Yes, Zapier is free. Zapier's Free plan is free forever and includes unlimited Zaps, Tables and Forms with 100 tasks a month, but each Zap can only have two steps, it checks for new data every 15 minutes and premium apps aren't included.
Zapier is the tool a lot of small businesses use to connect their apps, so a new lead in one tool lands in another without anyone copying and pasting. The free plan is a decent way to learn it, as long as you understand what a task is, because that's what runs out.
What's on Zapier's Free plan
- Unlimited Zaps, Tables and Forms, so you can build as many workflows as you like.
- 100 tasks a month, shared across your whole account.
- Two-step Zaps: one trigger and one action.
- Zapier Copilot, the AI helper that builds Zaps from a description.
- 15-minute polling, which is how often Zapier checks your apps for something new.
- Access to the full Zapier platform, which Zapier says every plan includes, connecting with more than 9,000 apps.
Zapier Free vs Professional
| Feature | Free | Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Zaps | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Steps per Zap | Two-step | Multi-step |
| Polling time | 15 min | 2 min |
| Premium apps | No | Unlimited |
| Webhooks | No | Yes |
| Tasks | 100 monthly | From 750 monthly |
| Support | Email and live chat |
What counts as a task on Zapier
This is the part to get right before you build anything. Zapier says a task is used when a Zap successfully moves data or completes an action for you. If your Zap creates a new contact, each contact created uses one task. Some apps or actions may use more than one task.
The good news is what doesn't count. Zapier says triggers don't count toward your task limit, and if an action isn't completed successfully, it doesn't use a task either. So a Zap that checks your inbox all day only uses tasks when it does something.
The Zapier free plan catches
Three things trip people up. First, two steps means one trigger and one action. A Zap like new form entry, add to your email list and send a Slack message needs three steps, so it needs a higher plan. On free, you'd split it into two separate Zaps, which uses tasks from the same 100.
Second, premium apps. Zapier says premium apps are available only on its higher plans, so check that both of your apps are standard before you plan a workflow around them.
Third, speed. With 15-minute polling, a lead from your website form might reach your CRM up to 15 minutes later. For most small businesses that's fine. For a team ringing hot leads within minutes, it isn't.
How to make 100 tasks go further
- Automate the jobs that happen a few times a week, not hundreds of times a day.
- Pick triggers that only fire on what matters, such as a new starred email rather than every new email.
- Avoid Zaps that fire on every small change, such as every edited row in a spreadsheet.
- Check your task usage in your account each week for the first month.
- Turn off any Zap you've stopped needing, so it can't use tasks by accident.
Tables, Forms and Copilot: the free extras
The free plan isn't just Zaps. Zapier includes Tables, which are simple databases for storing data inside Zapier, and Forms, for building your own forms and small tools. Its comparison shows unlimited tables on every plan, with up to 100 fields per table. That means you can collect enquiries in a Zapier form, store them in a table and pass them on with a two-step Zap, all on free.
Copilot, Zapier's AI helper in the editor, is listed as a key feature of the free plan. You describe what you want in plain English and it suggests the Zap. It's a handy way to learn, as long as you check each step before you switch it on.
Support differs too. The free plan comes with email support, while live chat starts on Professional.
Starter Zaps that suit the free plan
- New form submission, then add the person to your email list.
- New calendar booking, then create a task in your project tool.
- New file in a shared folder, then post a message in your team chat.
- New starred email, then save it as a row in a spreadsheet.
Each of these is a simple trigger and one action, so they fit the two-step limit. For more ideas, my guide to AI workflow automation for small business shows where automation saves the most time, and this overview of AI automation for small business covers what to automate first.
Who Zapier's free plan suits
The free plan suits solo business owners who want to automate one or two repetitive jobs between standard apps and don't mind a short delay. It's also a good, low-risk way to learn how automation works.
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It suits you less if your workflows need several steps, connect to premium apps or run hundreds of times a month. You'll hit the step limit before the task limit in most cases.
My verdict: Zapier is free and the free plan is a fair way to start. Keep each Zap to a trigger and one action, watch your 100 tasks, and only move up when a workflow you rely on needs more steps.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zapier free?
Yes. Zapier has a Free plan that's free forever, with unlimited Zaps, Tables and Forms and 100 tasks a month.
How many tasks do you get on Zapier's free plan?
The Free plan includes 100 tasks a month, shared across your account. A task is used each time a Zap successfully completes an action.
Do triggers count as tasks on Zapier?
No. Zapier says triggers don't count toward your task limit, and actions that don't complete successfully don't use a task either.
Can I make multi-step Zaps for free?
No. The Free plan includes two-step Zaps, with one trigger and one action. Multi-step Zaps start on the Professional plan.
How often does a free Zap run?
Zapier's comparison shows a polling time of 15 minutes on the Free plan, compared with 2 minutes on Professional.
Does Zapier's free plan include Tables and Forms?
Yes. Zapier says Zaps, Tables and Forms are all included on the Free plan, with unlimited tables and up to 100 fields per table.
Does the Zapier free plan include premium apps?
No. Zapier says premium apps are available only on its higher plans.
