Softwr

Automation & Integration · head to head

Power Automate vs Zapier

Power Automate logo

Power Automate

Automation & Integration

Automate your workflows with cloud and desktop RPA

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zapier logo

Zapier

All industries

Automate your work across 7,000+ app integrations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Power Automate unattended automation is priced per bot rather than per user, at $150 a bot per month against $15 per user for the attended Premium plan; Zapier the free plan allows 100 tasks per month and only two-step Zaps, one trigger and one action
  • They diverge on capability: Power Automate covers Cloud flows, Zapier covers App integrations.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Power Automate and Zapier actually diverge.

Attributes where Power Automate and Zapier differ
AttributePower AutomateZapier
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
PlatformsWeb, DesktopWeb, Api
CategoryAutomation & IntegrationAll industries
Founded20162011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Power Automate

  • Cloud flows
  • Desktop RPA
  • Button flows
  • Automated flows
  • Scheduled flows
  • Approvals
  • Business process flows
  • Analytics

Only in Zapier

  • App integrations
  • Workflow automation
  • Trigger-based actions
  • Multi-step Zaps
  • Data formatting
  • Conditional logic
  • Error handling
  • Team collaboration

Both cover

  • Salesforce
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Power Automate

  • Automating business processes across Microsoft 365 and other applicationsnot Zapier
  • Running attended and unattended robotic process automationnot Zapier

Zapier

  • Lead managementnot Power Automate
  • Data synchronizationnot Power Automate
  • Email automationnot Power Automate
  • Social media postingnot Power Automate
  • Customer onboardingnot Power Automate

Where each one falls short

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

Power Automate

  • Unattended automation is priced per bot rather than per user, at $150 a bot per month against $15 per user for the attended Premium plan
  • Having Microsoft host the virtual machine for a bot adds $65 a month, taking it to $215 per bot
  • Every published price requires annual payment
  • Copilot Studio is a separate product at $200 a month for 25,000 credits rather than an included feature

Zapier

  • The free plan allows 100 tasks per month and only two-step Zaps, one trigger and one action
  • Multi-step Zaps, filters, paths, webhooks and the formatter all require a paid plan
  • Premium app connectors are withheld from the free plan
  • Free Zaps poll for new data every 15 minutes against 2 minutes on Professional and 1 minute on Team
  • Paying monthly rather than annually costs 50 percent more, so the 2,000-task Professional plan is $73.50 a month instead of $49

Pricing, plan by plan

Power Automate

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 300 flows
    • Limited capacity
  • Cloud flows$15/month
    • Unlimited flows
    • Advanced features
  • Desktop flows$75/month
    • RPA capabilities
    • UI automation
    • Advanced features

Zapier

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 100 tasks/month
    • 5 Zaps
    • Two-step Zaps
  • Starter$19.99/month
    • 750 tasks/month
    • 20 Zaps
    • Multi-step Zaps
  • Professional$49/month
    • 2,000 tasks/month
    • Unlimited Zaps
    • Custom logic

Which should you pick?

Choose Power Automate if

  • You need cloud flows.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Desktop.
  • You also want desktop rpa.
Power Automate review

Choose Zapier if

  • You need app integrations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want workflow automation.
Zapier review

Questions people ask

Is Power Automate or Zapier better?
Neither clearly leads. Power Automate starts at Free and Zapier at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Power Automate or Zapier?
Power Automate starts at Free and Zapier at Free.
Does Power Automate or Zapier run on more platforms?
Power Automate runs on Web, Desktop. Zapier runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Power Automate for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Power Automate best used for?
Power Automate is most often used for automating business processes across microsoft 365 and other applications, running attended and unattended robotic process automation. Of those, automating business processes across microsoft 365 and other applications and running attended and unattended robotic process automation are not what Zapier is typically brought in for.
What can Power Automate do that Zapier cannot?
Power Automate covers Cloud flows, Desktop RPA, Button flows, Automated flows. Zapier covers App integrations, Workflow automation, Trigger-based actions, Multi-step Zaps. Both handle Salesforce, Cloud deployment.
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