🔍 The Problem
If you’ve tried Zapier, you’ve likely run into this:
It works, until it doesn’t
It’s simple, until you need logic
It’s easy, until your workflows get complex
Automation platforms aren’t just time-savers anymore. They’re infrastructure. And when your systems grow, your tools need to grow with them.
I started with Zapier. I moved to Make.
Here’s why.
⚙️ The Tools at a Glance
Feature | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
Visual interface | No (linear zaps) | Yes (flowchart-style builder) |
Logic & branching | Limited | Robust |
Data manipulation | Basic | Powerful |
Error handling | Minimal | Customizable |
Pricing | Higher at scale | More flexible |
Best for | Simple, linear automations | Complex, scalable systems |
🧠 Zapier: Clean, but Constrained
Zapier is great for:
One-way workflows
Simple “If X, then Y” setups
Beginners who want to automate tasks fast
But once your workflows grow beyond “Send this to Notion when I get an email”… you hit a wall.
There’s no visual map.
No granular control.
No easy way to debug.
🔧 Make.com: Built for System Thinkers
Make feels like it was made for people who want to build like engineers, without writing code.
You can:
Visually map your automation from end to end
Add logic, filters, switches, iterators, and routers
Test and tweak every step live
Track and log errors with clarity
Reuse scenario templates across projects
If Zapier feels like spreadsheets…
Make feels like a canvas.
🛠️ Real-World Example
In a recent workflow, I needed to:
Grab new Beehiiv subscribers
Log them in Airtable
Tag them based on signup source
Auto-notify myself if high-intent subscribers came from Twitter
Zapier would have needed 4 zaps and a Google Sheet in the middle.
Make handled it in a single, visual scenario, without breaking a sweat.
🤔 So Which One Should You Use?
Use Zapier if:
You’re automating simple, one-step tools (like Gmail → Notion)
You want quick wins without customizing logic
Your workflows don’t evolve much over time
Use Make.com if:
You think in systems, not just steps
You’re building a content or business engine
You want flexibility without hiring a dev
🔁 Transitioning Is Easier Than You Think
You don’t have to migrate everything at once.
Start with one scenario, like automating your content capture, your affiliate tracker, or your newsletter metrics, and build from there.
You’ll realize pretty quickly:
You’re not just saving time. You’re building leverage.
🔗 Want to Try Make.com?
I use Make.com in every post I write and every system I design.
→ It’s free to get started
→ No credit card required
→ You’ll probably never look back
🧱 Closing Thought
Automation isn’t just about efficiency anymore.
It’s about control, of your time, your systems, and your future.
Zapier got me started.
Make helped me scale.
And I’m betting it’ll do the same for you.