IFTTT vs Zapier (2026)
By Noahlast updated
IFTTT
IFTTTA no-code automation tool connecting over 1,000 apps and smart-home devices through 'Applets,' free for 2 Applets, with Pro plans from $2.99/month for 20 Applets and Pro+ at $8.99/month for unlimited.
- Pricing
- Free tier · paid from $2.99/mo
- License
- Freemium
- Best for
- individuals automating smart-home devices or connecting personal apps who want simple no-code triggers rather than Zapier- or Make-style multi-step business workflows
Zapier
ZapierA no-code automation platform connecting thousands of apps through 'Zap' workflows, free for 100 tasks/month or from about $20/month billed annually for more volume.
- Pricing
- Free tier · paid from $19.99/mo
- License
- Freemium
- Best for
- non-developers and small operations teams who need to connect thousands of different apps through simple trigger-action automations, without engineering resources
Choose IFTTT if…
- You're automating smart-home devices across competing hardware brands (Philips Hue, Ring, Nest)
- You want the lowest-cost paid automation plan, starting at $2.99/month for 20 Applets
- Your automations are simple single-trigger tasks rather than multi-step business workflows
- You want an MCP server so AI assistants like Claude or ChatGPT can trigger automations directly
Choose Zapier if…
- You need the broadest pre-built app-integration library, covering thousands of connectors most teams already use
- You want multi-step Zaps with filters, paths, and webhooks for moderately complex business logic
- You're a non-developer operations team without engineering resources to build custom automations
- You want a free plan that supports real two-step automations, not just a single-trigger Applet
- You need shared team workflows and SAML SSO, available on Zapier's Team plan
IFTTT vs Zapier: feature comparison
| Feature | IFTTT | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Yesfree plan (2 Applets) | Yesfree plan (100 tasks/month) |
| Free tier | Yes2 active Applets, unlimited runs | Yes100 tasks/month, two-step Zaps only |
| Cheapest paid tier | Yesfrom $2.99/mo (Pro, 20 Applets) | Yesfrom $19.99/mo (Professional, 750 tasks/month, billed annually) |
| Team/SSO tier | Nono team management features | YesTeam plan from $69/mo, adds 25 users and SAML SSO |
| Platforms | Partialweb, iOS, Android (no desktop app) | Partialweb only |
| Hosting / license | Noclosed-source, cloud-only | Noclosed-source, cloud-only |
| App integrations | Yes1,000+ apps and smart-home devices | Yesthousands of pre-built connectors |
| Multi-step workflows | Partialmulti-action Applets on Pro tier and above | Yesmulti-step Zaps with filters and paths on paid tiers |
| Filters / conditional logic | Partialfilter code on Pro+ only ($8.99/mo) | Yesfilters and paths on Professional tier and above |
| AI-assisted workflow building | Nonot named in the data beyond MCP integration | YesAI-assisted Zap building and AI fields |
| AI assistant integration | YesIFTTT MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor | Nonot named in the data |
| Pricing model | Yesflat Applet-count tiers | Partialtask-based, cost rises directly with automation volume |
| Task/allowance rollover | Yesunlimited Applet runs at every tier | Nounused monthly tasks don't roll over |
| Learning curve | Yeslow | Yeslow |
| External rating (Capterra) | Yes4.6/5 from 220 reviews | Yes4.7/5 from 3,069 reviews |
Which is easier to use, IFTTT or Zapier?
Both carry a low learning curve in the underlying data, though IFTTT's single-trigger Applet model is narrower and simpler than Zapier's multi-step Zap editor.
IFTTT restricts each Applet to one trigger and (on paid tiers) a few actions, which keeps setup nearly instant. Zapier's Zaps can chain multiple steps with filters and paths, which is still rated a low learning curve for non-developers but takes more configuration than IFTTT's narrower model once a workflow gets past two steps.
IFTTT vs Zapier pricing: which costs less?
IFTTT costs less at the entry paid tier, starting at $2.99/month against Zapier's $19.99/month Professional plan, though Zapier's free plan allows more task volume for simple two-step automations.
IFTTT's Pro tier unlocks 20 Applets for $2.99/month, and Pro+ removes the cap at $8.99/month. Zapier's Professional plan starts at $19.99/month billed annually for 750 tasks/month and rises with volume, up to $2,199/month for 1 million tasks. Zapier's free plan (100 tasks/month, two-step Zaps) is more capable out of the box than IFTTT's free 2-Applet cap, but Zapier's paid tiers cost substantially more at comparable usage.
Which has broader app coverage, IFTTT or Zapier?
Zapier has broader app coverage, with thousands of pre-built connectors versus IFTTT's 1,000+ apps and smart-home devices.
Can Zapier replace IFTTT?
Yes for most business and app-to-app automation, since Zapier's multi-step Zaps and larger integration library cover everything a single-trigger Applet does and more, but IFTTT still wins on direct smart-home device coordination and lower entry price.
Zapier's Zap editor can replicate IFTTT's basic if-this-then-that pattern and extend it with filters, paths, and webhooks IFTTT lacks. Where IFTTT keeps an edge is consumer smart-home hardware: its integrations span competing device brands like Philips Hue, Ring, and Nest specifically, and its $2.99/month Pro tier is a fraction of Zapier's $19.99/month Professional plan for someone who only needs a handful of simple personal automations.
Strengths and weaknesses
IFTTT
Pros
- Connects over 1,000 apps and smart-home devices across competing hardware brands.
- Simple no-code Applet builder that non-developers can set up in minutes.
- IFTTT MCP server lets AI assistants like Claude and ChatGPT trigger Applets directly.
- Pro+ tier at $8.99/month is cheaper than most competitors' equivalent unlimited-automation plans.
Cons
- Free tier limited to just 2 active Applets, down sharply from an unlimited free tier before 2020.
- Far less depth than Zapier or Make for multi-step business workflows and data transformation.
- Applets are single-trigger, single-purpose by design, limiting complex branching logic even on Pro+.
- No team/collaboration features aimed at business use, unlike Zapier's shared workspaces.
Zapier
Pros
- Free plan supports real two-step automations, not just a trial, at 100 tasks/month.
- Broadest app-integration library among no-code automation tools, covering thousands of connectors.
- AI-assisted Zap building and AI fields reduce the manual setup needed for common workflows.
- Multi-step Zaps with filters, paths, and webhooks cover moderately complex logic without custom code.
Cons
- Task-based pricing means cost scales directly with automation volume, and high-frequency workflows can get expensive fast.
- Unused monthly tasks don't roll over, unlike some competitors' credit systems.
- Team and Enterprise features like SSO and shared workflows require a meaningful jump in monthly cost over Professional.
- Complex multi-branch logic can be harder to debug in Zapier's linear Zap editor than in visual-flow competitors like Make.
Which fits your use case?
| Use case | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Individual automating smart-home devices across competing hardware brands | IFTTT | IFTTT connects over 1,000 apps and smart-home devices across brands like Philips Hue, Ring, and Nest, a use case it's purpose-built for. |
| Non-developer operations team automating business processes across many apps | Zapier | Zapier's broadest-in-class integration library and multi-step Zaps cover business workflows IFTTT's single-trigger Applets can't. |
| Budget-conscious individual who just needs a handful of simple automations | IFTTT | IFTTT's Pro tier starts at $2.99/month, a fraction of Zapier's $19.99/month Professional plan, for straightforward trigger-action tasks. |
| Team that needs shared workflows and SAML SSO | Zapier | Zapier's Team plan adds 25 users, shared Zap workflows, and SAML SSO starting at $69/month; IFTTT has no team management features. |
| High-volume automation user watching monthly cost closely | IFTTT | IFTTT's flat Applet-count tiers avoid Zapier's task-based pricing, where cost rises directly with automation volume and unused tasks don't roll over. |
| User who wants an AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT) to trigger automations directly | IFTTT | IFTTT offers a dedicated MCP server for AI assistants to trigger Applets directly, a capability not listed for Zapier in this data. |
Neither a match?
Both lists carry verified pricing and honest weaknesses for every option.
Popular comparisons
IFTTT vs Zapier: migration FAQ
Should I use IFTTT or Zapier?
- Use IFTTT for simple personal and smart-home automations at a low price; use Zapier for business automation across a broader app library with multi-step workflows.
Is IFTTT cheaper than Zapier?
- Yes at the entry paid tier — IFTTT starts at $2.99/month versus Zapier's $19.99/month Professional plan — though Zapier's free plan supports more task volume than IFTTT's free 2-Applet cap.
Can Zapier replace IFTTT?
- Yes for most app-to-app and business automation, since Zapier's multi-step Zaps and larger integration library cover IFTTT's trigger-action pattern and more, though IFTTT still leads on direct smart-home device coordination.
Is there a free version of IFTTT?
- Yes — IFTTT's free plan covers 2 active Applets with unlimited runs, while Zapier's free plan covers 100 tasks/month with two-step Zaps only.
Does Zapier support multi-step automations that IFTTT doesn't?
- Yes — Zapier's paid tiers support multi-step Zaps with filters and paths, while IFTTT's Applets are single-trigger, single-purpose by design even on its Pro+ tier.