In today’s fast-paced world, businesses heavily rely on efficiency to thrive. Tedious tasks can drain a huge chunk of valuable time, stifling both productivity and creativity in the process.
Thankfully, there are plenty of automation tools out there, designed to streamline your workflows and free up your time so you can focus it on making more important decisions instead. And one such tool is Zapier. Maybe you have heard of this tool, maybe not. Either way, in this comprehensive review, let’s explore its features, pricing, new developments, and more to help you decide whether this tool is the right fit for you.
Let’s get started, shall we?
What is Zapier?
Zapier is a popular AI-powered automation platform that connects your favorite apps and services, allowing them to communicate with each other and trigger automated workflows.
Used by the likes of Dropbox, Grammarly, New York Times, Asana, and Canva, Zapier can connect with thousands of web applications, be they social media platforms or project management tools. Through the power of automated workflows called Zaps, this automation genie is capable of eliminating manual tasks and enhancing productivity.
Automation Workflows (Zaps)
Zapier uses Zaps, which are automated workflows that connect different apps you use. Zaps take data from one app (like a new customer in your CRM) and trigger an action in another (like adding them to your email marketing list). This way, information flows between your tools without you needing to do it manually.
Zapier boasts a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface for building Zaps, so you don't need coding knowledge. Zaps can be simple or complex, handling entire processes. They can be further customized with filters, conditions, and even code steps for advanced users. This lets you automate repetitive tasks, save time, and improve efficiency across your business.
Zapier Tables (or Databases)
Zapier lets you store, edit, share, automate data, all of it in one place - thanks to Zapier Tables. This is a no-code database tool, which means you can set it up and use it without any capability to write code.
Any piece of information can be structured in tables, as you would do it in a spreadsheet but 'Zapier Tables' offers extended functionality. And the cherry on top? It integrates perfectly with Zapier Zaps (automated workflows), allowing you to move data across thousands of third-party apps without any hassle.
Custom Interfaces or Applications
Imagine having the ability to build your own applications in your favorite tool! Well, Zapier lets you build those without you having to write any code. Sounds liberating, right?
You can build anything from forms or landing pages to internal tools like project trackers that make it a breeze for you to manage your work. Plus, just like Tables, this feature too offers seamless integration with Zaps, meaning that your custom apps can be accessed from within thousands of different apps or services.
Template Library
Despite being versatile in nature, Zapier does not seem overwhelming, even for beginners - thanks to a curated library of carefully-designed templates.
Need a Zap? Fine, pick one of the pre-built automation templates and you don't have to build your workflow from scratch. Imagine it as a recipe book for automation, with options for tasks like saving Gmail attachments to Drive or sending Slack notifications. Public integrations are supported, and with just a few clicks, you can activate a Zap and customize it to your specific needs. This library is a time-saver for beginners and a source of inspiration for experienced Zapier users.
Zapier Learn
Zapier offers an online resource called Zapier Learn, where you can learn about automating tasks using their platform. The beauty of it is that it features a variety of materials targeted at users with different levels of experience, from beginners to those looking to build more advanced automations.
Within Zapier Learn, you can discover courses about lead management, building workflows, managing your Zapier account, and more. Besides these courses, there are also written guides on different features and functionalities. And if you have any specific task to automate, you can browse through pre-built solutions and learn how to implement them using Zapier.
App Integrations
At the core of Zapier's immense popularity is its capability to integrate with thousands of third-party apps. It connects your favorite apps to automate workflows, eliminating repetitive tasks.
With over 6,000 integrations, it acts like a middleman between apps like Gmail, Trello, Google Sheets, Slack, Mailchimp, HubSpot, Notion, Calendly, Airtable, or Discord.
Zapier Canvas (Beta)
This feature lets you create diagrams for every step of your Zaps or automated workflows. Currently in Beta, Zapier Canvas goes beyond traditional diagramming by allowing you to plan and build automations directly within the tool. It is like a whiteboard where you can map out complex processes involving different apps, Zapier's automation features (Zaps, Tables, Interfaces), and even get AI suggestions for optimizing your workflow.
Once you've finalized your plan in Canvas, you share it seamlessly with your team for live feedback.
Zapier Chatbots (Beta)
Within Zapier, you can build your own AI-powered chatbots in minutes, without needing any coding. Another feature in Beta, Zapier Chatbots also lets you train these custom AI chatbots on your own knowledge sources. They can answer frequently asked questions, handle customer support inquiries, and even generate leads for your business.
Zapier also lets you customize the look and feel of your chatbots to match your brand.
Zapier Central (Early Access)
Zapier Central is a new feature from Zapier that uses AI to help you automate tasks with chatbots. Instead of writing code, you train these bots by showing them the steps you take to complete a workflow.
They can connect to over 6,000 apps and work with data from things like spreadsheets and Google Docs. This is still in early access, but it has the potential to make automation much easier and more powerful.
Pricing
Zapier offers a freemium pricing model. There are 5 pricing plans - Free, Starter ($29.99/mo), Professional ($73.50/mo), Team ($103.50/mo), and Company (custom).
The pricing varies in terms of the number of steps available when creating Zaps, advanced Zap functionalities like Zap paths, and collaboration capabilities within a shared workspace. Also, if you pay annually, you can save 33% on your Zapier plan.
Final Thoughts
Considering everything, Zapier is a behemoth of a tool that can automate tasks and streamline your workflows. It has an intuitive interface and a vast library of integrations that make it a user-friendly option for automating repetitive tasks, even for those without coding experience.
In terms of pricing, it is also quite affordable option. Besides, there is a free plan with limited functionality. So, you can always test the waters before making a purchase. As always, do let us know your thoughts on Zapier or if you have any alternatives in mind.