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3scale vs Zapier Plus

3scale logo

3scale

Software

API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs

From
$300/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zapier Plus logo

Zapier Plus

Software

Advanced automation with Zapier

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zapier Plus has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 3scale red Hat's managed 3scale services end on 30 June 2027, so anyone adopting the hosted option now is choosing a product with a published end date; Zapier Plus task-based pricing model becomes expensive at scale (10,000 tasks per month costs approximately $600/month)
  • They diverge on capability: 3scale covers API Gateway, Zapier Plus covers Advanced app integrations.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3scale and Zapier Plus actually diverge.

Attributes where 3scale and Zapier Plus differ
Attribute3scaleZapier Plus
Starting price$300/monthlyFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premises, HybridWeb
Founded19932011

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 3scale

  • API Gateway
  • Developer Portal
  • API Monetization
  • Red Hat OpenShift
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Kubernetes
  • Cloud support

Only in Zapier Plus

  • Advanced app integrations
  • Workflow automation
  • Multi-step Zaps
  • Custom logic
  • Webhooks
  • Team collaboration
  • Premium support
  • 7000+ apps

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

3scale

  • API gateway and lifecycle managementnot Zapier Plus
  • Rate limiting and traffic control across API consumersnot Zapier Plus
  • Developer portal and access key managementnot Zapier Plus
  • Monetising APIs with usage-based plansnot Zapier Plus
  • Hybrid deployment across on-premises and cloudnot Zapier Plus

Zapier Plus

  • Workflow Automationnot 3scale
  • Data Integrationnot 3scale
  • Process Automationnot 3scale
  • App Integrationnot 3scale
  • API Connectivitynot 3scale

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

3scale

  • Red Hat's managed 3scale services end on 30 June 2027, so anyone adopting the hosted option now is choosing a product with a published end date
  • Sold as part of Red Hat middleware rather than standalone, and 3scale.net redirects into redhat.com
  • Pricing is not published and a subscription is required for some services

Zapier Plus

  • Task-based pricing model becomes expensive at scale (10,000 tasks per month costs approximately $600/month)
  • Free plan limited to 2-step Zaps only and 100 tasks per month, with no access to webhooks or advanced features
  • 15-minute polling interval on free plan prevents real-time automation triggers
  • Limited support for complex nested conditional logic compared to workflow platforms like n8n or Make
  • Third-party orchestration layer adds latency compared to native integrations within single platforms

Pricing, plan by plan

3scale

$300/monthly
  • Starter$300/monthly
    • API gateway
    • Developer portal
    • Basic analytics
  • Professional$750/monthly
    • Advanced features
    • API monetization
    • Enhanced support
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Custom deployment
    • Dedicated support
    • Premium SLA

Zapier Plus

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100 tasks per month
    • Unlimited Zaps, Tables, and Forms
    • 2-step Zaps only
  • Professional$19.99/month (annual pricing)
    • 750+ tasks per month
    • Multi-step Zaps
    • Webhook support
  • Team$69/month (annual pricing)
    • 2,000+ tasks per month
    • All Professional features
    • 25 users

Which should you pick?

Choose 3scale if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want developer portal.
3scale review

Choose Zapier Plus if

  • You need advanced app integrations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want workflow automation.
Zapier Plus review

Questions people ask

Is 3scale or Zapier Plus better?
Neither clearly leads. 3scale starts at $300/monthly and Zapier Plus at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3scale or Zapier Plus?
Zapier Plus has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $300/monthly for 3scale and Free for Zapier Plus.
Does 3scale or Zapier Plus run on more platforms?
3scale runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid. Zapier Plus runs on Web.
Can I use Zapier Plus for free?
Yes. Zapier Plus has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 3scale starts at $300/monthly.
What is 3scale best used for?
3scale is most often used for api gateway and lifecycle management, rate limiting and traffic control across api consumers, developer portal and access key management, monetising apis with usage-based plans. Of those, api gateway and lifecycle management and rate limiting and traffic control across api consumers are not what Zapier Plus is typically brought in for.
What can 3scale do that Zapier Plus cannot?
3scale covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, API Monetization, Red Hat OpenShift. Zapier Plus covers Advanced app integrations, Workflow automation, Multi-step Zaps, Custom logic.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Zapier Plus: How much does Zapier cost and what is included in each plan?

Zapier offers a Free plan with 100 tasks per month at no cost. The Professional plan starts at $19.99 per month (billed annually) for 750 tasks, with pricing scaling up based on task volume. The Team plan starts at $69 per month for 2,000 tasks. Enterprise plans are custom priced. Annual subscriptions receive 33% off compared to month-to-month billing.

Source
Zapier Plus: What is a task in Zapier and how much does it cost if I exceed my plan limit?

Each trigger and action pair in a Zapier workflow counts as one task. For example, a 5-step Zap that runs 1,000 times per month uses 5,000 tasks. If you exceed your plan's task limit, you can enable pay-per-task overage pricing. At higher volumes, Zapier can cost significantly more than competitors like Make or n8n.

Source
Zapier Plus: What can I do with Zapier's free plan?

The Free plan includes 100 tasks per month, unlimited Zap workflows, unlimited Tables and Forms, two-factor authentication, and basic AI features. However, it is limited to simple 2-step Zaps (one trigger, one action), no webhook support, 15-minute polling intervals for trigger checks, and only 2,500 records in Tables.

Source
Zapier Plus: How many apps and integrations does Zapier support?

Zapier supports integration with over 7,000 applications and services, including all major SaaS platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, Notion, GitHub, Stripe, Xero, and QuickBooks. This extensive app library is one of Zapier's main competitive advantages.

Source
Zapier Plus: Does Zapier support webhooks and advanced workflow features?

Professional and higher plans support webhooks, allowing data from apps without native Zapier integrations. Multi-step Zaps support conditional paths, filters, and approval workflows. Code steps allow custom JavaScript or Python logic for advanced automation. The free plan does not support webhooks.

Source
Zapier Plus: What are Zapier's limitations for complex automation scenarios?

Zapier's linear workflow builder struggles with deeply nested conditions and multi-outcome branching logic. As a third-party orchestration layer, Zapier adds latency compared to native integrations. Free plan polling is every 15 minutes, limiting real-time responsiveness. For high-volume automation (10,000+ tasks/month), Zapier becomes significantly more expensive than alternatives.

Source
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