Zapier and Make connect apps so that one event (a form submission, a paid invoice, a new email) triggers actions elsewhere. Canadian freelancers use them for their own admin, and a growing number sell automation setups to clients. Prices are as listed on October 7, 2026.
This builds on the Zapier automation side hustle, Zapier automation pricing and Apps Script automation.
How do Zapier and Make compare?
Zapier is simpler and more widely used by small businesses; Make gives more room on its free plan and a visual builder for complex flows.
| Option | Best for | Pricing | In Canada | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zapier | Selling simple, reliable automations to small-business clients | Free (100 tasks/mo); Professional from $19.99/mo; Team from $69/mo (source) | Pricing page offers a CAD currency display |
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| Make | Multi-step, branching workflows on a budget | Free (1,000 credits/mo, 2 active scenarios); paid plans: see current price (source) | Available to Canadian users; check checkout currency |
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Prices and features from each company's own pages, checked October 7, 2026. They change often; confirm on the official site before you buy.
Is Zapier or Make cheaper?
On the free tier, Make gives more room: 1,000 credits a month against Zapier’s 100 tasks. Paid plans depend on volume. Zapier Professional starts from $19.99 a month at its lowest task tier, and Make’s paid prices are on its pricing page. Model your expected monthly runs before choosing.
Illustrative example: pricing an automation for a client
Assumed numbers, not a quote: you build a lead-intake automation for a local business.
- Setup: 4 hours × $75 an hour = $300.
- Monthly care plan: 1 hour × $75 = $75, plus the client pays their own Zapier or Make plan.
- Keeping the subscription in the client’s name avoids you carrying their software cost.
Rates are assumptions; see Zapier automation pricing for how Canadian freelancers set them.
Who should pick Zapier or Make?
| If you… | Lean toward | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Are a VA automating client admin | Zapier | Clients often already have it |
| Build complex, branching flows | Make | Visual builder, generous free credits |
| Need instant triggers on a free plan | Test both | Make Free has a 15-minute minimum interval |
| Want to learn on $0 | Make Free | More monthly credits to experiment |
| Sell maintenance retainers | Whichever the client already pays for | Less migration risk |
What automation mistakes do freelancers make?
- Building in your own account. Build in the client’s account so they own it.
- No error alerts. Turn on failure notifications.
- Ignoring task or credit burn. A loop can use a month’s allowance quickly.
- Moving personal data carelessly. Know what client data flows where; Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA) applies to many businesses.
- No documentation. Leave a one-page map of every automation.
Which guides sit next to this comparison?
Read your first Zapier automation client, Zapier automation startup costs, virtual assistant side hustle and AI consulting.
What are the common questions?
Is Zapier free?
Zapier has a Free plan listed at $0 a month with 100 tasks a month, two-step Zaps, and unlimited Zaps, Tables and Forms as of October 7, 2026. Professional started from $19.99 a month and Team from $69.
What does Make's free plan include?
Make's pricing page listed a Free plan with 1,000 credits a month, up to 2 active scenarios and a 15-minute minimum interval between runs on October 7, 2026.
Can I see Zapier prices in Canadian dollars?
Yes. Zapier's pricing page has a currency selector that includes CAD alongside USD and other currencies.
Should automation subscriptions be in my name or the client's?
Usually the client's. They own the account and pay the subscription, and you bill for setup and maintenance. That keeps access and data with the business.
Are Zapier and Make subscriptions tax deductible?
Software you use to earn business income is generally deductible on Form T2125. This is general information, not tax advice.
Which sources support this guide?
The rules, rates, and platform requirements in this guide are checked against these primary sources. Retail price ranges are labelled as ranges to verify locally, and they are not quotes.
- Zapier pricing — Zapier
- Make pricing — Make