Zapier is a no-code automation platform that connects your apps so they work together automatically. When something happens in one app, Zapier makes something happen in another — no developers needed.
It supports thousands of apps: Gmail, Slack, Google Sheets, Shopify, HubSpot, and most tools a small business already uses. If you can describe the rule — “when X happens, do Y” — you can usually build it in Zapier in minutes.
How Zapier works
Automations in Zapier are called Zaps. Every Zap has a trigger (the event that starts it, like “new row in a spreadsheet”) and one or more actions (what happens next, like “send a Slack message”). You build Zaps in a visual editor: pick the apps, map the fields, turn it on.
Each time a Zap runs successfully, it counts as a task. Pricing tiers are based on how many tasks you use per month, and there is a free plan generous enough to automate your first few workflows.
Example
A consultant gets client inquiries through a website form. Her Zap: when a new form entry arrives (trigger), add the contact to her CRM and send her a Slack notification (actions). She used to copy-paste every inquiry by hand. Now it happens in seconds, and she has never lost a lead to a forgotten inbox since.
Frequently asked questions
What is Zapier in simple terms?
Zapier connects your apps and automates work between them. When something happens in one app, Zapier automatically does something in another.
Do I need to know how to code to use Zapier?
No. Zapier is built for non-technical users: you pick apps and fill in fields in a visual editor. No code required.
Zapier vs n8n: which should I choose?
Zapier is simpler to start with and supports more apps out of the box. n8n is more flexible and cheaper at scale, especially if you self-host it, but has a steeper learning curve.
Related reading: E-commerce automation: the 3-step formula