Head-to-head comparison
IFTTT vs Zapier
IFTTT is the cheaper way to connect consumer apps and smart devices. Zapier is the more capable business automation platform. The price gap is real, but so is the gap in multi-step logic, app coverage and support.
The short answer
IFTTT wins on price and simplicity. Zapier wins on workflow depth and business integrations. For a smart-home routine or a single social cross-post, paying for Zapier is unnecessary. For a lead-routing workflow with conditions, deduplication and a CRM, IFTTT will run out of room quickly.
Choose IFTTT if…
The automation is one trigger and one or two actions, runs on a schedule or a simple event, and does not need conditional branching or team permissions.
- Your automations are simple trigger-to-action applets
- You connect consumer apps, social accounts or smart-home devices
- You want the lowest possible monthly cost
- You do not need branching, filters at scale or team controls
Choose Zapier if…
The automation is part of a business process: several steps, filters, error handling, shared ownership and an audit trail.
- Workflows need multiple steps, filters, paths or webhooks
- You connect business apps such as CRM, support or finance tools
- You need shared workspaces, SSO and audit logs
- Reliability and support matter more than the lowest price
What each one costs
| Plan | IFTTT | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | $0 — 1,000 credits/month, unlimited Applets, hourly polling | $0 — 100 tasks/month, two-step Zaps, 15-minute polling |
| Entry paid plan | Starter — $2.09/mo billed annually ($25.08/year), 5,000 credits | Professional — from $19.99/mo billed annually ($29.99 monthly), 750 tasks |
| Mid plan | Pro — $5.49/mo billed annually ($65.88/year), 20,000 credits | Professional — $49/mo billed annually for 2,000 tasks |
| Top self-serve plan | Pro+ — $13.99/mo billed annually ($167.88/year), 100,000 credits | Team — from $69/mo billed annually for 2,000 tasks and 25 users |
| Billing unit | Credits (Applet runs plus AI features) | Tasks (successful workflow steps) |
Where they actually differ
| Area | IFTTT | Zapier | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| App directory | 1,000+ services, strong consumer and smart-home coverage | 9,000+ apps, strong business and SaaS coverage | Zapier is far more likely to support a niche business tool; IFTTT is stronger for consumer devices. |
| Workflow depth | Applets with multiple actions, queries, filters and delays | Multi-step Zaps with filters, paths, formatter, code and webhooks | Zapier handles branching and data transformation that IFTTT cannot match. |
| Polling speed | Hourly on Free; 15 minutes on Starter; 5 minutes on Pro and above | 15 minutes on Free; 2 minutes on Pro; 1 minute on Team | Neither is real-time by default; Zapier is faster on paid plans. |
| Pricing model | Credits per Applet run, including AI usage | Tasks per successful step; multi-step Zaps consume more | A five-step Zap uses up to five tasks per run, so compare the cost per completed workflow, not the headline task count. |
| Team features | Multiple accounts on Pro+, limited collaboration | Shared workspaces, folders, 25 users on Team, SSO and audit logs | Zapier is the only realistic choice for governed team use. |
| Support | Help centre; email support from Starter; prioritised on Pro | Email support on paid plans; live chat on higher tiers; priority on Team | Zapier's support is more mature for business-critical workflows. |
| AI features | AI in Applets, AI-generated Applets, IFTTT.ai MCP | AI by Zapier, Copilot, Agents and MCP with a shared task pool | Both are adding AI; Zapier's is more tightly integrated into workflow building. |
Which workflow fits you
The pricing pages look further apart than the real cost of ownership. IFTTT's Starter plan is a few dollars a month; Zapier's Professional plan starts at $19.99 on annual billing. But Zapier's free tier allows only two-step Zaps and 100 tasks, while IFTTT's free tier allows unlimited Applets with 1,000 credits. At the low end, IFTTT is dramatically cheaper for the same amount of simple automation.
The comparison flips when a workflow gets complex. A Zap with a trigger, a filter, a formatter and two app actions can consume several tasks per run. IFTTT's credit model also charges per Applet run, and its AI features draw on the same allowance. The honest way to compare is to price one real workflow you run daily: count the runs per month, the number of steps, and the plan tier that covers both.
App coverage is the other deciding factor. Zapier's 9,000+ integrations include the long tail of business software: CRMs, helpdesks, billing tools, data warehouses and internal APIs via webhooks. IFTTT's 1,000+ services are excellent for Google, social networks, smart-home devices and consumer apps, but a niche B2B tool is often missing.
Finally, consider who owns the automation. IFTTT is built for personal use; Zapier is built for teams, with shared connections, folder permissions and SSO. If a workflow breaks while you are on holiday, that difference matters more than a few dollars a month.
Scenario winners
IFTTT — Consumer device support and a very low entry price.
IFTTT — One trigger and one action is exactly the Applet model.
Zapier — Filters, paths and multi-step actions are native.
Zapier — The larger app directory is the deciding factor.
Zapier — Shared workspaces, SSO and audit logs.
IFTTT — The free tier covers more Applets than Zapier's free tier.
If neither is the right fit
Frequently asked questions
Is IFTTT cheaper than Zapier?
Yes. IFTTT's Starter plan is $2.09 per month billed annually, while Zapier's Professional plan starts at $19.99 per month billed annually. IFTTT's free tier is also more generous for simple Applets.
Can IFTTT run multi-step automations?
Yes, Applets can include multiple actions, queries, filters and delays. The limitation is the overall model: it is built around a trigger and its actions, not the branching, paths and code steps Zapier offers.
Does Zapier have a free plan?
Yes, with 100 tasks per month, two-step Zaps and 15-minute polling. It is enough to test the platform, not to run a business process.
Which is better for smart home automation?
IFTTT. Its consumer and device coverage is the reason it exists, and the price is far lower for that use case.
Sources and how this page was checked
This page is based on published product information, plan limits and pricing read from the official pages below in November 2026. It is not a hands-on lab test, and we do not claim to have used every feature. Prices and limits change: confirm them on the vendor site before you buy.
How we compared
Both products were assessed on their published plans, feature pages and pricing as read in November 2026. Where a claim depends on plan tier, we say so. We did not run a scored hands-on benchmark, and we do not present vendor marketing as independent testing.
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