Keywords AI

Trigger.dev vs Zapier

Compare Trigger.dev and Zapier side by side. Both are tools in the Workflow Automation category.

Quick Comparison

Trigger.dev
Trigger.dev
Zapier
Zapier
CategoryWorkflow AutomationWorkflow Automation
PricingFreemium
Best ForNon-technical teams who need to connect apps and automate repetitive tasks
Websitetrigger.devzapier.com
Key Features
  • 7000+ app integrations
  • Simple trigger-action interface
  • AI actions built-in
  • Multi-step Zaps
  • Enterprise security features
Use Cases
  • Simple app-to-app automation
  • Marketing workflow automation
  • CRM and sales process automation
  • Notification and alerting workflows
  • Data entry and record management

When to Choose Trigger.dev vs Zapier

Zapier
Choose Zapier if you need
  • Simple app-to-app automation
  • Marketing workflow automation
  • CRM and sales process automation
Pricing: Freemium

How to Choose a Workflow Automation Tool

Key criteria to evaluate when comparing Workflow Automation solutions:

Integration catalogNumber of pre-built app connectors and API integrations available.
AI capabilitiesNative LLM integration for intelligent processing steps within workflows.
Complexity supportAbility to handle branching logic, error handling, loops, and conditional flows.
Self-hosting optionWhether you can run the platform on your own infrastructure for data control.
Pricing modelPer-execution, per-workflow, or flat-rate pricing and how it scales with usage.

About Trigger.dev

Trigger.dev is an open-source background jobs platform for TypeScript/JavaScript. It provides durable execution, automatic retries, and long-running task support — making it the developer favorite for running AI agent workflows, LLM pipelines, and async processing in production. Its code-first approach appeals to engineers who prefer writing workflows in TypeScript over visual builders.

About Zapier

Zapier is the largest workflow automation platform, connecting 6,000+ apps with no-code automations. Its AI features include built-in LLM actions, AI-powered workflow building, and natural language automation creation. Zapier is the default choice for business users automating repetitive tasks across SaaS tools, now enhanced with AI capabilities for content generation, classification, and data extraction.

What is Workflow Automation?

Platforms for building multi-step AI-powered automations that connect apps, APIs, and agents into repeatable business workflows.

Browse all Workflow Automation tools →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AI workflow automation?

AI workflow automation platforms let you build multi-step processes that connect apps, APIs, and AI models into repeatable business workflows. They combine traditional automation with AI capabilities in visual builders.

What is the difference between n8n, Zapier, and Make?

Zapier is the easiest to use with the most integrations but limited AI features and higher pricing at scale. Make offers more complex logic at lower cost. n8n is open-source and self-hostable with strong AI integration, best for technical teams who want full control.

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