Zapier is the heavyweight of workplace app automation that can connect to over 5000 applications and since 2012 has solved an important pain point for businesses to need to move data between applications that don’t natively talk to each other and now automate more complex business processes that save teams time.
Fast forward over a decade, and in 2024 workflow automation has exploded and more companies are automating in more ways than ever before. There are now many alternatives to Zapier so teams can find the right solution for them rather than a one-size fits all approach.
In this article we’ll share some alternatives to Zapier that may work better for your team.
If you run your business on spreadsheets, then Lido is the automation platform for you. Lido is a new spreadsheet that pulls data from Google Sheets and automatically pushes it to email, Slack, calendars, and more. Lido has multiple advantages over Zapier for teams needing to make automations based on data they keep in a spreadsheet.
Spreadsheets are the ultimate custom software for nimble teams because they can change as quickly as user requirements change, anyone can use them, and they combine direct access to both the data and a UI to work with it.
Lido is a new kind of spreadsheet built from the ground up that is fully compatible with Google Sheets and built for team automation.
If your team runs your business from Google Sheets then you know the familiar pain points.
Lido is designed for teams that run critical parts of their business from spreadsheets.
Lido is a new kind of spreadsheet that is fully compatible with Google Sheets and, unlike Zapier, lets your team automate their work using the skills they already have - spreadsheets.
Lido’s triggers and actions are expressed as spreadsheet formulas, familiar to your whole team
If you want to trigger an automation with complex logic in Zapier, you have to use Javascript or Python - which is not realistic for the average business user.
With Lido, the logic of your conditions is only limited by what you can express in spreadsheet functions. For example:
=IF(AND(B14 > DATE(2024,3,15),D14=”IN PROGRESS”),SENDSLACK(<credentials>,”launch-channel”,”Project “ & C14 & “: is now overdue”))
Zapier is built principally to look for new records or changes to records in the most recent 100 or so records. This works very effectively for new record triggers and simple field updates to spreadsheet record data. But it has some gaps:
Because Lido is built from the ground up to automate spreadsheets, you can trigger off of any condition in your Google Sheet:
With Zapier, if you want to send a notification to the team that a high value customer (pulled from your product database) has created a new support ticket (in ZenDesk) - its difficult to do this.
With Lido, you can pull together columns from multiple live data sources together into a single spreadsheet table - and then make an automation based on that table. For example, you can pull records from ZenDesk together with records from your product database into a single table, and then send a Slack message if high value customers (field from product data) open a new support ticket (Zendesk data).
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If you're seeking a more robust automation platform than Zapier, Tray.io is a great option to consider. They've designed their automation and integration platform from scratch, focusing on a wide array of business processes. Tray provides a user-friendly, drag-and-drop interface that allows users to build complex workflows without needing extensive coding skills.
Tray.io offers an ever-expanding selection of connectors, including Airtable, Notion, Slack, and many others. You can build custom automations using their intuitive drag-and-drop workflow builder. If this sounds appealing, you can begin with a free trial or request a personalized 1:1 demo to explore further.
While Tray.io is powerful, it is more complex than Zapier and won’t be suitable for non-technical users.
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Whether you've been using Zapier for a long time or only dabbled with it, Make will feel familiar. With over 1,000 app integrations and nearly 6,000 automation templates, it provides a more budget-friendly option while delivering most of the same functionality as Zapier. People turn to Make to manage rising costs and because it supports more intricate automation workflows.
Overall, Make is an excellent alternative to Zapier if you're looking for a cost-effective and user-friendly platform that doesn't sacrifice automation power.
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IFTTT is one of the more popular Zapier alternatives currently available. It's a free platform for integrating applications, devices, and hardware in your home or office.
IFTTT is a great choice for companies that need to interact with voice assistants, manage social media, and much more. The vast array of pre-built "applets" means you don't need extensive coding skills to get started.
Another key benefit of IFTTT is its mobile app, allowing you to create integrations on the go, even when you're not at your computer.
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Much like Tray.io, Workato is an excellent choice for automating processes across your entire organization, covering areas such as marketing, sales, or finance. Workato is trusted by several major companies, including Adobe, Zendesk, and Box.
Another significant advantage of Workato is its focus on security. The platform places a strong emphasis on protecting your data, offering features like access controls for enhanced management, encryption, and data masking.
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Pabbly Connect is another excellent alternative to Zapier. Pabbly Connect features an intuitive interface that's easy to use. Its workflow editor is designed with beginners in mind, allowing anyone to create automation workflows regardless of their technical skill level.
Pabbly Connect provides automation for various applications, including social media and email marketing tools. It also supports eCommerce platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, and others.
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Microsoft Power Automate (formerly known as Microsoft Flow) is highly valued for its smooth integration with other Microsoft services. It streamlines automation across OneDrive, Excel, SharePoint, Teams, and Outlook.
However, it's not confined to Microsoft applications. Power Automate allows users to automate hundreds of tasks among different apps, such as generating documents in WebMerge, uploading files to cloud storage like Box, and sending invoices via Freshbooks.
Microsoft offers both subscription-based and pay-as-you-go plans for Power Automate. The basic per-user subscription starts at $15 per month.
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