Zapier vs Make vs GoHighLevel for Australian Workflows (2026)
Last updated: August 2026.
Zapier, Make and GoHighLevel get compared as though they are alternatives. Two of them are connectors and one is a platform, which means the real question is not which is best — it is whether you need a connector at all.
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Written by Dr Priya Jaganathan — Go High Level Certified Admin, Certified AI Tech Stack Consultant and keynote speaker. Pivot 2 Thrive implements HighLevel, so weigh that — the section on when a connector is the right answer is written straight.
Connectors versus platforms
Zapier and Make exist because businesses use many separate tools that do not talk to each other. They sit between those tools and pass data around.
GoHighLevel is a platform that includes the CRM, calendar, messaging, funnels and pipelines plus a workflow builder connecting them internally. Nothing needs passing between systems because they are one system.
That distinction decides the comparison. If your stack is five specialised tools chosen deliberately, you need a connector. If your stack accumulated because you needed a calendar, then a CRM, then an SMS tool, a platform may replace three subscriptions and the connector joining them.
How the three pricing models work
All three charge differently, which is where businesses get surprised. Published pricing as at September 2026 — verify before committing.
Zapier bills per task. A task is one action completed. The free plan allows 100 tasks a month with single-step Zaps; Professional starts around $19.99/month annually for 750 tasks, with Team around $69/month. Annual billing saves roughly a third.
Make bills per operation or credit. Each module that processes data consumes at least one credit. The free tier includes 1,000 credits a month, and paid plans start around $9/month for 10,000 credits on Core.
GoHighLevel bills a flat platform fee — roughly $97, $297 or $497 a month depending on tier — with unlimited contacts and users, plus usage for calls, SMS and email sending. Workflows are included rather than metered.
The practical implication: connector costs scale with how much automation you run, and platform costs do not. A business running heavy internal automation can find connector bills rising faster than expected.
| Factor | Zapier | Make | GoHighLevel |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Connector | Connector | Platform with workflows |
| Pricing basis | Per task | Per operation / credit | Flat tier + usage |
| Entry paid plan | ~$19.99/mo, 750 tasks | ~$9/mo, 10,000 credits | ~$97/mo |
| Ease of setup | Easiest | Steeper learning curve | Moderate |
| App library breadth | Largest | Large | Built-in, plus API |
| Complex branching logic | Adequate | Strongest | Good within the platform |
| Best for | Simple links, low volume | High volume, complex flows | Consolidating a messy stack |
If your stack has grown by accident, book a CRM transition call and we'll map what can be consolidated.
Not on HighLevel yet? Start with a free 30-day trial — enough time to see whether it replaces several of your current subscriptions.
Zapier vs Make, specifically
If you have concluded you need a connector, this is the real decision.
Zapier is easier. The interface is more forgiving, the app library is the largest available, and a non-technical person can build something useful in an afternoon. That accessibility is genuinely worth paying for.
Make is cheaper and more capable. Its visual scenario builder handles branching, iteration and error handling better, and the credit model delivers substantially more execution per dollar — reporting suggests Make can be meaningfully less expensive than Zapier for equivalent workloads above the free tier.
The trade is learning curve against running cost. Low volume and non-technical, choose Zapier. High volume or complex logic, Make's savings and capability compound quickly.
One caution on both: connector costs are easy to underestimate because a single business event can consume multiple tasks or operations. Model your actual volume rather than your workflow count.
How to choose in four questions
1. List your tools and ask why each exists. If three could be replaced by one platform, start there rather than connecting them.
2. Estimate monthly automation volume, not workflow count. Twenty workflows running rarely is cheap; two running constantly is not.
3. Who maintains it? Zapier survives a non-technical owner. Make rewards someone who enjoys it.
4. Are your tools genuinely best-of-breed? If you chose each deliberately for a reason you can articulate, keep them and connect. If they accumulated, consolidate.
Combinations that actually work
These are not mutually exclusive, and the sensible setups often mix them.
A common pattern is a platform for the core customer operations — CRM, calendar, messaging, pipelines — with a connector handling the few genuinely external integrations, such as an accounting package or an industry-specific system.
That limits connector volume to a handful of flows, which keeps task or credit costs low, while avoiding the fragility of joining six tools together with dozens of separate automations.
The setup that consistently disappoints is many tools joined by many connector workflows, because every integration is a point of failure and nobody can see the whole picture when something breaks. For the related platform comparisons, see GoHighLevel vs HubSpot and GoHighLevel vs ActiveCampaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Zapier, Make and GoHighLevel?
Zapier and Make are connectors that pass data between separate tools you already use. GoHighLevel is a platform that includes CRM, calendar, messaging and pipelines with workflows built in, so the components do not need connecting.
Is Make cheaper than Zapier?
Generally yes above the free tier. Zapier bills per task with paid plans from around $19.99/month for 750 tasks, while Make bills per operation with plans from around $9/month for 10,000 credits — substantially more execution per dollar for equivalent work.
Which is easier to learn?
Zapier. Its interface is more forgiving and a non-technical person can build something useful quickly. Make is more capable but has a steeper learning curve, particularly around branching and error handling.
Do I need a connector if I use GoHighLevel?
Often not for core customer operations, since the CRM, calendar, messaging and workflows are already integrated. You may still want one for genuinely external systems like accounting or an industry-specific application.
How do I estimate connector costs?
Model monthly execution volume rather than counting workflows. A single business event frequently consumes several tasks or operations, so businesses regularly underestimate by multiples when they budget from workflow count alone.
Can I use a platform and a connector together?
Yes, and this is often the best setup. Run core operations on a platform and use a connector for the handful of genuinely external integrations, which keeps connector volume and cost low while avoiding a fragile web of point-to-point links.
What setup should I avoid?
Many tools joined by many connector workflows. Each integration is a failure point, costs scale with volume, and when something breaks nobody can see the whole picture — which is usually a sign the stack should be consolidated instead.
If you're paying for tools that duplicate each other, that's worth mapping. Book a CRM transition call, or see how we work at Pivot 2 Thrive.
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