When no-code hits its limits
Zapier is great for simple automations. But real AI agents need custom logic, complex integrations, and production-grade infrastructure that no-code can't provide.
Feature Comparison
See how Connic stacks up against Zapier AI across key capabilities.
Agent Capabilities
Custom AI logic
Connic allows full Python code. Zapier AI uses pre-built templates only.
Custom tools/functions
Write any Python function. Zapier limited to their action library.
Multi-step reasoning
Full agent loops with tool calling. Zapier has basic chatbot flows.
Sequential agent pipelines
Chain agents together. Not possible in Zapier.
System prompt control
Full control over prompts. Zapier has limited customization.
Model selection
Choose any model (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc). Zapier offers limited options.
Integration Depth
Webhook triggers
Both support webhooks. Connic adds signing and custom headers.
Kafka/SQS queues
Native queue support. Not available in Zapier.
PostgreSQL triggers
React to database changes. Not possible with Zapier.
WebSocket real-time
Bidirectional streaming. Zapier is request-response only.
Custom API calls
Full Python HTTP clients. Zapier has Webhooks action with limitations.
Raw data processing
Process any data format with Python. Zapier limited to their parser.
Developer Experience
Version control
Agents in Git, reviewed in PRs. Zapier Zaps are UI-only.
Code review workflow
Review agent changes like any code. Not possible with Zapier.
Local development
Develop and test locally. Zapier requires cloud-only editing.
Environment parity
Same config in dev/staging/prod. Zapier has limited environment support.
Unit testing
Test tools with pytest. Zapier has no testing framework.
Production Features
Execution tracing
Full traces with token counts. Zapier shows basic task history.
Error handling
Custom retry logic, fallbacks. Zapier has basic retry.
Rate limiting
Configurable concurrency limits. Zapier has plan-based limits.
Cost tracking
Token and cost tracking per agent. Zapier tracks task counts.
Knowledge & RAG
Document upload
Upload PDFs, images, text for agent context. Not in Zapier AI.
Semantic search
Built-in RAG capabilities. Not available in Zapier.
Knowledge tools
Agents can store and query knowledge. Not possible in Zapier.
Why teams choose Connic
Key advantages that make Connic the better choice for production AI agents.
Full Code Control
Write any Python logic. No black boxes, no limitations. Your agents do exactly what you need.
Enterprise Integrations
Kafka, SQS, PostgreSQL, WebSocket - connect to real infrastructure, not just SaaS apps.
Developer Workflow
Git, PRs, local testing, unit tests. Build agents like you build software.
Built-in RAG
Upload documents, get semantic search. Give agents real knowledge, not just prompts.
Production Observability
Full tracing, token tracking, cost monitoring. Debug like a real production system.
No Black Box
See and control every part of your agents. No surprises, no vendor lock-in on logic.
The Bottom Line
Zapier AI and Connic serve very different needs. Choose based on your requirements.
Use Connic when
- You need custom logic that can't be built with drag-and-drop
- You want to integrate with infrastructure (queues, databases)
- Your team writes code and prefers code-first tools
- You need version control, PRs, and proper dev workflow
- You want RAG and knowledge capabilities for your agents
- You need enterprise-grade observability and debugging
Use Zapier AI when
- You're connecting simple SaaS apps together
- You don't have developers on your team
- Your automations are straightforward app-to-app triggers
- You want a visual interface over writing code
- You're building personal productivity automations
- Your use case fits within Zapier's pre-built templates