Zapier MCP vs Apify MCP
Product engineer: Use Zapier for writing into business apps; Apify for reading the web. Developer-platform lead: Zapier bills tasks; Apify bills Actor runs. Agent builder: Apify allows a keyless mode for search and docs tools. Zapier covers SaaS actions across 9,000+ apps with Zapier holding credentials.
The sourced difference
Zapier covers SaaS actions across 9,000+ apps with Zapier holding credentials; Apify covers web data through Actors and can take per-request payments via Skyfire on pay-per-event Actors. (Zapier MCP: Zapier MCP docs, read 5 November 2026; Apify MCP: Apify MCP server docs, read 5 November 2026)
Verdicts by reader
| Reader | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Product engineer | Use Zapier for writing into business apps; Apify for reading the web. |
| Developer-platform lead | Zapier bills tasks; Apify bills Actor runs. |
| Agent builder | Apify allows a keyless mode for search and docs tools. |
Side by side on the rubric
| Dimension | Zapier MCP | Apify MCP |
|---|---|---|
| Remote transport | Streamable HTTP only | Streamable HTTP and stdio |
| OAuth with client registration | OAuth for clients | OAuth |
| Per-tool auth scoping | yes, app and action level | tools parameter selects Actors |
| Hosting and scale limits | task quota | Actor run limits |
| Observability | History log of every MCP action | run status and storage IDs |
| Pricing | included, tasks per call | per Actor run |
| Registry submission | not a registry | Apify Store for Actors |
| Discoverability by agents | agentic mode | search-actors tool |
| Own server in the registries | yes | yes |
Evidence for every cell is on the profiles: Zapier MCP and Apify MCP.