Pick Pipedream if
app teams who will stay on Free $0 while they build in development, then buy Startup at $99/month billed annually ($150 monthly) the day they serve real external users.
Read the Pipedream pagePipedream vs Zapier
Our take
Pick Pipedream if app teams who will stay on Free $0 while they build in development, then buy Startup at $99/month billed annually ($150 monthly) the day they serve real external users. Pick Zapier if ops, marketing, and support teams who will not run Docker and need the widest app catalog. Skip Zapier if teams that need self-host / data residency, or engineers who want JS/Python nodes and git-backed workflows as
Best for
Pipedream 3,000 APIs behind one auth layer you meter in credits
Zapier Wiring SaaS tools together without operating a server
Free plan
Pipedream $0 · no card. Every feature in development. 3,000+ connectors. 10,000+ tools/triggers. MCP + Connect proxy. Unlimited team members. Community support. No production for external users
Zapier $0 · 100 tasks/month, unlimited two-step Zaps, 15-minute polling. Copilot has a daily message cap
Lowest paid
Pipedream Startup $99/user/mo, monthly only
Zapier Professional (Pro) $19.99/mo
Coding agent
Pipedream MCP servers
Zapier AI on the platform
Runs where
Pipedream Local; you host it
Zapier Desktop editor; models hosted
Watch out
Pipedream Free is development only
Zapier Free is two-step only
Last checked
Pipedream 2026-10-22 · pipedream.com/pricing
Zapier 2026-10-19 · zapier.com/pricing
Which one, then?
Pick Zapier if
ops, marketing, and support teams who will not run Docker and need the widest app catalog.
Read the Zapier page