Software · head to head
Windmill vs Zapier Plus

Windmill
Software
Open-source developer platform for building scripts, workflows, and internal apps
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Windmill free self-hosted tier caps SSO users at 10 and workspaces at 3, requiring Enterprise for larger teams.; Zapier Plus task-based pricing model becomes expensive at scale (10,000 tasks per month costs approximately $600/month)
- They diverge on capability: Windmill covers Script-to-workflow engine, Zapier Plus covers Advanced app integrations.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Windmill and Zapier Plus actually diverge.
| Attribute | Windmill | Zapier Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | Unknown |
| Platforms | web, api, linux, windows, mac | Web |
| Founded | Unknown | 2011 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Windmill
- Script-to-workflow engine
- Auto-generated UIs
- Self-hosted deployment
- Git sync
- SSO support
- Audit logs
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.
Windmill
- Turning ad-hoc scripts into scheduled jobs and APIsnot Zapier Plus
- Building internal tools from existing Python/TypeScript codenot Zapier Plus
- Self-hosted automation for engineering teamsnot Zapier Plus
- Orchestrating multi-language workflowsnot Zapier Plus
Zapier Plus
- Workflow Automationnot Windmill
- Data Integrationnot Windmill
- Process Automationnot Windmill
- App Integrationnot Windmill
- API Connectivitynot Windmill
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Windmill
- Free self-hosted tier caps SSO users at 10 and workspaces at 3, requiring Enterprise for larger teams.
- Compute unit and seat-based pricing (developer vs. operator seats, worker compute units) adds pricing complexity beyond a flat monthly fee.
- Email triggers are capped at 100/day on the free tier, limiting event-driven use cases without upgrading.
- Smaller ecosystem of pre-built integrations compared to more established automation tools like n8n.
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
Windmill
Free- Free / Open-sourceFree
- Unlimited executions
- Self-hosted deployment
- Max 10 users with SSO
- Enterprise$120/month
- Unlimited executions and workspaces
- Uncapped SSO seats
- 24/7 priority support (3-hour response)
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 Windmill if
- You need script-to-workflow engine.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on web, api, linux, windows, mac.
- You also want auto-generated uis.
Choose Zapier Plus if
- You need advanced app integrations.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want workflow automation.
Questions people ask
- Is Windmill or Zapier Plus better?
- Neither clearly leads. Windmill starts at Free and Zapier Plus at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Windmill or Zapier Plus?
- Windmill starts at Free and Zapier Plus at Free.
- Does Windmill or Zapier Plus run on more platforms?
- Windmill runs on web, api, linux, windows, mac. Zapier Plus runs on Web.
- Can I use Windmill for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Windmill best used for?
- Windmill is most often used for turning ad-hoc scripts into scheduled jobs and apis, building internal tools from existing python/typescript code, self-hosted automation for engineering teams, orchestrating multi-language workflows. Of those, turning ad-hoc scripts into scheduled jobs and apis and building internal tools from existing python/typescript code are not what Zapier Plus is typically brought in for.
- What can Windmill do that Zapier Plus cannot?
- Windmill covers Script-to-workflow engine, Auto-generated UIs, Self-hosted deployment, Git sync. Zapier Plus covers Advanced app integrations, Workflow automation, Multi-step Zaps, Custom logic.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Windmill: What does Windmill cost?
Windmill's Free and Open-source edition is $0/month for self-hosted use with unlimited executions, while Enterprise starts at $120/month with unlimited workspaces and uncapped SSO seats, priced further by developer/operator seats and compute units.
SourceZapier 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.
SourceWindmill: Is there a free plan and what are its limits?
The free self-hosted plan supports unlimited executions but caps SSO at 10 users, workspaces at 3, groups/permissions at 4, and email triggers at 100 per day.
SourceZapier 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.
SourceWindmill: How is usage metered on Windmill Enterprise?
Enterprise usage is metered through seats (developer seats at $20/month, operator seats at $10/month) and compute units, e.g. $100/month for 2 standard-worker compute units.
SourceZapier 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.
SourceWindmill: What happens to a self-hosted Windmill deployment if the company shuts down?
The pricing page addresses this directly as an FAQ topic, noting that self-hosted applications built on the open-source edition can continue running independently of Windmill the company.
SourceZapier 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.
SourceZapier 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.
SourceZapier 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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Zapier Plus
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