Quick Answer

Workflow automation tools for Singapore businesses: Zapier (easiest, S$30-S$600/month, 6,000+ app integrations, limited logic) for simple workflows under 10,000 runs/month. Make (more powerful, S$10-S$300/month, visual builder, better for complex logic) for 5,000-20,000 runs/month with conditional flows. n8n (self-hosted, S$0-S$50/month + hosting, unlimited runs, technical knowledge required) for high-volume or custom needs. Custom development (S$8,000-S$30,000 one-time, unlimited capabilities) for 50,000+ runs/month, Singapore-specific integrations (PayNow, Singpass), or complex business logic no-code tools can't handle.

You need to automate workflows. Connect your apps. Stop copying data between systems.

Someone mentioned Zapier. Someone else said Make. Your developer suggested building custom. What should you actually use?

Here's the honest comparison based on 60+ Singapore automation projects.

What's workflow automation?

Simple definition: Making your apps talk to each other automatically instead of you manually copying data between them.

Example:

Manual: New order in Shopify → you copy details to Excel → you enter invoice in Xero → you email warehouse
Automated: New order in Shopify → automatically creates invoice in Xero → automatically updates inventory spreadsheet → automatically emails warehouse

Result: What took 5 minutes per order now takes 0 minutes. No human intervention. No mistakes.

The main options in 2026

No-code platforms (Zapier, Make, Integromat)

What they are: Visual tools where you connect apps using a drag-and-drop interface. No coding required.

Cost: S$0-S$600/month depending on usage

Best for: Simple to moderately complex workflows, standard app integrations, non-technical teams

Low-code platforms (n8n, Pipedream)

What they are: Similar to no-code but allow custom code when needed. Self-hosted or cloud.

Cost: S$0-S$100/month (mostly for hosting if self-hosted)

Best for: Technical teams, high-volume workflows, need customization beyond what no-code offers

Custom development

What it is: Developers build automation specifically for your business.

Cost: S$8,000-S$30,000 one-time + S$300-S$1,000/month maintenance

Best for: Complex workflows no-code can't handle, very high volume (50,000+ runs/month), Singapore-specific integrations, need to own the code

Detailed comparison: Zapier vs Make vs n8n vs Custom

Zapier

What it's good at: ✅ Easiest to use (truly no-code) ✅ Most app integrations (6,000+) ✅ Best documentation and tutorials ✅ Great support ✅ Reliable and mature

Limitations: ❌ Expensive at scale (S$600+/month for high volume) ❌ Limited conditional logic ❌ Can't handle complex data transformation ❌ 100 steps per workflow limit ❌ No Singapore payment integrations (PayNow, SGQR)

Pricing (2026):

Free: 100 tasks/month
Starter: S$30/month, 750 tasks/month
Professional: S$100/month, 2,000 tasks/month
Team: S$400/month, 50,000 tasks/month
Company: S$800+/month, custom tasks

What's a "task"? Each action counts. Example: "New email arrives → add to spreadsheet → send Slack message" = 2 tasks (add to spreadsheet + send Slack).

Real Singapore example - Event company:

Workflow: Google Form submission → add to Airtable → send confirmation email → add to MailChimp

Volume: 800 registrations/month = 2,400 tasks/month

Cost: S$100/month (Professional plan)

Result: Saves 12 hours/month of manual data entry. ROI: 3 months.

When to use Zapier: Simple workflows, standard apps (Gmail, Google Sheets, Slack, Salesforce), under 10,000 tasks/month, non-technical team

Make (formerly Integromat)

What it's good at: ✅ More powerful than Zapier ✅ Better for complex logic (if/then, loops, error handling) ✅ Visual flow builder is clearer ✅ Cheaper than Zapier at high volume ✅ Better data transformation tools ✅ Can handle JSON and API responses better

Limitations: ❌ Steeper learning curve than Zapier ❌ Fewer pre-built integrations (1,500+ vs Zapier's 6,000+) ❌ Documentation not as comprehensive ❌ Still no Singapore-specific integrations

Pricing (2026):

Free: 1,000 operations/month
Core: S$10/month, 10,000 operations/month
Pro: S$20/month, 20,000 operations/month
Teams: S$35/month, 40,000 operations/month
Enterprise: S$300+/month, custom operations

What's an "operation"? Similar to Zapier's "tasks" but Make counts differently. Usually 30-50% cheaper than Zapier for same workflow.

Real Singapore example - E-commerce business:

Workflow: Shopify order → check inventory in database → if low stock, create purchase order → update accounting in Xero → notify warehouse via WhatsApp

Volume: 1,200 orders/month = ~8,000 operations/month

Cost: S$10/month (Core plan)

Zapier equivalent: Would be S$100/month

Result: Saves S$90/month vs Zapier, plus handles more complex logic

When to use Make: Complex workflows with conditional logic, 5,000-50,000 operations/month, team willing to learn (not as intuitive as Zapier), need data transformation

n8n

What it's good at: ✅ Free (self-hosted) ✅ Unlimited workflows and executions ✅ Can write custom JavaScript when needed ✅ Full control over data ✅ Connect to databases directly ✅ Can integrate with anything (not limited to pre-built apps) ✅ Active open-source community

Limitations: ❌ Requires technical knowledge (self-hosting, server management) ❌ You maintain it yourself (updates, security, backups) ❌ Fewer pre-built integrations than Zapier/Make ❌ Learning curve (need to understand APIs) ❌ No official support (community support only for self-hosted)

Pricing (2026):

Self-hosted: S$0 (you pay for server hosting, ~S$20-S$100/month)
n8n Cloud: S$30/month (5,000 executions), S$100/month (50,000 executions)

Real Singapore example - SaaS startup:

Workflow: Custom app webhook → process data → update PostgreSQL database → trigger various actions based on data → send to multiple systems

Volume: 80,000 executions/month

Zapier cost: Would be S$1,000+/month

Make cost: Would be S$400+/month

n8n cost: S$50/month (self-hosted on AWS Singapore)

Why n8n: Can handle high volume, write custom logic, connect directly to their database

When to use n8n: Technical team comfortable with servers and APIs, high volume (50,000+ executions), need custom integrations, want to own your automation infrastructure

Custom development

What it's good at: ✅ Unlimited flexibility (anything is possible) ✅ Perfect for your specific needs ✅ Better performance than no-code tools ✅ Can handle millions of executions ✅ Singapore-specific integrations (PayNow, Singpass, SGQR) ✅ Complex business logic ✅ You own the code

Limitations: ❌ Highest upfront cost (S$8,000-S$30,000) ❌ Longer development time (4-12 weeks) ❌ Need developers to make changes ❌ You're responsible for maintenance

Pricing:

Simple automation: S$8,000-S$15,000 + S$300-S$600/month maintenance
Medium complexity: S$15,000-S$25,000 + S$500-S$800/month
Complex system: S$25,000-S$50,000 + S$800-S$1,500/month

Real Singapore example - Logistics company:

Workflow: Receive delivery orders from 15 different customer systems (APIs, emails, PDFs) → normalize data → optimize routing → assign drivers → update tracking → send updates to customers via WhatsApp/email → integrate with accounting

Why custom needed:

Each customer has different data format
Complex routing algorithm
WhatsApp Business API integration
Singapore address validation
Connect to legacy accounting system
200,000+ executions/month

Zapier/Make: Can't handle this complexity

n8n: Could work but would require significant custom code anyway

Custom cost: S$38,000 development + S$900/month operations

ROI: Saved 2 full-time roles (S$72,000/year), break-even in 8 months

When to use custom: No-code tools can't handle your logic, very high volume (100,000+ executions/month), need Singapore-specific integrations, complex workflows with many systems, need to own the code

Cost comparison over 2 years

Low volume (5,000 tasks/month)

Zapier: S$100/month × 24 = S$2,400

Make: S$10/month × 24 = S$240

n8n (self-hosted): S$30/month hosting × 24 = S$720

Custom: S$10,000 + S$400/month × 24 = S$19,600

Winner: Make (S$240)

When custom makes sense: Never, at this volume. Way too expensive.

Medium volume (25,000 tasks/month)

Zapier: S$400/month × 24 = S$9,600

Make: S$35/month × 24 = S$840

n8n (self-hosted): S$40/month hosting × 24 = S$960

Custom: S$18,000 + S$600/month × 24 = S$32,400

Winner: Make (S$840)

When custom makes sense: If no-code tools can't handle your logic or you need Singapore-specific integrations.

High volume (100,000 tasks/month)

Zapier: S$1,200+/month × 24 = S$28,800+

Make: S$400/month × 24 = S$9,600

n8n (self-hosted): S$80/month hosting × 24 = S$1,920

Custom: S$25,000 + S$800/month × 24 = S$44,200

Winner: n8n (S$1,920)

When custom makes sense: At this volume, if workflows are complex, custom development breaks even in 2-3 years and offers better performance.

Very high volume (500,000 tasks/month)

Zapier: S$3,000+/month × 24 = S$72,000+

Make: S$800+/month × 24 = S$19,200+

n8n (self-hosted): S$150/month hosting × 24 = S$3,600

Custom: S$35,000 + S$1,200/month × 24 = S$63,800

Winner: n8n (S$3,600) if you have technical team, custom (S$63,800) if you don't

Custom makes sense: Yes, at this volume. Better performance, more reliable, you own it.

Singapore-specific considerations

Local payment integrations

No-code tools (Zapier, Make):

❌ No native PayNow integration
❌ No SGQR support
❌ No PayLah integration
✅ Stripe works (international cards)

n8n:

⚠️ Can integrate if APIs are available (requires custom code)
Technical knowledge required

Custom development:

✅ Native PayNow integration
✅ SGQR support
✅ PayLah, GrabPay, any Singapore payment system

Impact: If you need Singapore payment automations, custom development is often necessary.

Singpass integration

No-code tools: ❌ Not possible

n8n: ⚠️ Possible with significant custom code

Custom: ✅ Full Singpass MyInfo integration

PDPA compliance

No-code tools:

Data processed on their servers (US/EU)
You're relying on their compliance
Limited audit logging
✅ Can still be compliant with proper disclosures

n8n (self-hosted):

✅ Data stays on your Singapore servers
✅ Full control over compliance
✅ Comprehensive audit logging

Custom:

✅ Total control over PDPA compliance
✅ Custom audit logs
✅ Singapore-hosted

Impact: For sensitive data, self-hosted n8n or custom gives more control.

WhatsApp Business API

No-code tools:

⚠️ Can integrate via third-party services (MessageBird, Twilio)
Additional costs (S$0.05-S$0.15 per message)

n8n & Custom:

✅ Direct WhatsApp Business API integration
Lower costs (S$0.04-S$0.08 per message)

Singapore reality: Most Singapore customers prefer WhatsApp. Direct integration saves money at scale.

When to use each tool

Use Zapier when:

✅ Your team is non-technical

✅ You need simple workflows (under 5 steps)

✅ You're connecting popular apps (Gmail, Slack, Salesforce, etc.)

✅ Volume is under 10,000 tasks/month

✅ You value ease of use over cost

✅ You need great support and documentation

✅ Budget is S$100-S$400/month

Use Make when:

✅ Your team can handle a learning curve

✅ You need complex logic (if/then, loops, data transformation)

✅ Volume is 5,000-50,000 operations/month

✅ You want visual workflow builder

✅ Budget matters (Make is 50-70% cheaper than Zapier)

✅ You need better error handling than Zapier

Use n8n when:

✅ You have technical team (comfortable with servers and APIs)

✅ Volume is high (50,000+ executions/month)

✅ You need unlimited executions

✅ You want to write custom JavaScript when needed

✅ Data privacy is critical (keep everything on your servers)

✅ You need to connect to databases directly

✅ Budget is very limited but you have technical resources

Use custom development when:

✅ No-code tools can't handle your workflow complexity

✅ Volume is very high (100,000+ executions/month)

✅ You need Singapore-specific integrations (PayNow, Singpass, SGQR)

✅ You have unique business logic

✅ Performance and reliability are critical

✅ You want to own the automation code

✅ Budget is S$10,000-S$50,000 upfront + S$500-S$1,500/month

Real decision framework

Step 1: Calculate your volume

Track for 2 weeks: How many times per day/week does this workflow happen?

Low volume: Under 5,000/month → Zapier or Make

Medium volume: 5,000-50,000/month → Make or n8n

High volume: 50,000+/month → n8n or custom

Step 2: Assess complexity

Simple: A happens → do B (maybe C)

Example: "New email → add to spreadsheet → send Slack notification"
Use: Zapier or Make

Moderate: If A then B, else C. Some data transformation.

Example: "New order → if total > $500, notify manager, else auto-approve → update inventory → send confirmation"
Use: Make or n8n

Complex: Multiple conditions, loops, custom logic, data transformation

Example: "Receive data in various formats → normalize → apply business rules → route to different systems based on complex conditions → handle errors intelligently"
Use: n8n or custom

Step 3: Check technical capability

Non-technical team: Zapier or Make

One technical person: Make or n8n

Technical team: n8n or custom

Step 4: Singapore requirements

No Singapore-specific needs: Any tool works

Need PayNow/SGQR/Singpass: Likely need custom development

High data sensitivity: n8n (self-hosted) or custom

Step 5: Calculate 2-year cost

Factor in:

Monthly subscription costs
Volume scaling (will you grow?)
Maintenance time
Custom development costs

If Zapier/Make 2-year cost > S$20,000: Consider custom development

If volume > 100,000/month: Custom usually cheaper long-term

Common mistakes

Mistake 1: Choosing Zapier just because it's popular

Everyone uses Zapier so they do too. End up paying S$600/month for workflows Make could do for S$35/month.

Fix: Compare tools. Make might save you 80% with same functionality.

Mistake 2: Building custom too early

Built custom automation for S$20,000. Volume is only 2,000 executions/month. Make would have cost S$240/year.

Fix: Start with no-code. Only go custom when volume or complexity justifies it.

Mistake 3: Using no-code for workflows it can't handle

Tried to build complex routing logic in Zapier. Spent weeks fighting limitations. Finally gave up.

Fix: Understand tool limitations. Some workflows need custom from the start.

Mistake 4: Not planning for scale

Started with free Zapier plan. Grew to 50,000 tasks/month. Now paying S$600/month. Custom would be cheaper.

Fix: Project future volume. If you'll hit high volume in 12-18 months, plan accordingly.

Mistake 5: Self-hosting n8n without technical skills

Saw "free" and self-hosted n8n. Don't know how to manage servers. Constant issues.

Fix: Only self-host if you have technical team. Otherwise use n8n Cloud or stick with Zapier/Make.

Migration paths

Zapier → Make

Why: Save 50-70% on costs

Difficulty: Medium (need to rebuild workflows)

Time: 1-2 weeks to migrate

When: When Zapier costs exceed S$300/month

Make → n8n

Why: Handle high volume or need more control

Difficulty: Medium to Hard (need technical skills)

Time: 2-4 weeks to migrate

When: Volume exceeds 50,000/month or need custom logic Make can't handle

No-code → Custom

Why: Hitting tool limitations or very high volume

Difficulty: Hard (complete rebuild)

Time: 8-16 weeks

Cost: S$15,000-S$40,000

When: Volume exceeds 100,000/month, need Singapore integrations, or workflows too complex for no-code

Getting started

If you're starting from scratch:

Week 1: List all manual workflows you want to automate

Week 2: Prioritize by time saved (use automation prioritization framework)

Week 3: Calculate volume for top 3 workflows

Week 4: Try Zapier or Make free tier for simplest workflow

Week 5-8: If it works, expand. If you hit limitations, reassess.

If you're already using one tool:

Month 1: Audit current usage and costs

Month 2: Calculate if different tool would save money

Month 3: Test alternative tool with one workflow

Month 4: If better, plan migration. If not, stay put.

If you need custom:

Document workflows clearly (every step, every condition)
Get quotes from 2-3 developers/agencies
Budget realistically (S$10,000-S$50,000 depending on complexity)
Plan for 8-16 week timeline
Factor in maintenance (S$500-S$1,500/month)

PSG Grant eligibility

Good news: Many automation tools and custom development are PSG-eligible in Singapore.

Coverage: 50-80% of costs up to S$30,000

What's covered:

Custom automation development ✅
Integration projects ✅
Subscription costs? ⚠️ (Usually no, but project setup might be)

How to apply: Through PSG-registered vendors (we can help)

Example: S$25,000 custom automation → S$12,500-S$20,000 covered by PSG → You pay S$5,000-S$12,500

Need help choosing the right automation tool for your Singapore business? Let's talk. We'll look at your workflows, calculate volumes, and honestly recommend whether you should use Zapier, Make, n8n, or build custom. Sometimes the answer is "use Make's free tier and save your money."

Frequently asked questions

What's the best workflow automation tool for Singapore businesses in 2026?

Best tool depends on volume and complexity: Zapier (S$30-S$600/month, easiest, 6,000+ apps) for simple workflows under 10,000 tasks/month with non-technical teams. Make (S$10-S$300/month, more powerful, better value) for complex logic 5,000-50,000 operations/month. n8n (S$0-S$100/month, unlimited runs) for technical teams with high volume 50,000+ or need customization. Custom development (S$8,000-S$30,000 + S$300-S$1,000/month) for 100,000+ runs, Singapore integrations (PayNow, Singpass), or workflows too complex for no-code.

Match tool to your volume, complexity, and technical capability.

How much does workflow automation cost in Singapore?

Zapier costs S$0-S$600+/month (100-50,000+ tasks), Make costs S$0-S$300+/month (1,000-40,000+ operations, 50-70% cheaper than Zapier), n8n self-hosted costs S$0 software + S$20-S$150/month server hosting (unlimited runs), n8n Cloud costs S$30-S$100+/month. Custom development costs S$8,000-S$30,000 upfront plus S$300-S$1,500/month maintenance. Over 2 years at 25,000 tasks/month: Zapier S$9,600, Make S$840, n8n S$960, custom S$32,400. Custom becomes cost-effective at 100,000+ tasks/month.

Start cheap (Make/n8n), go custom only at high volume.

Should I use Zapier or Make for Singapore business automation?

Use Zapier if: non-technical team, simple workflows under 5 steps, connecting popular apps, under 10,000 tasks/month, value ease of use and great support, budget S$100-S$400/month. Use Make if: team can handle learning curve, need complex logic (conditions, loops, data transformation), 5,000-50,000 operations/month, budget matters (Make is 50-70% cheaper), need better error handling. Make offers better value at similar capabilities. Zapier is easier but more expensive. Most Singapore SMEs should try Make first.

Make offers better value, Zapier is easier to use.

When should I build custom automation instead of using no-code tools?

Build custom when: no-code tools can't handle workflow complexity (tried and hit walls), volume exceeds 100,000 executions/month (custom becomes cost-effective), you need Singapore-specific integrations (PayNow, Singpass, SGQR not available in no-code), you have unique complex business logic, performance and reliability are critical, or 2-year no-code costs exceed S$20,000. Custom costs S$8,000-S$30,000 upfront but unlimited flexibility and better long-term economics at scale.

Build custom when no-code limitations hurt business or volume justifies cost.

Can no-code tools integrate with Singapore payment systems?

No-code limitations: Zapier and Make don't natively support PayNow, SGQR, PayLah, or GrabPay integration. They support Stripe (international cards) and can connect to some payment providers via third-party services with additional costs. n8n (with technical skills) can integrate if payment provider has APIs, requiring custom code. Custom development provides native integration with all Singapore payment systems (PayNow, SGQR, PayLah, GrabPay) with lower transaction fees and full control. If Singapore payment automation is critical, custom development often necessary.

Singapore payment integrations usually require custom development.

Is n8n better than Zapier and Make for Singapore businesses?

n8n advantages: unlimited executions (vs limited in Zapier/Make), self-hosted option (data stays in Singapore), free (vs S$10-S$600/month), can write custom JavaScript, connect directly to databases. n8n disadvantages: requires technical knowledge (server management, APIs), fewer pre-built integrations (vs 6,000 in Zapier), you maintain it yourself, steeper learning curve. Use n8n if: technical team, high volume (50,000+), data privacy critical, budget limited. Use Zapier/Make if: non-technical team, need easy setup, want support.

n8n best for technical teams with high volume or budget constraints.

What's the migration path from Zapier to custom automation?

Migration timing: migrate when Zapier costs exceed S$400-S$600/month, volume exceeds 50,000 tasks/month (custom breaks even in 18-24 months), you're hitting workflow complexity limitations, or you need Singapore-specific integrations. Migration process: document all current Zapier workflows (1-2 weeks), get custom development quotes S$15,000-S$40,000 (rebuild cost 40-60% of building from scratch), plan 8-16 week development timeline, test in parallel before switching. Cost: custom becomes cheaper than Zapier after 2-3 years at high volume.

Migrate when Zapier limitations hurt growth or costs become excessive.

How do I choose between workflow automation tools for my Singapore business?

Decision framework: Calculate monthly volume (under 5,000 = Zapier/Make, 5,000-50,000 = Make/n8n, 50,000+ = n8n/custom), assess complexity (simple = Zapier, moderate = Make, complex = n8n/custom), check technical capability (non-technical = Zapier/Make, one technical person = Make/n8n, technical team = n8n/custom), Singapore requirements (PayNow/Singpass needs = custom), and calculate 2-year total cost. If no-code 2-year cost exceeds S$20,000 or volume exceeds 100,000/month, consider custom.

Match tool to your volume, complexity, team skills, and requirements.

About &7: We help Singapore businesses choose and implement workflow automation. We'll analyze your workflows, calculate volumes, honestly recommend Zapier/Make/n8n or custom development, and build it for you if custom makes sense. Sometimes our advice is "use Make's free tier" – we'd rather give honest guidance than make an unnecessary sale. We also handle PSG Grant applications to reduce your costs.