Zapier vs Make vs Serenities AI: Which Automation Tool Wins in 2026?

An honest comparison of the leading automation platforms. Here's what actually matters when choosing your automation stack.

If you're building automated workflows in 2026, you've got more options than ever. Zapier pioneered the space, Make (formerly Integromat) brought visual complexity, and newer platforms like Serenities AI are challenging both with integrated approaches.

But which one should you actually use? Let's break it down honestly—because the right choice depends on what you're building.

The Quick Answer

Here's the TL;DR before we dive deep:

• Zapier - Best for simple automations, massive app library, highest ease of use
• Make - Best for complex logic, visual workflows, power users who want control
• Serenities AI - Best for AI-heavy workflows, integrated platforms, cost-conscious teams

Now let's look at the details.

Pricing: The Elephant in the Room

Pricing is often the deciding factor, especially as automations scale.

Zapier Pricing (2026)

• Free: 100 tasks/month, 5 Zaps
• Starter: $19.99/month - 750 tasks
• Professional: $49/month - 2,000 tasks
• Team: $69/month/user - 2,000 tasks
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

The catch: Per-task pricing adds up fast. A single workflow that processes 100 records counts as 100 tasks. High-volume users often face bills in the hundreds or thousands per month.

Make Pricing (2026)

• Free: 1,000 operations/month
• Core: $9/month - 10,000 operations
• Pro: $16/month - 10,000 operations + advanced features
• Teams: $29/month - 10,000 operations + collaboration
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

The catch: "Operations" can be confusing. Each module execution counts, so a complex workflow might consume 10+ operations per run.

Serenities AI Pricing (2026)

• Included in Serenities AI platform subscription
• No per-task or per-operation fees
• Unlimited automations on paid plans
• Use your own AI subscription (10-25x cheaper than API pricing)

The difference: Flow is part of an integrated platform, not a standalone tool. You pay one subscription that includes automation, database, app building, and storage.

Pricing Verdict

For low-volume users (under 1,000 tasks/month), all three are affordable. But at scale:

• Zapier becomes expensive quickly due to per-task pricing
• Make offers better value but still charges per operation
• Serenities AI wins on predictable pricing with no usage fees

Features: What Can You Actually Build?

Zapier Features

Strengths:

• 6,000+ app integrations (largest library)
• Extremely easy to set up simple automations
• Great documentation and templates
• Paths for conditional logic
• Built-in AI actions (ChatGPT integration)

Limitations:

• Complex workflows get messy
• Limited control over execution timing
• AI features lock you into their pricing
• No native database or storage

Make Features

Strengths:

• Visual workflow builder (see your entire logic)
• Powerful data transformation tools
• Routers, iterators, and advanced logic
• Error handling and retry logic
• HTTP module for custom API calls

Limitations:

• Steeper learning curve
• Can feel overwhelming for simple tasks
• AI integration requires external connections
• No native database or storage

Serenities AI Features

Strengths:

• Native AI integration (any model via BYOM)
• Built-in database (Base) for data storage
• Built-in file storage (Drive)
• MCP integration for AI tool-calling
• Connects directly to Vibe-built apps
• No usage-based fees

Limitations:

• Smaller third-party app library than Zapier
• Newer platform, still building ecosystem
• Best value comes from using the full platform

Features Verdict

• Zapier wins on app integrations and simplicity
• Make wins on complex workflow logic and control
• Serenities AI wins on AI integration and platform cohesion

AI Integration: The 2026 Differentiator

In 2026, AI capabilities aren't optional—they're expected. Here's how each platform handles AI:

Zapier + AI

Zapier offers built-in ChatGPT actions and AI-powered features. The catch? You're using their AI quota, at their prices. Want to use Claude, Gemini, or a custom model? You'll need workarounds through API calls.

Make + AI

Make supports AI through HTTP modules and dedicated OpenAI connectors. More flexible than Zapier, but requires manual setup for each AI provider. No native multi-model support.

Serenities AI + AI

This is where Serenities was built from the ground up differently. The platform lets you use your own AI subscription (ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro) which means:

• Connect OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, or any provider
• Use AI subscriptions instead of expensive API calls (10-25x cheaper)
• Switch models per-workflow based on task requirements
• Native MCP (Model Context Protocol) support for AI tool-calling

For AI-heavy automations, this flexibility is significant. You're not locked into one provider's pricing or capabilities. Learn more about real AI API costs in our detailed breakdown.

AI Verdict

If AI is central to your automations, Serenities AI offers the most flexibility. Zapier and Make treat AI as an add-on; Serenities treats it as foundational.

Integration Depth: The Full Picture

Here's something often overlooked: automation tools don't exist in isolation.

The Zapier/Make Problem

Both Zapier and Make are standalone automation tools. That means:

• Need a database? Connect to Airtable (another subscription)
• Need file storage? Connect to Google Drive or Dropbox (another service)
• Need to build an app? Use Bubble, Softr, or similar (another tool)
• Need AI? Pay for AI features or connect external APIs

Your stack becomes: Automation tool + Database + Storage + App builder + AI service. Five subscriptions, five logins, five sets of documentation.

The Integrated Approach

Serenities AI takes a different approach. Flow is one part of an integrated platform:

• Vibe - AI app builder (like Lovable/Bolt) - see our comparison
• Flow - Automation (like Zapier/Make)
• Base - Database (like Airtable)
• Drive - File storage
• MCP - AI tool integration

Everything talks to everything else natively. Your Flow automation can:

• Trigger from Base database changes
• Store files in Drive
• Update your Vibe-built app
• Use any AI model you've connected

No Zapier-to-Airtable connection needed—it's all one system.

Integration Verdict

If you're already committed to specific tools (Airtable, etc.), Zapier's library is unmatched. If you're building fresh or consolidating tools, Serenities' integrated approach reduces complexity and cost. See our comparison of automation alternatives for more options.

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Zapier When:

• You need simple automations between popular apps
• You're non-technical and want the easiest setup
• You need integrations with niche/specific tools
• Your volume is low (under 1,000 tasks/month)

Choose Make When:

• You're building complex, multi-branch workflows
• You want visual representation of your logic
• You need fine-grained control over data transformation
• You're comfortable with a steeper learning curve

Choose Serenities AI When:

• AI is core to your automations
• You want predictable pricing without per-task fees
• You're building a full product (need database, storage, app)
• You want to use AI subscriptions (way cheaper than API pricing)
• You're consolidating your tool stack

The Total Cost Calculation

Let's do real math for a mid-size use case: 10,000 tasks/month, needing database, storage, and AI.

Zapier Stack

• Zapier Professional: $49/mo (need upgrades for volume) ~$149/mo
• Airtable Pro: $20/user/mo
• Google Workspace: $12/user/mo
• AI API costs: Variable
• Total: $180-300+/month

Make Stack

• Make Pro: $16/mo (10k ops, may need more) ~$50/mo
• Airtable Pro: $20/user/mo
• Google Workspace: $12/user/mo
• AI API costs: Variable
• Total: $80-150+/month

Serenities AI Stack

• Serenities Starter: $24/mo (7.5k executions, 5 bases, 20GB storage)
• Serenities Builder: $49/mo (20k executions, 10 bases, 60GB storage) - Most Popular
• Serenities Pro: $99/mo (50k executions, 20 bases, 140GB storage)
• All plans include Vibe (AI App Builder), Flow, Base, Drive + use your own AI subscription (10-25x cheaper than API pricing)
• Total: $24-99/month for everything

Final Recommendation

There's no universal "best" automation tool. But here's my honest take:

Zapier remains the safe, easy choice for teams who want quick wins and have budget flexibility. Its app library is genuinely unmatched.

Make is the power user's choice. If you love digging into logic and want maximum control, it's excellent.

Serenities AI represents where automation is heading: AI-native, integrated, and predictably priced. If you're building AI-powered products or tired of managing multiple tool subscriptions, it's worth serious consideration.

The automation landscape has never been more competitive—which means we all win as users.

Ready to try a different approach to automation? Serenities AI combines automation (Flow), database (Base), app building (Vibe), and storage (Drive) in one integrated platform. Bring your own AI models, pay no per-task fees, and build faster. Start free today.