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No-Code · head to head

Stacker vs Zapier

Stacker logo

Stacker

No-Code

Permissioned portals over data that stays in Airtable, Salesforce or Postgres

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zapier logo

Zapier

Automation Integration

Automate your work across 7,000+ app integrations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zapier has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Stacker there is no source export and no self-hosting, so leaving means rebuilding the entire interface and permission model elsewhere, even though the underlying records remain yours.; Zapier the free plan allows 100 tasks per month and only two-step Zaps, one trigger and one action
  • They diverge on capability: Stacker covers Per-record permissions, Zapier covers App integrations.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Stacker and Zapier actually diverge.

Attributes where Stacker and Zapier differ
AttributeStackerZapier
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Api
CategoryNo-CodeAutomation Integration
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: 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 Stacker

  • Per-record permissions
  • External user portals
  • Live connection to the source
  • Page and layout builder
  • Workflow actions
  • Custom domains and branding
  • User onboarding
  • Role based navigation

Only in Zapier

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

What people use each for

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

Stacker

  • Giving clients a login that shows only their own records inside an internal Airtable basenot Zapier
  • Contractor or franchisee portals where each account must see one slice of a shared datasetnot Zapier
  • Replacing a spreadsheet emailed to partners with a permissioned live view of the same datanot Zapier
  • Putting a usable interface on a Salesforce or Postgres dataset for users who should never see the underlying systemnot Zapier

Zapier

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

Where each one falls short

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

Stacker

  • There is no source export and no self-hosting, so leaving means rebuilding the entire interface and permission model elsewhere, even though the underlying records remain yours.
  • Performance is bounded by the data source, so an Airtable base near its row limit or an API under rate limiting produces a slow portal that no amount of Stacker configuration will fix.
  • Pricing distinguishes internal editors from external portal users, so a portal that succeeds by adding hundreds of light-touch external users can end up costing more than the internal system it fronts.
  • Custom logic is limited to the actions and conditions the builder exposes, so anything resembling a calculation engine or a branching multi-step approval hits a wall and needs an external automation tool bolted on.
  • It is a portal and CRUD tool by design, with no offline mode, no native mobile application and no real reporting layer, so it will not be the only system a growing operation runs.

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

Stacker

On request
  • Stacker$undefined/month
    • Priced by workspace tier with caps on apps and users
    • External portal users charged differently from internal editors
    • Higher tiers add permission depth and support

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 Stacker if

  • You need per-record permissions.
  • You also want external user portals.
Stacker 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 Stacker or Zapier better?
Neither clearly leads. Stacker starts at On request and Zapier at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Stacker or Zapier?
Zapier has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Stacker and Free for Zapier.
Does Stacker or Zapier run on more platforms?
Stacker runs on Web. Zapier runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Zapier for free?
Yes. Zapier has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Stacker starts at On request.
What is Stacker best used for?
Stacker is most often used for giving clients a login that shows only their own records inside an internal airtable base, contractor or franchisee portals where each account must see one slice of a shared dataset, replacing a spreadsheet emailed to partners with a permissioned live view of the same data, putting a usable interface on a salesforce or postgres dataset for users who should never see the underlying system. Of those, giving clients a login that shows only their own records inside an internal airtable base and contractor or franchisee portals where each account must see one slice of a shared dataset are not what Zapier is typically brought in for.
What can Stacker do that Zapier cannot?
Stacker covers Per-record permissions, External user portals, Live connection to the source, Page and layout builder. Zapier covers App integrations, Workflow automation, Trigger-based actions, Multi-step Zaps.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Stacker: Where does my data live?

In the source you connect: Airtable, Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Sheets or your own Postgres. Stacker reads and writes to it rather than becoming the system of record.

Zapier: What happens if I exceed my task limit in Zapier?

If you enable pay-per-task, monthly plans charge 2.5 times your base rate for overage tasks, while annual plans charge 1.25 times. Usage stops at 3 times your subscription amount as a hard ceiling.

Source
Stacker: Can I export the app if I cancel?

No. The data stays in your source system, but the interface, permissions and workflows are Stacker configuration and do not come with you.

Zapier: Can I cancel my Zapier subscription at any time?

Yes, you can cancel anytime. Your access continues through the end of your current billing cycle.

Source
Stacker: Is it suitable for hundreds of external users?

Technically yes; check the pricing arithmetic first, because external portal users are charged separately and that is where the bill grows.

Zapier: How long does Zapier retain my audit logs and version history?

Professional plan users get 1-month version history, Team plan users get 6-month audit logs and version history, and Enterprise customers get 1-year audit logs with custom data retention available.

Source
Stacker: Will it replace Airtable?

No, it sits in front of Airtable. If the base itself is at its limits, the fix is moving the data to Postgres rather than changing the portal.

Zapier: What support do I get with my Zapier plan?

Professional and Team plans include email support available 24/7, with live chat available for higher-tier plans. Team plan includes priority support, and Enterprise customers receive a dedicated Technical Account Manager.

Source
Zapier: What discount does Zapier offer for annual plans?

Annual subscriptions receive 33% off the monthly rate. Non-profit organizations get an additional 15% reduction on top of the annual discount, though this excludes pay-per-task charges.

Source
Zapier: Does Zapier offer a free trial?

Yes, new accounts get a 14-day free trial of the Professional plan with no credit card required.

Source
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