Zapier vs Pipedream: Features, Pricing and Verdict
Pipedream Workflows shuts down March 31, 2027, with no new signups. New buyers should choose Zapier or another tool, and existing users need a migration plan.
By Galactic News Editorial · Published 2026-11-09T16:27:13+00:00 · Updated 2026-11-09T16:27:13+00:00
Zapier vs Pipedream: Features, Pricing and Verdict
Zapier vs Pipedream is no longer a normal comparison. Pipedream has announced that Workflows and String will shut down on March 31, 2027. New buyers cannot sign up for Workflows. Existing users have until that date to migrate. If you are choosing an automation platform today, Zapier is the only one of the two you can actually buy. The rest of this comparison explains what each tool was, what changes, and where Pipedream users should go.
The Pipedream Shutdown Changes Everything
Pipedream's own shutdown notice states that Pipedream Workflows and String will shut down on March 31, 2027. Workflows is now in maintenance mode. Existing workflows keep running normally through March 31, 2027. Pipedream is no longer accepting signups or subscriptions for Workflows. It will not ship new features for Workflows.
All Workflows data will be permanently deleted by April 30, 2027. That includes the credentials and OAuth tokens for connected accounts. Subscriptions stay active until March 31, 2027. On that date Pipedream will cancel them automatically and issue a prorated refund. Monthly subscribers can cancel sooner from account settings. Annual subscribers can contact support for an early cancellation and a prorated refund.
One part of Pipedream is not affected. Pipedream Connect is not shutting down. Connect is the API layer that lets companies put integrations inside their own products. It stays fully supported and actively developed, along with its MCP servers and API proxy. The shutdown covers Workflows and String only.
Zapier vs Pipedream: What Each Tool Was
Zapier is a no-code automation platform. You build Zaps that connect apps. Each Zap has a trigger and one or more actions. When the trigger fires, the actions run. Zapier connects to more than 9,000 apps. You need no code to use it. Paid plans add multi-step Zaps, premium apps, webhooks, and faster polling.
Pipedream Workflows was a developer-friendly automation platform. You built workflows from triggers and steps. You could write Node.js or Python code inside steps. That made it popular with developers who wanted to transform data with code. Pipedream counted usage in credits, with one credit per 30 seconds of compute. Its old Workflows plans were Basic at $29 a month on annual billing and Advanced at $49 a month on annual billing. Those plans are gone from the pricing page. The page now lists Connect plans only.
Zapier vs Pipedream: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Zapier | Pipedream Workflows |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Actively developed | Maintenance mode; shuts down March 31, 2027 |
| New signups | Open | Closed |
| Target user | Non-technical teams and operators | Developers who write code in workflows |
| App connections | More than 9,000 apps | Thousands of apps plus code steps |
| Code steps | Code steps available on paid plans | Node.js and Python built in |
| Billing unit | One task per successful action; triggers free | Credits based on compute time |
| Free plan | $0, 100 tasks a month, two-step Zaps | No longer offered to new users |
| Data after shutdown | Not applicable | Deleted by April 30, 2027 |
Zapier vs Pipedream: Pricing
Zapier's pricing is public and current. The Free plan costs $0 and includes 100 tasks a month, with two-step Zaps. Professional starts at $19.99 a month on annual billing. Team starts at $69 a month on annual billing. Enterprise pricing is custom. Zapier charges per task. Each successful action counts as one task. Triggers do not count. Built-in tools such as Filter, Formatter, Paths, and Delay do not count either.
Pipedream Workflows pricing is no longer relevant for new buyers. The pricing page now lists Connect plans only. The old Workflows plans, Basic and Advanced, no longer accept subscriptions. Existing subscribers keep their plans until March 31, 2027, when Pipedream cancels them with a prorated refund. Do not budget for Pipedream Workflows as a long-term cost. It is a closing cost with a fixed end date.
What Pipedream Users Should Do Now
- Export your workflows now. Pipedream built an export tool that downloads the structure of your workflows as JSON, one project at a time. Do this while the data still exists. After April 30, 2027, it is gone, including your connected-account credentials.
- List what each workflow does. Note the trigger, the apps, and any code steps. Code-heavy workflows need a code-friendly home. Simple app-to-app workflows can move to almost any automation tool.
- Pick a destination by workflow type. Zapier fits no-code teams and business workflows. Make fits visual builders who want routers, iterators, and error handling. n8n fits developers who want self-hosting and code. Webhook-driven workflows fit webhook-first tools. Match the tool to the workflow, not to the brand.
- Rebuild and test in parallel. Run the new workflow beside the Pipedream one. Compare outputs for a week or two. Only turn the Pipedream workflow off when the replacement has run clean.
- Disconnect credentials before the deadline. You can disconnect accounts from your Pipedream dashboard at any time. Do not wait until April 30, 2027, when Pipedream deletes the data itself.
Zapier vs Pipedream: Which Should You Choose?
For a new project, the choice is simple. Pipedream Workflows is closed to new users and has a fixed shutdown date. Choose Zapier if your team wants a no-code tool with the widest app coverage. Choose Make if your workflows have many steps and you like a visual canvas. Choose n8n if your team writes code and wants to self-host. None of these is a perfect copy of Pipedream. Each one covers a different part of what Pipedream offered. Pick the tool that fits your team's skills, not the one that looks most like the tool you are leaving.
Can You Still Use Pipedream Connect?
Yes, if you are a developer building integrations into your own product. Pipedream Connect is the API, MCP server, and API proxy layer. Pipedream says nothing changes for Connect users. Connect is where Pipedream is focusing. If you used Workflows to automate your own business tasks, Connect is not a replacement. It is a developer toolkit, not a workflow builder.
Bottom Line
The verdict on Zapier vs Pipedream is settled by the shutdown, not by features. Pipedream Workflows was a strong tool for developers, and its code steps were genuinely useful. But it shuts down on March 31, 2027, and it accepts no new users. New buyers should choose Zapier, Make, or n8n depending on their team. Existing Pipedream users should export now, pick a destination by workflow type, and migrate well before the deadline. Waiting until March 2027 turns a planned move into a rush.