My flow makes 1000 API calls a day, way more than expected

A loop inside a trigger looks harmless but multiplies fast. 50 records in a loop, 20 times a day is 1000 calls. Inspect the loop structure before upgrading quota.

Try this first

1. 1Count concretely: triggers per day x records per trigger x sub-steps per record. The explosion is often in the third factor.
2. 2Ask: can I fetch the same data in one batch call instead of per record? Often yes, with query filters or bulk endpoints.
3. 3Avoid nested loops where possible: a loop inside a loop is N x M, scales badly. Join in a separate step with a map is almost always better.
4. 4Cache repeated lookups: if you fetch the same org info per record, do it once before the loop, not N times inside.
5. 5Check your iPaaS runtime: Zapier charges per task in a loop, Make per operation, n8n self-host costs nothing per call. That shifts your optimization direction.

None of the above fits?

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