Updated August 23, 2026

Relay.app is shutting down. Here is where to go next.

Free workspaces were deleted on August 15. Paid workspaces and all remaining data are deleted on Monday, September 14, 2026 at 23:59 PT. This page compares six replacements with public pricing so you can export and rebuild before that date.

See the comparison Migration checklist
Independent list. We are not affiliated with Relay.app. Some outbound links may later become affiliate links. Pricing below was checked on vendor pages on August 23, 2026 — confirm before you pay.

If you only have an hour

Most Relay users are not looking for another 8,000-app catalog. They want something that still feels like an AI teammate, or a cheap visual builder they can finish before September 14.

Closest AI feel

Lindy

Slack-native teammate with approvals, inbox, and meetings. Closest product shape to Relay if you used it as an AI coworker rather than a Zap editor.

Cheapest visual start

Make

Free 1,000 credits a month and paid Core from $12. Best if you want a visual canvas and can rebuild scenarios yourself.

Keep control

n8n

Self-host the Community Edition for $0, or use n8n Cloud from €20/mo billed annually. The lock-in-proof option.

Relay.app alternatives compared

Ordered by fit for a Relay refugee, not by who pays us. Relay does not offer a one-click importer into any of these tools. Expect to rebuild from the exported prompt and JSON.

Tool Best for Starting price Free / trial Self-host Action
n8n Technical teams, self-host or EU-hosted cloud Keep workflows off a vendor that can shut down Cloud Starter from €20/mo billed annually Community self-host free Yes Visit n8n
Zapier 8,000+ apps, least setup friction Reconnecting Gmail, Slack, Notion, HubSpot fast Professional from $19.99/mo billed annually ($29.99 monthly) 100 tasks/mo, 2-step Zaps No Visit Zapier
Make Visual scenarios, 3,000+ apps Complex branching without writing code Core from $12/mo for 10k credits $0 / 1,000 credits/mo No Visit Make
Lindy AI teammate, Slack, inbox, meetings Replacing Relay as a coworker, not a flowchart Plus $29.99/user/mo (3k credits) 7-day free trial No Visit Lindy
Gumloop AI-native agents and workflows Teams that want agents plus a visual builder Pro $37/mo, unlimited seats No public free plan listed No Visit Gumloop
Pipedream Code-first, 3,000+ apps Developers who will rewrite Relay flows in Node or Python Basic $29/mo $0 / 100 credits, 3 workflows No Visit Pipedream

Prices and allowances change. n8n Cloud is billed in euros. Zapier Professional includes 750 tasks at the advertised entry tier. Make Core is the $12 figure for 10,000 credits. Gumloop’s public pricing page listed Pro at $37/month with 20,000 credits when we checked. Verify on the vendor site before you subscribe.

Leave Relay before September 14

Relay’s own notice: paid customers keep access through Mon Sep 14, 2026 at 23:59 PT, then accounts and remaining data are permanently deleted. Export is available now.

  1. 1. Export tonight From Relay, download the workspace zip. You should get a markdown prompt per workflow, JSON for the workflow structure, run-history CSV, and table CSVs. Official steps: docs.relay.app — “export your Relay.app data”.
  2. 2. Pick by job, not by brand Used Relay as an AI coworker in Slack or email? Start with Lindy or Gumloop. Used it as a visual Zap? Start with Make or Zapier. Need the workflows to outlive another shutdown? Self-host n8n.
  3. 3. Rebuild from the markdown prompt None of these tools import Relay JSON as a live workflow. Paste the exported prompt into the new builder and reconnect each step. Budget more time than the export takes.
  4. 4. Reconnect Gmail, Slack, Notion, HubSpot Relay will delete stored credentials when the account dies. Every connected app has to be authorized again on the new tool.
  5. 5. Run both systems until September 14 Do not cut Relay the day you rebuild. Watch one or two full cycles on the new tool while Relay is still executing the old ones.

How to pick

If a vendor page says “best Relay alternative,” it is usually selling its own product. Use the job you actually ran in Relay.

You used Relay as an AI teammate

Lindy is the closest product shape: Slack mentions, inbox drafts, meeting notes, approvals before anything is sent. Gumloop is the closer match if you want a visual agent canvas and unlimited seats on one bill.

You want the cheapest visual rebuild

Make’s free 1,000 credits and $12 Core plan are the lowest public paid start on this list. Fine for Gmail / Sheets / Slack style work. Less like an agent, more like a flowchart.

You do not want another shutdown

n8n Community Edition runs on a server you control. Cloud Starter exists if you do not want to host. You still have to rebuild the flows.

You need every SaaS connector

Zapier still wins on raw app count. Free is only useful for two-step tests. Budget Professional if the workflow has more than a trigger and one action.

FAQ

What is Relay.app?

Relay.app was a no-code automation product that mixed workflows with AI agents across Gmail, Slack, Notion, HubSpot and similar apps. People used it as a lighter, more conversational alternative to Zapier.

When does Relay.app shut down?

Free accounts were deleted after Saturday, August 15, 2026 at 23:59 PT. Paying customers keep access through Monday, September 14, 2026 at 23:59 PT. After that, remaining data is permanently deleted. Dates come from Relay’s official shutdown page.

Can I import Relay JSON into Zapier, Make, or n8n?

No. Relay’s export is meant to help you rebuild: a markdown prompt you can paste elsewhere, plus JSON that describes the old workflow. Treat it as a spec, not as a migration file.

What is the closest AI replacement?

Lindy, if you used Relay as a Slack or inbox teammate. Gumloop, if you used it as an AI workflow builder. Neither is a clone. Test with one real workflow before moving the rest.

What is the cheapest option?

n8n Community Edition is free if you can host it. Make’s free plan (1,000 credits) and Zapier’s free plan (100 tasks, two-step only) are the hosted $0 starts. Make Core at $12/mo is the lowest public paid hosted plan on this page.

Is n8n too hard if I am not an engineer?

The editor is visual, but self-hosting is a developer job. Use n8n Cloud if you want the product without running Docker. If even that feels heavy, start on Make or Zapier.