Head-to-head
Zapier vs Solidus
Both can help you with AI automation. The difference is shape, price, and what you own at the end.
Zapier
Solidus
Starting price
$30/mo
$4,500 one-time (audit) · $25K-$150K builds
Engagement shape
DIY platform — you build it yourself
✓Productized: $4,500 audit · $25K workflow · $75-150K full network
Time to first value
Days to weeks — depends on your team
✓1 week for audit · 3 weeks for first workflow
What you own at the end
Workflows in their platform (still requires the SaaS subscription)
✓Owned code, prompts, infrastructure — runs independently
Ongoing dependency
Yes — workflows depend on the platform
✓Optional retainer · system runs without us
AI agents trained on your data
No — generic models, you bring the prompts
Yes, framework-encoded prompts, ready to ship
Sales cycle
Self-serve signup
Self-serve for audit · 1 call for builds
Which should you pick?
Zapier is the right tool for a 3-step glue workflow. We build the system you want when those 3-step workflows have multiplied into 30 and you need an actual architecture — trained agents, owned code, custom dashboards, and infrastructure your team controls. Customers who hire us typically have a Zapier bill north of $200/mo and are realizing they've built a pile of fragile glue.
Try Solidus with the $4,500 audit.
Lowest-friction way to find out what we\'d do in your business. One week. Async. No sales call.