What are Zapier, Make and Claude Code?#
Zapier is an automation platform that connects more than 8,000 web applications. When something happens in one application (for example, you receive an email), Zapier automatically triggers an action in another application (for example, it adds a row to a spreadsheet). It works on the principle of "if X happens, do Y" - without programming. According to Zapier Inc., their platform is used by more than 2.2 million companies worldwide (Source: Zapier, 2025).
Make (previously Integromat) is an automation platform with a visual workflow builder. Instead of simple "if X, then Y" rules, you can build more complex flows with branches, conditions and loops. It offers more than 3,000 integrations and is considerably cheaper than Zapier at higher operation volumes. More flexible, but also more demanding to learn.
Claude Code is an AI tool from Anthropic that understands natural language and carries out tasks. It does not connect applications to each other - instead, it reads your content, understands the context and does the work for you. Like a highly capable assistant that works to your instructions - in any language, including Slovenian.
Short version: Zapier and Make connect tools to each other. Claude Code understands content and does the work.
Why this comparison?#
When a small business owner first looks for automation, they usually come across three names: Zapier, Make and Claude Code.
At first glance they seem similar. All three promise to save you time. All three work without programming.
But under the surface they do very different things. And if you pick the wrong tool for the wrong problem, you will waste time and money - instead of saving them.
According to McKinsey research (2024), automating repetitive tasks in small businesses can save 20-30 % of employee working time. The question is not whether to automate, but with which tool.
This article is not a sales pitch for Claude Code. Zapier and Make are excellent tools. For certain tasks they are the better choice. Here is an honest comparison so you can decide for yourself.
Comparison table#
| Zapier | Make | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Connects applications to each other | Connects applications with a visual builder | Understands content and carries out tasks |
| How it works | If X happens, do Y | Visual flows with branches and conditions | Natural instructions in Slovenian |
| Type of automation | Moving data between applications | Complex data flows | Understanding content and decision-making |
| Technical knowledge | Low - pick an application, set a rule | Medium - the visual builder requires learning | Low - you write instructions in plain language |
| Number of integrations | 8,000+ applications | 3,000+ applications | No integrations in the classic sense |
| Flexibility | Limited to available integrations | High within the visual builder | Very high - whatever you can describe, it can do |
| Slovenian | Interface in English | Interface in English | Reads and writes Slovenian fluently |
Zapier: When it is the right choice#
Zapier is best when you need a simple connection between two or more applications.
What it does well:
- Simple connections - "When I receive an email with an attachment, save it to Google Drive." You set this up in 5 minutes.
- Huge library - 8,000+ applications. If you use any popular tool, Zapier most likely already has a ready-made connection.
- Reliability - Once you set up a flow, it runs. Day after day, without your involvement.
- Quick start - For simple automations you need no technical knowledge.
Where it has limits:
- Does not understand content - Zapier can move an email from point A to point B. But it cannot read the email, understand what the customer is asking and prepare a reply.
- Limited transformations - If you need more than simple copying of data from one field to another, you quickly hit the limits.
- The price rises quickly - The free plan offers 100 tasks per month. The Professional plan (750 tasks) costs 20 USD/month. If you receive 50 emails a day, email automation alone uses 1,500 tasks per month - that is already the Team plan at 104 USD/month.
Example from practice: Every new contact from a contact form is automatically added to the CRM and sent a confirmation email. Zapier does this brilliantly. Quickly, reliably, cheaply.
Make: When it is the right choice#
Make is best when you need more complex data flows than Zapier allows.
What it does well:
- Visual builder - You can see the whole flow from start to finish. For visual thinkers, this is much easier than Zapier's lists.
- Complex flows - Conditions, branches, loops, filters. If you need "if the amount is greater than 1,000 EUR, send it to the manager; otherwise send it to accounting" - Make handles this elegantly.
- Better value - The free plan offers 1,000 credits per month. The Core plan at 9 USD/month includes 10,000 credits. For a comparable number of operations, Make is considerably cheaper than Zapier.
- Greater flexibility - HTTP modules, JSON parsing, custom functions. If you have technical knowledge, you can do almost anything.
Where it has limits:
- Steeper learning curve - The visual builder is powerful, but for a beginner also confusing. Reckon on 5-10 hours of learning before you become productive.
- Same content limitations - Like Zapier, Make also does not understand what is written in an email or document. It moves data, it does not understand it.
- Maintenance - More complex flows require more maintenance. When the API of one of the applications changes, you have to fix the flow.
Example from practice: When a customer fills out a form, Make checks whether they already exist in the CRM, if so - updates the record, if not - creates a new one, sorts by deal value and notifies the right salesperson. This is a flow that Zapier struggles with, but Make handles elegantly.
Claude Code: When it is the right choice#
Claude Code is best when you need content understanding - not just moving data.
What it does well:
- Understands content - Reads an email, understands what the customer is asking and prepares an appropriate reply. Not just moves the email into a folder.
- Natural language - You write instructions in Slovenian, as if you were giving them to a new employee. "When you get a price enquiry, reply in a friendly tone, give an approximate price and suggest a free call."
- Unstructured tasks - Writing reports, summarising meetings, preparing quotes, analysing documents. Things that Zapier and Make cannot do.
- Slovenian - Reads and writes Slovenian fluently. For Slovenian businesses this is a big advantage over tools with English interfaces.
Where it has limits:
- No integrations - Claude Code cannot update your CRM or send an email on its own. It needs additional setup or a combination with other tools.
- No visual builder - There is no drag-and-drop interface. You write instructions in text.
- Consistency - AI occasionally does unexpected things. That is why we recommend reviewing outputs, at least at the start.
Example from practice: In a previous article I showed how I automated customer email replies with Claude Code in 2 hours. The system reads an email, identifies the type of enquiry, prepares a draft reply in the right tone and tags it by urgency. Result: 70 % of drafts were ready to send without edits, and customer response time dropped from 4-8 hours to less than 1 hour. This is a task that Zapier and Make cannot do - because it requires understanding the text.
4 practical scenarios#
Scenario 1: Processing incoming emails
Task: You receive 20+ emails a day. You want faster replies.
- Zapier: Can sort emails by sender or keywords in the subject line. Cannot write a reply.
- Make: Can do smarter sorting with filters and conditions. Still cannot write a reply.
- Claude Code: Reads the email, understands the content, prepares a draft reply, sorts by urgency. You review and send.
Best choice: Claude Code. This is a task of understanding content, not moving data. According to Harvard Business Review, companies that respond to an enquiry within the first hour are 7 times more likely to close the deal (Source: HBR, 2023).
Scenario 2: Syncing the CRM with a contact form
Task: When someone fills out a form on the website, you want the data to appear automatically in the CRM.
- Zapier: Set up in 10 minutes. Form -> CRM. Works immediately.
- Make: Just as quick, with the option of additional steps (for example, duplicate checking).
- Claude Code: Overkill for such a simple task.
Best choice: Zapier (simplicity) or Make (if you need extra logic).
Scenario 3: Weekly report for management
Task: Every Friday you want a report on sales, open quotes and key metrics.
- Zapier: Can pull data from several sources and send an email. But report formatting is limited to simple templates.
- Make: Similar, with more formatting options. Still cannot write analysis or commentary.
- Claude Code: Pulls data, analyses it, writes a report in natural language with commentary and recommendations. "Sales are 12 % above plan, but the West region is lagging - I recommend a review."
Best choice: Claude Code. A report with analysis is a task of understanding, not just collecting data.
Scenario 4: Automatic onboarding of new clients
Task: When you win a new client, you want an automatic process: a welcome email, preparation of folders on Drive, entry into the CRM, tasks for the team.
- Zapier: Can create folders, send an email from a template, add an entry to the CRM. Limited to pre-prepared templates.
- Make: The same, with more flexibility. Can build a more complex flow with branches.
- Claude Code: Sends a personalised welcome email (not a template, but written for this client), prepares a tailored task list for the team based on the type of client.
Best choice: A combination. Make or Zapier for the technical steps (folders, CRM), Claude Code for personalised communication.
When to use what - a simple decision framework#
Three questions to ask yourself:
1. Does the task require understanding content? If you need to read, understand or write text - Claude Code. If you are just moving data from point A to point B - Zapier or Make.
2. Do you need simple or complex flows? Simple "if X, then Y" - Zapier. Branches, conditions, loops - Make.
3. Do you already have technical knowledge? If not - Zapier (simplest) or Claude Code (natural language). If yes - Make (most powerful visual builder).
Can you combine them?#
Yes. And often that is the best solution.
Example: Zapier or Make connects your applications and handles data transfer. Claude Code handles the content side - reads documents, writes replies, prepares reports.
This is not an either-or decision. Each tool has its own niche. A smart combination is more powerful than any single tool on its own.
Pricing comparison for a small business#
Assumption: a small business with 20-30 automated actions per day.
| Zapier | Make | Claude Code | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 100 tasks/month | 1,000 credits/month | No free plan |
| Realistic monthly price | 104 USD/month (Team, ~2,000 tasks) | 9 USD/month (Core, 10,000 credits) | ~150 EUR/month (API cost) |
| What you get | Simple connections between applications | Complex data flows | Understanding content and carrying out tasks |
| Hidden cost | Rises quickly with volume | Visual builder takes time to learn | Setup requires an initial investment |
Honest assessment: For simple integrations, Make is the cheapest. For understanding content, Claude Code is the only option among these three. Zapier is the most expensive, but the simplest to start with.
If you compare Claude Code with the cost of an employee for the same tasks (for example, 20 hours/month answering emails = 400-600 EUR), 150 EUR/month is a good price. But if you only need to connect a form with a CRM, 9 EUR/month for Make makes more sense.
Frequently asked questions#
Is Claude Code a replacement for Zapier or Make?
No. Claude Code is not intended for connecting applications to each other. It is intended for understanding content and carrying out tasks that require thinking - writing replies, analysing documents, preparing reports. For simple integrations (form -> CRM, email -> spreadsheet), Zapier and Make are still the better and cheaper choice.
Do I need technical knowledge to use Zapier, Make or Claude Code?
For Zapier and Claude Code, no. Zapier has a simple "pick an application, set a rule" interface. Claude Code accepts instructions in plain Slovenian. Make requires some technical understanding - the visual builder is not hard, but not as simple as Zapier.
Which automation tool is best for a beginner?
It depends on the task. If you want to connect two applications, start with Zapier's free plan (100 tasks/month). If you want to automate content tasks (emails, reports, documents), start with Claude Code. In both cases you do not need technical knowledge.
How long does it take to set up automation?
Zapier: 5-15 minutes for a simple integration. Make: 30-60 minutes for the first flow (+ time to learn the interface). Claude Code: 1-2 hours for the first setup (as I showed in the article on email automation).
How much does automation cost for a small business?
Zapier's free plan offers 100 tasks/month. For real use (20-30 actions/day) you need the Team plan at 104 USD/month. Make is cheaper - the Core plan at 9 USD/month includes 10,000 credits. Claude Code costs about 150 EUR/month for API use. All prices are for annual payment (as of April 2026).
Do Zapier and Make work in Slovenian?
The interfaces of both tools are in English. They handle Slovenian data without issue (copying, moving), but they do not understand Slovenian - they cannot write a reply or analyse text in Slovenian. Claude Code reads and writes Slovenian fluently, which is an important advantage for Slovenian businesses.
Can I use all three tools at the same time?
Yes, and often that is the best solution. Zapier or Make connects your applications (CRM, email, spreadsheets), while Claude Code handles the content side - reads documents, writes replies, prepares reports. Each tool covers its own niche.
Next steps#
If you want to automate repetitive tasks in your business, you have three options:
- Do it yourself - Zapier or Make for integrations (free start), Claude Code for content tasks (follow the instructions from our articles).
- Free pilot project - Every month we take on 3 companies for which we set up one automation free of charge. We look at your processes and recommend the right tool - not necessarily Claude Code.
- Free consultation - Tell us which tasks are weighing on you most. We will tell you whether automation is worth it and which tool makes sense.
In previous articles we explained what Claude Code is, 5 concrete use cases, how companies lose 16+ hours a week, and how I automated email replies in 2 hours. Today we compared three tools so you can see which combination fits your business.
Next time: how to shorten new client onboarding from 3 days to 3 hours with Claude Code - step by step.
Tit Dolinsek is the founder of AI Solucija. He helps small and medium-sized businesses automate repetitive tasks so they have time left for the work that really counts.