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Trigger.dev vs Zapier

A side-by-side comparison of Trigger.dev and Zapier, drawn from Ignaite's continuously-verified listings.

Compared from listings verified as of

Trigger.dev

Orchestration

Build and deploy durable AI agents and background workflows in TypeScript.

View Trigger.dev

Zapier

Automation

The ubiquitous low-code automation tool. Native AI features.

View Zapier

At a glance

Feature comparison of Trigger.dev and Zapier
AttributeTrigger.devZapier
Category (differs)OrchestrationAutomation
PricingFREEMIUMFREEMIUM
License (differs)Open coreProprietary
Deployment (differs)HybridCloud
Platforms (differs)Web, CLI, APIWeb, API
Model supportModel-agnosticModel-agnostic
Vendor (differs)Trigger.devZapier

The honest brief

Trigger.dev

Durable, long-running workflows as plain TypeScript functions, without learning a separate DSL or workflow engine like Temporal.

  • Apache-2.0 open source
  • Self-host or managed cloud
  • No task timeouts
  • Automatic retries + queues
  • Built-in run observability
  • TypeScript/JavaScript only
  • Self-hosting needs Postgres + Redis ops
  • Younger ecosystem than Temporal

Zapier

Unmatched breadth — thousands of app integrations — making it the default glue, with AI agents added on top.

  • Connectors for most SaaS tools
  • Easy no-code trigger/action setup
  • In-workflow LLM calls and agents
  • Massive template library
  • Fast to glue two SaaS tools
  • Task-based pricing climbs fast
  • Limited branching/logic vs rivals
  • Shallow for complex data workflows
  • AI features feel bolted-on
Trigger.dev detailsZapier details