Hey, Eli Mercer here—AI strategist, solopreneur, and chief tool tester at NextGenAIFinder. If you’re a creator, marketer, or startup team looking to automate your marketing workflows, you’re probably stuck asking:
“Is Make.com better than Zapier for automating my marketing workflows in 2025?”
Short answer? If you’re serious about flexibility, cost-efficiency, and getting more done without hiring a dev—Make.com is 🔥.
But let me break it down in real terms. I’ve tested both platforms thoroughly inside actual client funnels and my own startup stack. Here’s what I found.
What Marketers Actually Look for in a No-Code Automation Tool
When I poll my clients and readers—usually solo marketers, startup teams, or small agencies—the main automation goals are:
- Automate repetitive tasks (think: email triggers, form responses, lead capture)
- Integrate their tools (CRMs, email platforms, spreadsheets, ecommerce tools)
- Scale campaigns without scaling labor
- Do it all without hiring a developer
Make.com vs Zapier: What Makes Each Tool Different in 2025
Make.com is a visual, drag-and-drop tool that lets you build complex, multi-step workflows that even devs would nod at. This isn’t your average “if-this-then-that” setup. You get filters, branching logic, real-time triggers, async scheduling, and complex integrations that grow with your business.
Zapier, on the other hand, is super beginner-friendly. If you’re setting up simple Zaps like “when I get a new lead in Facebook Ads, send it to Google Sheets,” Zapier is easy to get started with. But you’re going to hit its limitations fast when your workflows get more advanced.
So…Why Do Marketers in 2025 Prefer Make.com?
- Better value: More complex workflows, lower cost per operation
- Visual builder: See exactly how your marketing systems connect
- Advanced conditions: Full control with filters, routers, and logic branches
- Handles complexity: Perfect for multi-channel email blasts, ecommerce triggers, and CRM syncing
Zapier is great if you’re just starting out and have very basic needs. But for me—and increasingly, my clients—Make.com is where serious automation lives.
Real-World Marketing Automations I Built in Make.com (2025 Edition)
Here are a few real automations I set up last month using Make for a marketing client:
- Lead flow automation: When a user fills out a Webflow form → verify email via Clearbit → auto-send to MailerLite → tag in Notion CRM
- Multi-step abandoned cart recovery: Shopify trigger → send Slack alert to team → delay 2 hours → launch customized email via SendGrid
- Content drip distribution: Google Sheet input → auto schedule blog posts → trigger social posts across Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook
Try doing that in Zapier without going nuts—or paying $49+/month. Spoiler: You can’t.
What Real People Are Saying (💬 Live Feedback From the Web)
Trustpilot: “Make.com boosted our delivery pipeline and cut down 20+ hours per week on repetitive stuff.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reddit: “Steeper learning curve than Zapier. But once you get it? Absolute powerhouse for marketers.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
G2: “Easily the best value if you want to sync complex systems like HubSpot, email flows, and Slack alerts.” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
These reviews match what I’ve seen too. Once you’re comfortable with the flow logic, Make.com unlocks a level of automation Zapier just can’t touch—in less time and for less money.
Pros and Cons Breakdown (No Hype, Just Truth)
Make.com Pros:
- Visual editor makes mapping campaigns faster
- Supports advanced automation logic
- Real-time data updates
- Over 1,000 integrations for marketing tools
- Affordable even for startups
Cons:
- Some learning curve up front
- Support can be slow if you’re not on premium
- No white-labeled agency dashboard (yet)
Pricing: Make.com vs Zapier
Make.com: Starts free. Affordable paid plans start around $9/month. The best value I’ve seen for what you get.
Zapier: Starts free, but unlocks very little until $19.99/month and jumps steeply as you scale.
I saved over $400/year switching one of my ecommerce clients from Zapier to Make—while adding more functionality. That’s a win-win in my book.
Final Verdict: Zapier vs Make for Marketers in 2025
If all you need is simple tool-to-tool automation, Zapier is fine. But if you’re a modern marketer trying to save time, get more done, and manage campaigns without dev help—Make.com wins.
I personally moved 80% of my automation stack to Make in late 2024. And unless Zapier makes big changes in pricing or power, I’m not looking back.
Give it a try. You don’t want to still be uploading CSVs manually in 2025. 😬
Ready to Upgrade Your Workflows?
FAQs: Make.com vs Zapier for Automation in 2025
Q: Is Make.com hard to learn?
A: If you’ve never used an automation tool, there’s a learning curve—but it’s visual and easier than coding. Tutorials help a lot.
Q: Can I use Make.com for free?
A: Yes, the free plan gives you enough to test things out and build basic workflows.
Q: Does Make integrate with tools like Mailerlite, Shopify, or Notion?
A: Absolutely. If it’s a tool you use for marketing—chances are, it’s already on Make.com’s list of 1,500+ integrations.
Q: Will this replace my VA or team?
A: It won’t replace strategy—but it can replace the hours wasted on data entry, manual follow-ups, and keeping tabs across platforms.
Q: Is Zapier better for smaller tasks?
A: For dead-simple automations with limited steps, yes. But you’ll outgrow it faster than you think.
TL;DR – Which Tool Wins?
Go with Make.com if: You want to automate advanced marketing funnels, emails, outreach, lead syncing, or deals between multiple tools on a tight budget.
Stick with Zapier if: You only need very basic one-to-one automations with a gentle learning curve.
Every hour you spend doing things manually is time that could be spent growing your business. That’s why I test these tools for you—so you can skip the hype and get straight to what works.
Here’s to running a smarter, more automated business in 2025. See you on the inside.
— Eli Mercer, NextGenAIFinder