What does each one do?
Zapier is a no-code automation platform that connects more than 9,000 apps [1]. Plans are priced by tasks: Free is $0 with 100 tasks a month and two-step Zaps; Professional starts at 750 tasks with multi-step Zaps; Team starts at 2,000 tasks with 25 seats and shared Zaps [1].
Torchrunner is one app for solo operators and small teams who do client work. Leads, contacts, companies and engagements sit on one record with the inbox (unlimited Gmail and Outlook accounts, plus Slack, WhatsApp, SMS, LinkedIn and Telegram), a business phone line, calendar and booking pages, projects and tasks, documents and notes, and your own books.
Archie and nine specialists do the work across those modules. Runners are automations that start on a real event and log every step. Anything that leaves the business, moves money or deletes data waits for a person's yes unless you choose otherwise.
Where do they overlap?
Both start work from a trigger, check conditions and take actions without you clicking through it.
Zapier moves data between apps. A Runner starts on a real event inside Torchrunner (a deal changes stage, an invoice is 30 days unpaid, a meeting ends), checks your conditions, then acts on the same records: tasks, emails, documents, updates. Every run is logged, and anything that leaves the business waits for a person.
What does Torchrunner replace, and what does it connect to?
Most of the glue between your CRM, inbox, projects and books, because those live in one app. Runners also call APIs, webhooks, MCP tools and browser agents for what lives outside.
Runners reach outside apps through APIs, webhooks and MCP. Gmail and Microsoft, your Stripe account, your clients' QuickBooks Online and your own AI connect directly. Keep Zapier for apps Torchrunner does not reach.
How does pricing compare?
Zapier alone costs less than Torchrunner. The comparison that matters is Zapier plus the CRM, inbox, project and books tools it is stitching together.
| Zapier [1] | Torchrunner | |
|---|---|---|
| $0 option | Free: 100 tasks a month, two-step Zaps | Viewers and client portal users $0 |
| Professional | $19.99 a month billed annually, $29.99 monthly, from 750 tasks | One plan: $199 a month with 1 seat and 1 engagement |
| Team | $69 a month billed annually, $103.50 monthly, from 2,000 tasks, 25 seats | Extra seat $79, extra engagement $99, per month |
| Enterprise | Contact sales | Not offered |
| Pricing unit | Tasks | Seats and engagements |
| Apps | 9,000+ app connections | The CRM, inbox, phone, projects and books are built in; outside apps through APIs, webhooks and MCP |
Who should pick which?
Your work spans many separate apps that you want to keep, and you need a connection between almost any two of them.
Most of your work is clients, email, calls, projects and invoices, and you would rather have those on one record than keep a chain of Zaps running between them.
Switching: what moves over?
List your Zaps. The ones that move data between your CRM, inbox, projects and books become Runners inside Torchrunner; the ones that reach other apps can stay on Zapier or move to a Runner that calls the app's API.
Implementation, including setup and data migration, is done by AtPace, our implementation partner, and priced by AtPace. Once you are in, your data stays yours: export your records as a ZIP at any time, or schedule backups to your own SharePoint, OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox.
Questions
Is Torchrunner a Zapier alternative?
For automation between your CRM, inbox, projects and books, yes, because those live in one app and Runners act on them directly. For connecting thousands of outside apps, Zapier is the better fit.
What is a Runner?
An automation in Torchrunner that starts on a real event, checks the conditions you set, then acts. Every run is logged, and anything that leaves the business, moves money or deletes something waits for a person unless you choose otherwise.
How much is Zapier compared with Torchrunner?
Zapier Professional is $19.99 a month billed annually and Team is $69, priced by tasks. Torchrunner is $199 a month with 1 seat and 1 engagement, and covers the apps Zapier would connect.
Can I keep Zapier with Torchrunner?
Yes. Keep Zapier for apps Torchrunner does not reach. Runners also call APIs, webhooks and MCP tools.
Sources, checked October 25, 2026
Every Zapier price, limit and feature above comes from Zapier's own pages, opened on October 25, 2026. Vendors change prices often; check the source before you buy. Where a page did not say, we left the fact out.
- ›1. Zapier pricing: https://zapier.com/pricing
- ›Torchrunner prices: https://torchrunner.ai/pricing
Zapier is a trademark of Zapier, Inc.. Other product names belong to their owners. Torchrunner is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Zapier.
- ›Torchrunner vs your whole stack: the eleven-tool stack, tool by tool
- ›Platform: every module, and Archie and the nine specialists
- ›Pricing: one plan, month to month, with worked examples
- ›Request access: access is by application