarilo remembers your business context, client relationships, and commitments. Your Monday follow-up emails are personalized because the AI knows your relationship with each client. A Zapier workflow sends the same template every time.
Human-in-the-loop approval -- Deny-by-default architecture. The AI does the work, then presents it for your review. Zapier fires automatically once active.
Proactive intelligence -- Morning briefs, stale promise tracking, pattern detection. Zapier only reacts to triggers you configure.
5-phase setup wizard -- Describe, Review, Configure, Test, Schedule. You verify the AI's work before anything goes live.

If you are a solopreneur who needs to automate tasks but does not want to become an automation engineer, Clarilo is built for you.

Pricing: Starter $19/mo, Pro $39/mo, Premium $99/mo. 7-day free trial, no credit card required.

Best for: Solo founders, entrepreneurs, and small teams who want to delegate work instead of building workflows.

2. Lindy AI -- Best for Custom AI Agent Workflows

Lindy AI lets you build custom AI agents (called "Lindies") that perform specific tasks. Each Lindy is a purpose-built agent -- one for email triage, another for meeting scheduling, another for lead qualification. You configure triggers, add AI reasoning steps, and chain agents together.

It sits between traditional automation and full AI delegation. You still build workflows, but the steps inside those workflows use AI reasoning rather than static data mapping. Think of it as Zapier where the actions are powered by LLMs instead of fixed API calls.

Key differentiator from Zapier: AI reasoning inside workflow steps. Instead of moving data from A to B with fixed rules, each step can interpret, decide, and generate content.

Pricing: Starts at $49/mo. Usage-based credits for AI operations.

Best for: Teams that want AI-enhanced automation but still prefer a visual builder interface.

3. Relay.app -- Best for Human-in-the-Loop Team Workflows

Relay.app combines traditional workflow automation with human-in-the-loop steps and AI capabilities. Its standout feature is the ability to insert human decision points into automated workflows -- the workflow pauses, a team member reviews and acts, and the automation continues.

This makes it particularly useful for teams where full automation is not appropriate. Approval workflows, content review pipelines, and customer escalation processes all benefit from Relay's hybrid approach.

Key differentiator from Zapier: Native human-in-the-loop steps built into the workflow builder. Zapier workflows fire automatically with no built-in pause-and-approve mechanism.

Pricing: Free tier available. Pro starts at $9.99/mo per user.

Best for: Small teams that need automation with mandatory human review steps.

Visual Builder Zapier Alternatives

If you like the flowchart approach but want more power, better pricing, or specific features that Zapier lacks, these tools are direct competitors.

4. Make (formerly Integromat) -- Best Visual Builder Overall

Make is the most popular direct Zapier alternative and for good reason. Its visual scenario builder is more powerful than Zapier's interface, with support for complex branching, error handling, and data transformation that Zapier makes difficult or impossible without code steps.

Where Zapier uses a linear step-by-step builder, Make gives you a true visual canvas where you can see data flow through branches, routers, and iterators. For people who think visually and want granular control over complex workflows, Make is superior to Zapier's interface.

Key differentiator from Zapier: More powerful visual builder with better branching, error handling, and data transformation. Often significantly cheaper -- Make's operations-based pricing tends to cost less than Zapier's task-based pricing for equivalent workflows.

Pricing: Free tier with 1,000 operations/month. Core plan starts at $9/mo for 10,000 operations. Pro at $16/mo.

Best for: Power users who want a visual builder that is more capable and cheaper than Zapier.

5. n8n -- Best Open-Source Visual Builder

n8n is a self-hostable, open-source workflow automation platform. It provides a visual builder similar to Make but with the added benefit of running on your own infrastructure. You own your data, control your execution environment, and pay nothing for the software itself (though you host and maintain it).

For technical teams that want full control, n8n is compelling. You can add custom JavaScript or Python code to any workflow node, build custom integrations, and extend the platform however you need. n8n also offers a cloud-hosted option if you do not want to manage infrastructure.

Key differentiator from Zapier: Open-source, self-hostable, no per-task pricing. Full code access inside workflow nodes.

Pricing: Free to self-host. Cloud starts at $20/mo. Enterprise pricing available.

Best for: Technical teams that want open-source automation with a visual interface and full code access.

6. Tray.io -- Best Visual Builder for Mid-Market Teams

Tray.io targets mid-market companies that have outgrown Zapier but do not need enterprise iPaaS. Its visual builder handles more complex scenarios than Zapier, with better support for loops, error handling, and data transformation. It also offers more robust connector management and team features.

The platform excels at operational workflows -- lead routing, customer onboarding sequences, cross-system data synchronization -- where you need reliability and monitoring that Zapier's lightweight approach does not provide.

Key differentiator from Zapier: Enterprise-grade reliability and monitoring with a visual builder that handles more complex scenarios. Better suited for operational workflows that run at scale.

Pricing: Custom pricing. Typically starts in the mid-hundreds per month range.

Best for: Mid-market teams running complex operational workflows that need reliability and team features.

7. Workato -- Best Enterprise Integration Platform

Workato is an enterprise-grade integration and automation platform. It sits at the intersection of iPaaS (integration platform as a service) and workflow automation. Where Zapier focuses on simple trigger-action workflows, Workato handles complex enterprise integration scenarios -- data synchronization across dozens of systems, multi-department process automation, and compliance-grade audit trails.

It is significantly more powerful than Zapier. It is also significantly more expensive and complex. This is not a tool for solopreneurs or small teams.

Key differentiator from Zapier: Enterprise-grade integrations, governance, and compliance features. Handles integration complexity that Zapier was never designed for.

Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing. Typically starts at $10,000+/year.

Best for: Large organizations with IT teams that need enterprise integration and governance.

Simple Automation Zapier Alternatives

Not everyone needs complex workflow builders. These tools focus on simplicity -- quick setup, minimal learning curve, and straightforward automations.

8. IFTTT -- Best for Simple Personal Automations

IFTTT (If This Then That) is the original consumer automation tool. It predates Zapier and takes simplicity to its logical endpoint: one trigger, one action. That is it. No multi-step workflows, no branching logic, no data transformation.

This extreme simplicity is both its strength and its limitation. For personal automations -- smart home control, social media cross-posting, simple notifications -- IFTTT is faster to set up and easier to understand than Zapier. For anything business-grade, it is too limited.

Key differentiator from Zapier: Radically simple. One trigger, one action. No learning curve. Strong smart home and IoT integrations.

Pricing: Free tier with 2 applets. Pro at $3.49/mo. Pro+ at $14.99/mo.

Best for: Personal automations, smart home, and simple cross-app triggers.

9. Bardeen -- Best for Browser-Based Sales Automation

Bardeen runs as a browser extension, which gives it a unique advantage: it can automate tasks inside web applications that do not have APIs. Scraping data from LinkedIn, automating browser-based CRM workflows, and extracting information from web pages are all within Bardeen's capabilities.

For sales teams that spend their day in the browser -- prospecting on LinkedIn, updating CRM records, researching leads -- Bardeen automates the repetitive parts without requiring API access to every tool.

Key differentiator from Zapier: Browser-native automation. Can interact with web apps that have no API, including scraping and form filling.

Pricing: Free tier available. Professional at $10/mo per user.

Best for: Sales teams and anyone doing repetitive browser-based tasks.

10. Automate.io -- Best Lightweight Zapier Alternative

Automate.io positions itself as a simpler, cheaper Zapier. It offers multi-step workflows (called "bots"), conditional logic, and data formatting -- but with a cleaner interface and lower price point than Zapier for equivalent functionality.

It does not try to compete on power or integration count. Instead, it focuses on making the most common automation use cases -- CRM to email, form to spreadsheet, lead notification -- fast and affordable.

Key differentiator from Zapier: Simpler interface, lower pricing for basic automation needs. Less powerful but less complex.

Pricing: Starts at $9.99/mo. Free trial available.

Best for: Small teams that want basic multi-step automation without Zapier's complexity or pricing.

Developer-Focused Zapier Alternatives

If you write code and want automation tools that respect that, these platforms give you full programmatic control.

11. Pipedream -- Best Developer-First Automation Platform

Pipedream is built for developers who want to write code but do not want to manage infrastructure. Every workflow step can include custom Node.js, Python, Go, or Bash code. You get full access to npm packages, can make arbitrary HTTP requests, and can store and retrieve state between executions.

It is Zapier for developers. The visual builder exists but is secondary to the code editor. Pre-built triggers and actions save time on common integrations, but you are never locked into a no-code paradigm.

Key differentiator from Zapier: Full code execution in every workflow step. Access to npm packages, arbitrary HTTP, and persistent state. Generous free tier.

Pricing: Free tier with 10,000 invocations/month. Paid plans from $19/mo.

Best for: Developers who want automation with full code control and no infrastructure management.

12. Activepieces -- Best Open-Source Developer Alternative

Activepieces is an open-source automation platform designed for developers who want to build and extend their own automation infrastructure. Like n8n, it can be self-hosted. Unlike n8n, it is built with a more modern tech stack and focuses on developer extensibility -- building custom pieces (connectors) is straightforward.

The platform is newer and has fewer integrations than established alternatives, but its open-source model and developer-friendly architecture make it attractive for teams that want to own their automation stack.

Key differentiator from Zapier: Open-source, self-hostable, developer-extensible. Modern codebase designed for custom connector development.

Pricing: Free to self-host. Cloud plans available.

Best for: Developers who want an open-source automation platform they can extend and customize.

Enterprise Zapier Alternatives

For organizations where IT governance, compliance, and scale matter more than speed of setup.

13. Microsoft Power Automate -- Best for Microsoft Ecosystem

Power Automate is Microsoft's automation platform, deeply integrated with the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. If your organization runs on Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and Dynamics 365, Power Automate is the natural choice. Its integration with these tools is deeper and more reliable than anything Zapier offers.

It also includes desktop automation (RPA) capabilities through Power Automate Desktop -- the ability to automate legacy desktop applications by recording and replaying mouse clicks and keyboard inputs. This is a category Zapier does not touch.

Key differentiator from Zapier: Deep Microsoft ecosystem integration and desktop RPA capabilities. Included in many Microsoft 365 enterprise licenses.

Pricing: Starts at $15/user/month. Often included in Microsoft 365 E3/E5 licenses.

Best for: Organizations already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.

14. Workato (Enterprise Use Case)

Workato appears twice in this list because it serves two distinct audiences. As an enterprise tool, it handles integration scenarios that Zapier and mid-market tools cannot -- multi-system data orchestration, compliance workflows, and department-spanning process automation with full governance and audit capabilities.

Enterprise buyers choose Workato when they need a single platform that handles both integration (connecting systems and synchronizing data) and automation (triggering processes across those systems). The recipe-based workflow builder is accessible to business users, while the platform provides the governance layer IT teams require.

Key differentiator from Zapier: True enterprise iPaaS with governance, compliance, and multi-department process orchestration.

Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing.

Best for: Enterprise organizations that need governed integration and automation across departments.

Open-Source Zapier Alternatives

For those who want full control, data ownership, and zero vendor lock-in.

15. Automatisch -- Best Lightweight Open-Source Alternative

Automatisch is an open-source Zapier alternative designed for simplicity. Where n8n can feel complex for basic use cases, Automatisch strips automation down to its essentials -- triggers, actions, and simple flows. It is self-hosted, free, and designed to replicate the core Zapier experience without the pricing.

The trade-off is a smaller integration library and less community support compared to n8n. But if your needs are straightforward and you want a lightweight, privacy-respecting automation tool, Automatisch delivers.

Key differentiator from Zapier: Free, open-source, self-hosted. Zapier-like simplicity without the subscription.

Pricing: Free to self-host. Community edition is fully functional.

Best for: Privacy-conscious users who want simple, self-hosted automation.

How to Choose the Right Zapier Alternative

The right choice depends on three factors: who you are, what you need to automate, and how much time you want to spend building.

You are a non-technical founder or solopreneur

Your time is your most valuable resource. You should not be spending it building and maintaining flowcharts. An AI-powered Zapier alternative like Clarilo AI lets you delegate tasks in plain English instead of engineering workflows. You describe what needs to happen, the AI does the work, and you approve the output.

If you are an entrepreneur who needs to automate repetitive tasks but would rather focus on growing your business than debugging broken Zaps, the AI delegation model is built for you.

You are a power user who loves visual builders

Make (Integromat) is the strongest direct Zapier competitor. Better visual builder, lower pricing, more powerful branching and data transformation. If you enjoy building workflows and want a more capable canvas, Make is the move.

You are a developer

Pipedream or n8n. Pipedream if you want managed infrastructure with full code access. n8n if you want self-hosted, open-source, and total control.

You are an enterprise buyer

Workato or Power Automate. Workato if you need cross-platform enterprise integration. Power Automate if you are a Microsoft shop.

You want the simplest possible option

IFTTT for personal automations. Automate.io for basic business workflows. Neither will replace Zapier for complex use cases, but both handle simple triggers faster and cheaper.

Why AI-Powered Alternatives Are Winning in 2026

The automation landscape is splitting. Traditional tools ask you to build. AI-native tools ask you to delegate. The difference matters more than most comparison articles acknowledge.

With a flowchart builder -- whether it is Zapier, Make, or n8n -- you are the automation engineer. You design every step, map every field, configure every condition, and maintain the entire system when things change. The tool provides the canvas. You provide the labor.

With an AI executive assistant like Clarilo AI, the AI provides the labor. You provide the direction. "Every Monday, check my CRM for stale deals and draft personalized follow-ups" is a complete instruction. The AI pulls the data, writes emails tailored to each relationship, and queues them for your approval. You review, approve, and move on.

This is not a marginal improvement. It is a category shift. The same way spreadsheets replaced ledger books -- not by being better ledger books, but by being a fundamentally different tool.

For a detailed look at how this paradigm shift plays out in practice, read our comparison of traditional automation tools versus AI assistants.

What About Open-Source Alternatives?

Open-source deserves special mention because it addresses two concerns that matter to many Zapier users: cost and control.

n8n is the most established open-source option. It has a healthy community, a visual builder that rivals Make, and the ability to add custom code to any node. If you have the technical chops to self-host and maintain it, n8n eliminates per-task pricing entirely.

Activepieces is newer but built on a modern stack that makes custom connector development significantly easier than n8n. If you need to integrate with niche tools and want to build those connectors yourself, Activepieces is worth evaluating.

Automatisch is the simplest open-source option -- a lightweight, self-hosted Zapier clone that handles basic automation without the complexity of n8n. Good for straightforward use cases where you want free and private.

The trade-off with all open-source options is the same: you are responsible for hosting, updates, security, and maintenance. There is no support team to call when something breaks. For developers, this is fine. For non-technical founders, it is a non-starter.

For a comparison of open-source AI tools in this space, see our OpenClaw alternatives guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free Zapier alternative?

For self-hosted, n8n and Automatisch are both free and open-source. For managed services, Make offers 1,000 free operations per month, IFTTT gives you 2 free applets, and Pipedream provides 10,000 free invocations per month. Clarilo AI offers a 7-day free trial with no credit card required if you want to try the AI delegation approach before committing.

Can an AI assistant fully replace Zapier?

For non-technical founders and solopreneurs, yes. AI assistants like Clarilo AI handle the tasks most entrepreneurs use Zapier for -- email follow-ups, CRM updates, scheduling, document creation -- with better results because the AI personalizes execution using persistent memory. You lose some integration breadth (900+ apps versus Zapier's 7,000+), but you gain an operator that does the work instead of giving you a canvas to build on. For enterprise data plumbing across dozens of niche systems, Zapier or Workato may still be necessary.

Is Make better than Zapier?

For many use cases, yes. Make's visual builder is more powerful, its pricing is typically lower for equivalent usage, and its branching and error handling capabilities are superior. Zapier's advantages are integration breadth (7,000+ vs 1,800+), brand recognition, and a larger template library. If you are building complex visual workflows, Make is generally the better choice. If you need a specific niche integration, check Zapier first.

How much does it cost to switch from Zapier?

The migration cost depends on your destination. For visual builders like Make, you rebuild your workflows in a new interface -- expect a few hours per complex workflow. For AI assistants like Clarilo AI, you describe each workflow in plain English and the AI handles the rest -- most people migrate their core automations in under an hour. For open-source tools, add hosting setup time. The ongoing savings typically justify the migration investment within 1-2 months.

What is the best Zapier alternative for small businesses?

It depends on your technical comfort. For non-technical founders, Clarilo AI eliminates the need to build workflows entirely -- you delegate in plain English and the AI executes. For technically comfortable users who enjoy visual builders, Make offers the best combination of power and price. For Microsoft-heavy businesses, Power Automate is likely already included in your license. For teams that need human approval steps in their automations, Relay.app is purpose-built for that use case.

The Bottom Line

Zapier is a good tool. It is not the only tool, and in 2026, it is not the best tool for most use cases.

If you are a non-technical founder spending hours building and maintaining Zaps for tasks you could describe in a single sentence, an AI Zapier alternative like Clarilo AI will give you those hours back. You stop engineering automations and start delegating work.

If you love visual builders but want better value, Make beats Zapier on power and price.

If you are a developer, Pipedream and n8n give you code-level control that Zapier's no-code interface restricts.

If you are enterprise, Workato and Power Automate provide governance that Zapier was never designed for.

The right Zapier alternative is the one that matches how you actually want to work. Not everyone wants to build flowcharts. Some people just want the work done.

Ready to stop building automations and start delegating? Try Clarilo AI free for 7 days -- no credit card required. Describe your first task in plain English and see what AI-powered delegation looks like in practice.