Relay.app is shutting down
What's happening, and the dates that matter
Big news if you've landed here: Relay.app is closing down. The team announced a full wind-down, and new signups are already switched off as of July 16, 2026.
Two dates decide your timeline:
- Free users: access ends August 15, 2026. After that, free accounts and all their data are permanently deleted.
- Paying customers: access ends September 14, 2026. Subscriptions are already cancelled, so there's no further charge. Annual plans get a prorated refund.
If Relay runs anything you depend on, you need a new home for it before then. You can still export your workflows, run history, and tables, so do that first. Then rebuild on one of the five alternatives below.
One catch worth flagging: when your account is deleted, Relay's saved logins and tokens for your connected apps go with it. Export before the deadline, not after.
Why look beyond Relay?
App coverage, volume pricing, and full AI agents
Relay.app got a lot right. AI was built into every step. Human-in-the-loop approvals meant automations didn't run wild. The free plan gave you 200 steps and 500 AI credits a month to play with.
With the shutdown now set, the question is less "why switch" and more "switch to what". Here's what to weigh up:
- App coverage. Relay connected the big names, but its catalog was a fraction of what Zapier or Make offer. If your stack runs on niche tools, check the catalog first.
- Volume pricing. Heavy automations can cost very different amounts depending on how each tool bills, per task, per credit, or per step.
- Full AI agents. Relay added AI to workflows you designed. A new wave of tools flips that: you hand an agent the goal and it works out the steps.
We've tested the field before, including for our solopreneur automation tools and AI productivity assistants lists. These five are the ones we'd actually move to.
What is Zapier?
No-code workflow automation tool
AI Tools
What is Make?
Visual workflow automation across apps
Software
What is Lindy AI?
AI assistant for tasks and communication
AI Tools
What is CodeWords?
Workflow automation and AI agent builder
AI Tools
What is Tasklet?
Business automation via AI agents
To Do List Apps
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Relay.app shutting down?
Is Relay.app shutting down?
What is the best Relay.app alternative?
What is the best Relay.app alternative?
How much do Relay alternatives cost?
How much do Relay alternatives cost?
What is the cheapest Relay alternative for high-volume automations?
What is the cheapest Relay alternative for high-volume automations?
Make wins this one. It's the lowest starting price on our list at $9/mo and our pick for value at volume. Zapier's breadth costs more than double that at $19.99/mo.