IFTTT vs Zapier: Which automation platform should you choose in 2026?

IFTTT excels at consumer and IoT automation with 800+ services and very affordable pricing starting at $3.49/month. Zapier dominates business automation with 7,000+ apps, multi-step workflows, and team features starting at $19.99/month. Choose IFTTT for smart home; choose Zapier for business processes.

IFTTT vs Zapier: Which Should You Choose in 2026?

IFTTT vs Zapier: Choosing the Right Automation Platform in 2026

IFTTT and Zapier are both household names in automation, but they have diverged significantly in their target audiences and capabilities.

IFTTT: The Consumer and IoT Champion

IFTTT was founded in 2011 and pioneered the concept of simple if-this-then-that automation. Today it connects 800+ services with a particular strength in smart home and IoT devices. Key advantages:

Unmatched IoT support: Direct integration with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, and hundreds of smart devices
Consumer-friendly pricing: Pro plan at $3.49/month is very affordable
IFTTT Connect: A platform for businesses to embed IFTTT integrations into their own products
Simple applet model: Very easy to understand and set up

Limitations: IFTTT applets are limited to a single trigger and action on the free plan, and even Pro+ allows only multi-step with limited complexity. Data transformation capabilities are minimal.

Zapier: The Business Automation Powerhouse

Zapier has grown into the dominant business automation platform with 7,000+ app connections. Key advantages:

Largest app ecosystem: 7,000+ integrations cover virtually every business tool
Multi-step workflows: Build complex workflows with branching, filters, and formatters
Team features: Shared workspaces, folders, and role-based access
Code steps: Python and JavaScript code steps for custom logic
Tables and Interfaces: Built-in database and form builder

Limitations: Pricing can escalate quickly with task-based billing, especially for high-volume workflows. Starting at $19.99/month for 750 tasks.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	IFTTT	Zapier
App connections	800+	7,000+
Smart home/IoT	Excellent	Limited
Multi-step workflows	Limited	Excellent
Free tier	2 applets	100 tasks/month
Starting price	$3.49/month	$19.99/month
Target user	Consumers, IoT	Businesses, teams
Data transformation	Basic	Advanced
Code support	No	Python, JavaScript

Our Recommendation

Choose IFTTT if you primarily need smart home and IoT automations, want the simplest possible setup, or need to embed integrations into a consumer product via IFTTT Connect.
Choose Zapier if you need business process automation, complex multi-step workflows, or access to the widest range of business applications.
Consider alternatives like Make (for visual workflows at lower cost) or n8n (for self-hosted, code-level control) if neither IFTTT nor Zapier perfectly fits your needs.