Migrating from Zapier

Zapier is one of the most common automation platforms teams migrate from when they adopt Chase Agents. This guide explains how Zapier concepts map to Chase Agents, what you gain in the transition, and a practical approach to rebuilding your most important Zaps.

Concept Mapping

A Zap in Zapier is an automation with a trigger and one or more actions. In Chase Agents, this is an Automation. Zapier's trigger is equivalent to Chase Agents' trigger configuration on an automation (Cron schedule, Webhook, or Manual). Zapier's action steps map directly to Chase Agents' step types. Zapier's built-in app connections map to Chase Agents' MCP connections, which you set up in the Connections Marketplace.

What You Gain

Chase Agents gives you capabilities that Zapier does not offer. AI-native steps let you generate text, score data, and make decisions within automations without connecting an external AI service. The run_sandboxed_code step lets you write arbitrary Python for any transformation or computation. Branching with if and switch steps, loops, and multi-step merges let you build genuinely complex workflows, not just linear chains. Human approval steps let you require a human sign-off before consequential actions run.

Migration Approach

Start by auditing your existing Zapier account. List all active Zaps and categorize them by: how business-critical they are, how complex they are (number of steps, use of filters and formatters), and which apps they connect. Prioritize rebuilding the highest-value, lowest-complexity Zaps first. These quick wins let you learn the Chase Agents model and build confidence before tackling complex workflows.

Step 1: Add Your Connections

Before rebuilding any automations, add the connections you need in the Connections Marketplace. For each app your Zaps use, find the corresponding MCP server or add it via API key or OAuth. Chase Agents supports any MCP-compatible service. If an app does not have a native MCP server, you can create a custom connection using the Custom Connectors feature with the app's REST API base URL.

Step 2: Rebuild in the Chat Builder

Use the Chase Agents chat builder to recreate each Zap. Describe what the Zap does in plain language and Chase Agents will generate the automation steps. For example: when a new row is added to a Google Sheet, send a Slack notification with the row contents. The chat builder will produce a working automation that you can review and adjust in the visual editor.

Step 3: Test Before Cutting Over

Before disabling a Zap, run the equivalent Chase Agents automation manually and verify the output matches what the Zap produces. Check that data is transformed correctly, that the right records are created or updated in downstream systems, and that notifications land in the right place. Once you are confident in the Chase Agents version, disable the Zap to avoid double-processing.

Zapier Filters and Formatters

Zapier's Filter step (only continue if) maps to Chase Agents' if step. Zapier's Formatter step (text manipulation, date formatting, number operations) maps to a run_sandboxed_code step where you write the equivalent Python. Python gives you far more power than Zapier's formatter, handling complex transformations that Zapier's built-in tools cannot manage.

Getting Help

If you have a complex Zap you are struggling to reproduce in Chase Agents, post it in the Discord community. Include a description of what the Zap does, the apps it connects, and where you are getting stuck. The community and the Chase Agents team can help you find the right approach.