Zapier suits businesses connecting work apps, with a free plan that includes unlimited Zaps but caps you at 100 tasks a month and two-step Zaps. IFTTT suits people automating phones, smart home gadgets and simple personal tasks, with a free plan that allows 2 Applets but unlimited runs. One counts what runs, the other counts what you build.
Both tools connect apps so one thing happens when another does. They count usage in opposite ways, which is the first thing to understand. I read IFTTT's plans page and Zapier's plans page, and the facts below are from those pages.
IFTTT and Zapier free plans compared
| IFTTT | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, free forever | Yes, Free forever |
| What's capped on free | 2 Applets | 100 tasks a month |
| What's unlimited on free | Applet runs | Zaps, Tables and Forms |
| Steps per automation on free | Single action (multi-action on upgraded plans) | Two-step Zaps |
| Speed | Standard Applet speeds on free | Checks every 15 minutes on free |
| Webhooks | From the middle plan | From Professional |
| AI features | AI services on the top plan | Zapier Copilot on free; Agents, Chatbots, MCP |
| Built for | Smart home and personal productivity | Business apps and workflows |
IFTTT: simple rules for everyday life
IFTTT's free plan is free forever and gives you 2 Applets with unlimited Applet runs, standard speeds, the mobile app and 30 days of onboarding support. You can build your own or switch on published Applets other people have made.
The middle plan, aimed at smart home and productivity, raises you to 20 Applets with faster speeds, multi-action Applets, webhooks and customer support. The top plan, aimed at small business owners, offers unlimited Applets, AI services, multiple accounts on one service, and queries and filters. IFTTT says it connects over 1,000 brands and services.
Zapier: workflows for work apps
Zapier's Free plan is free forever and includes 100 tasks a month across Zaps, Tables and Forms, with unlimited Zaps, two-step Zaps and Zapier Copilot to help you build. On free, Zapier checks for new data every 15 minutes.
Professional adds multi-step Zaps, unlimited premium apps, webhooks, AI fields, conditional logic and email and live chat support, and checks every 2 minutes. Team goes to 1 minute. Zapier now counts AI steps, code and its SDK the same way it counts tasks, which keeps usage in one number.
Applets against tasks: the counting difference
Here's the part that decides it for most people. IFTTT limits how many automations you can switch on, 2 on free, but lets them run as often as they like. Zapier lets you build as many Zaps as you want but counts every task they complete, with 100 tasks in a month on free. One busy Zap, such as copying every new form entry into a spreadsheet, could use the whole Zapier allowance in a few days, while the same rule on IFTTT would keep running.
The flip side is depth. Zapier's free Zaps already have two steps and connect business apps, and its upgraded plans handle long, multi-step workflows with logic.
Who each tool suits
IFTTT suits people automating their phone, smart devices and personal routines, and anyone who wants one or two simple rules running all the time. Zapier suits businesses connecting CRMs, forms, email tools and spreadsheets, where workflows have several steps. If you're shopping around, see my roundup of Zapier alternatives and these AI automation ideas for small business owners.
My advice before you automate anything
Write down the one task that wastes most of your week and roughly how often it happens. If it's a personal or gadget rule that fires all the time, IFTTT's free plan suits it. If it's a business workflow between work apps, build it in Zapier's free plan and watch the task count for a fortnight, so you know whether 100 tasks in a month will cover you.
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Frequently asked questions
Is IFTTT free?
Yes. IFTTT's free plan is free forever with 2 Applets and unlimited Applet runs.
Is Zapier free?
Yes. Zapier's Free plan is free forever with 100 tasks a month, unlimited Zaps and two-step Zaps.
Which one allows multi-step automations?
Zapier offers multi-step Zaps from Professional. IFTTT offers multi-action Applets from its middle plan.
How often does Zapier check for new data on free?
Zapier's comparison table lists a 15-minute polling time on Free, 2 minutes on Professional and 1 minute on Team and Enterprise.
Does either include webhooks on free?
No. Zapier lists webhooks from Professional, and IFTTT lists webhooks from its middle plan.
Can I use automations other people have built?
Yes. IFTTT's free plan lets you switch on published Applets or build your own. Zapier offers templates and Zapier Copilot to help you build Zaps.
Which one has AI agents?
Zapier lists Zapier Agents, Chatbots, Canvas and Zapier MCP among its AI products. IFTTT lists AI services on its top plan.
