Zapier是(Zapier)与 IFTTT 相同(same vein as IFTTT)的自动化工具，但可以说在许多方面都更强大。虽然IFTTT在智能家居应用方面表现出色，但 Zapier(Zapier)在商业和生产力相关应用方面看到了很多使用。Zapier最强大的功能之一可能是设置多步自动化的能力。
当然，这些强大的功能被锁定在付费墙后面。本指南将介绍 Zapier 的免费计划，并帮助您决定是否值得尝试，或者每月花一点钱购买高级计划是否会为您提供所需的额外工具和功能。
Zapier 免费计划
在解释Zapier免费计划的内容之前，您需要了解一些术语。Zapier将其自动化称为“ Zaps ” ，因此任何对Zap的引用都是对自动化、链接任务的引用。
Zapier免费计划允许用户最多设置 5个(Zaps)Zaps(Zapier)。它还限制用户每月执行 100 个任务；换句话说，在服务停止工作之前激活您的Zaps 100 次，直到下个月。Zapier免费计划还限制用户使用单步Zaps(Zapier)，并且它仅每 15 分钟检查一次更新 。(Zaps)
考虑到这一切，Zapier免费计划有什么好处？答案很简单：测试。这是试用Zapier并发现基本功能和界面是否是您喜欢使用的东西的好方法。然而，对于任何真正形式的自动化来说，它都太有限了。
下一个级别将更加有用。每月 20 美元（如果按年计费），您每月可获得 750 个任务，一次最多 20 个 Zaps，但仍受限于 15 分钟的更新时间。但是，您可以通过 webhook 访问Multi-Step Zaps、3 个高级应用程序、过滤器、格式化程序和连接。
这是一个更有用的程序，但它有点贵。在您选择投入资金之前，试用免费计划并确定Zapier是否可以达到您需要的目标。但是，Zapier确实为用户提供了 14 天的免费试用服务。
Zapier 应用程序兼容性
Zapier与(Zapier)2,000 多种不同的应用程序(2,000 different applications)兼容，但其中一些最强大（也是最受欢迎的）是Google Sheets、Gmail、Slack、Twitter和Trello。正如我们之前所说，Zapier 面向生产力(Zapier is geared towards productivity)而不是家庭自动化。
事实上，Zapier几乎完全没有智能家居兼容性。它与 36 种不同的物联网(Things)应用(Internet)程序兼容，但只有少数这些应用程序是常用的（如Philips Hue和Google Assistant。）
一些应用程序被认为是Zapier平台上的“高级”应用程序，包括Salesforce、Shopify、PayPal和GoToWebinar。这些高级应用程序只能由使用付费Zapier计划之一的人访问。
Zapier 设置
Zapier的一大优点是不需要太多工作即可开始使用。您可以通过Google注册以开始使用。从那时起，创建Zap就像从选项列表中进行选择一样简单。
首先，选择让你的电击(Zap)生效的触发器。这几乎可以是任何东西。在示例中，我们选择Twitter中的特定搜索词作为触发器。当Zapier执行搜索并找到结果时，它会触发操作。
第二步是效果。选择当Zapier(Zapier)被触发时你想要发生的事情。继续上面的例子，效果是将包含搜索词相关信息的电子邮件发送到指定的电子邮件地址。
如果您使用的计划允许您设置多步Zaps，您只需单击第二步下方的加号即可继续创建说明。
Zapier免费计划值得使用(Zapier Free Plan Worth Using)吗？
免费计划的特性和功能非常有限，几乎没有实际应用程序。如果您只需要自动化一些每月很少触发的任务，那么它可以满足您的需求。另一方面，如果您计划创建一个自动化主力，除非您支付高级计划，否则您将很快用完任务。
Zapier免费计划甚至对测试没有那么(Zapier)有用，因为任何对该服务感兴趣的人都可以在注册后试用高级计划 14 天。然而，Zapier本身是一个非常强大的工具，特别是在将 Slack(linking Slack)和其他业务通信工具链接到其他服务方面。
Zapier Free Plan Features: What You Get and What You Don’t
Zapier is an automаtion tool in thе same vein as IFTTT, but is arguably more powerful in many ways. While IFTTT excels at smart home applications, Zapier sees a lot of usage with regard to business and productivity related applications. Perhaps one of the most powerful Zapier features is the ability to set up multi-step automations.
Of course, these powerful features are locked behind a paywall. This guide will take a look at Zapier’s free plan and help you decide whether it’s worth trying, or whether shelling out a little bit of cash each month for a premium plan will give you the extra tools and features you need.
The Zapier Free Plan
Before explaining what the Zapier free plan holds, you need to understand a few terms. Zapier refers to its automations as “Zaps,” so any reference to a Zap is a reference to an automated, linked task.
The Zapier free plan allows users to set up to 5 Zaps. It also limits users to 100 tasks per month; in other words, 100 activations of your Zaps before the service stops working until the next month. The Zapier free plan also limits users to single-step Zaps, and it only checks for updates every 15 minutes.
With all this in mind, what is the Zapier free plan good for? The answer is simple: testing. It’s a great way to try out Zapier and discover whether the basic features and the interface are things you would enjoy using. However, for any real form of automation, it’s just too limited.
The next level up is infinitely more useful. For $20 per month (if billed annually), you get 750 tasks per month, up to 20 Zaps at a time, but are still limited with a 15 minute update time. However, you get access to Multi-Step Zaps, 3 premium apps, filters, formatters, and connections via webhooks.
It’s a far more useful program, but it is a bit on the pricier side of things. Try out the free plan and decide whether Zapier can meet the goals you need it to before you choose to commit funds. However, Zapier does provide users with a 14-day free trial of their services.
Zapier App Compatibility
Zapier is compatible with more than 2,000 different applications, but some of the most powerful (and most popular) are Google Sheets, Gmail, Slack, Twitter, and Trello. Like we stated before, Zapier is geared towards productivity rather than home automation.
In fact, Zapier has almost no smart home compatibility at all. It is compatible with 36 different Internet of Things apps, but only a few of these applications are commonly used (like Philips Hue and Google Assistant.)
Some apps are considered to be “Premium” apps on Zapier’s platform, including Salesforce, Shopify, PayPal, and GoToWebinar. These premium applications are only accessible by someone using one of the paid Zapier plans.
Zapier Setup
One strong point of Zapier is that it doesn’t take much work to get started. You can sign up through Google to get started. From that point, creating a Zap is as simple as selecting from a list of options.
First, choose the trigger for your Zap to take effect. This can be almost anything. In the example, we chose for a specific search term in Twitter to be the trigger. When Zapier performs a search and finds results, it triggers the action.
The second step is the effect. Choose what you want to happen when Zapier is triggered. Continuing from the above example, the effect is to send an email containing the relevant information about the search term to a specified email address.
If you’re using a plan that allows you to set up multi-step Zaps, you just have to click the plus symbol underneath the second step to continue creating instructions.
Is the Zapier Free Plan Worth Using?
The free plan is so limited in features and functionality that it has little to no real-world application. If you only need to automate a few tasks that rarely trigger each month, then it could fit your needs. On the other hand, if you plan to create an automation workhorse, you will quickly run out of tasks unless you pay for a premium plan.
The Zapier free plan isn’t even that useful for testing purposes, as anyone interested in the service can try out a premium plan for 14 days after signing up. However, Zapier itself is a tremendously powerful tool, particularly with regard to linking Slack and other business communication tools to other services.
