MCP vs Zapier: Which Should You Use?
MCP and Zapier both connect your tools, but they work in fundamentally different ways. This guide will help you understand when to use each—and why you might want both.
The Quick Answer
Use Zapier when:
You want automated workflows that run on triggers. "When X happens, do Y." Set it and forget it.
Use MCP when:
You want AI that can interact with your tools conversationally. Ask questions, get context, have Claude take action based on reasoning.
The key difference: Zapier is automation. MCP is AI integration. They solve different problems.
What Zapier Does
Zapier connects apps through "Zaps"—automated workflows triggered by events. When you receive an email (trigger), automatically save the attachment to Google Drive (action).
Zapier Excels At:
- Repetitive, predictable workflows
- If-this-then-that automation
- Connecting 5,000+ apps
- Running in the background 24/7
Example Zap: "New email with attachment → Save attachment to Drive → Send Slack notification"
What MCP Does
MCP connects Claude to your tools so you can interact with them conversationally. Instead of pre-built automations, you have conversations where Claude can access, reason about, and act on your data.
MCP Excels At:
- Complex, context-dependent tasks
- Questions requiring understanding
- Ad-hoc requests
- Reasoning and analysis
Example Interaction: "Find all emails from Sarah about the budget, check if any conflict with my calendar, and draft a response addressing her concerns."
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Factor | Zapier | MCP |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger model | Event-based (automatic) | Conversation-based (on-demand) |
| Intelligence | Rule execution | AI reasoning |
| Setup | Visual builder, no code | Config file, minimal code |
| Best for | Predictable, repetitive tasks | Complex, context-dependent tasks |
| App coverage | 5,000+ apps | Growing library (~50+ servers) |
| Pricing | Free tier + paid plans | MCP free; Claude subscription |
When to Choose Zapier
Choose Zapier when:
- You want workflows that run automatically without your involvement
- The task is predictable and doesn't require judgment
- You need to connect apps that don't have MCP servers yet
- You're building business processes that need to scale reliably
Common Zapier Workflows
- New Typeform submission → Add row to Google Sheet → Send welcome email
- New Stripe payment → Create invoice in QuickBooks → Notify in Slack
- New calendar event → Create Zoom meeting → Send invite email
When to Choose MCP
Choose MCP when:
- The task requires understanding context or making judgments
- You want to ask questions and get intelligent responses
- Each situation is different and doesn't fit a template
- You want to guide the process conversationally
Common MCP Workflows
- "What should I prioritize today based on my emails and calendar?"
- "Find all documents related to Project X and summarize the current status"
- "Draft a response to this client complaint that addresses their specific concerns"
Why You Might Use Both
Here's the thing: MCP and Zapier aren't competitors. They solve different problems and work great together.
The Power Combo
Zapier saves the data
Zapier automatically saves every email attachment to a specific Google Drive folder.
MCP analyzes it
When you prepare for a meeting, Claude searches that folder to find and summarize the documents.
Cost Comparison
Zapier Costs
- Free Tier: 100 tasks/mo
- Starter: ~$20/mo (750 tasks)
- Professional: ~$50/mo (2k tasks)
- Costs scale with usage. Heavy automation gets expensive.
MCP Costs
- MCP Protocol: Free (Open Source)
- Claude Pro: ~$20/mo
- Your Tools: Existing subscriptions
- Flat cost. Usage doesn't increase your bill.
The Migration Question
If you're already using Zapier, you don't need to migrate. Keep your Zaps running—they're doing their job. Add MCP for the things Zapier can't do: intelligent triage, context-aware search, and ad-hoc reasoning.
Honest Limitations
Zapier Limitations
- No intelligence—just follows rules
- Complex logic gets messy
- Can't handle natural language
- Limited to trigger-action patterns
MCP Limitations
- Requires you to initiate (not automatic)
- Smaller app ecosystem (growing)
- Needs Claude Desktop (not web)
- AI can occasionally misunderstand
The Verdict
- Start with MCP if:You want AI that can reason about your tools and help with complex tasks. You're comfortable with on-demand interaction.
- Start with Zapier if:You need reliable, automatic workflows that run continuously. You have predictable processes that don't require judgment.
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