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Relay.app is a hosted, no-code workflow builder aimed at human-reviewed business automations and teams using supported SaaS integrations. A Reddit thread reports users were told the service is shutting down, so teams should check its status and export workflows before depending on it. Alternatives range from open-source, self-hostable n8n to hosted tools for API connections and app automation. Their listed starting prices run from $2.09 to $99, but check current quotas and workflow costs before migrating.
01Why people leave Relay.app
Service continuity is uncertain
A Reddit thread reports users were told Relay.app is shutting down. Export workflows and inventory branches, tables and app dependencies before a cutoff.
Integration fit can change
A Relay user specifically sought an Attio replacement; other commenters reported different app coverage across Zapier, Make and viaSocket.
A rebuild can change the experience
Reddit users praised Relay's ease of use but found Make less intuitive; test a difficult workflow before committing to a replacement.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Self-hosted workflows
n8nn8nChoose n8n when keeping workflow execution under your control matters more than a fully managed builder. It is listed as open source and self-hostable, and its focus includes inspectable AI steps. The listed starting price is $20 with a free plan; compare hosted costs and operational work for self-hosting against your workflow volume. Plan to rebuild and verify Relay workflows rather than assume a migration path.
Trade-off: Self-hosting adds operational work, and verify API and migration needs before committing.
7.4/10from
$20/mofree plan - API and MCP workflows
PipedreamPipedreamPipedream is a fit when workflows need to connect third-party APIs or provide MCP tools to AI apps. Its positioning also calls out avoiding OAuth infrastructure. The listed price starts at $99 with a free plan, so check quotas and recovery behavior against your event volume. Treat Relay migration as a rebuild unless the vendor confirms a compatible path for your workflows.
Trade-off: The $99 starting price is high; verify quotas and recovery behavior.
7.4/10from
$99/mofree plan - Visual app automation
MakeMakeMake suits teams that want visual workflows across many apps and centralized governance without moving to a code-first integration layer. It is hosted and starts at $9 with a free plan. A Reddit commenter found Make less intuitive than Relay, so reproduce your most complex workflow and check current costs and operational limits before moving production automations.
Trade-off: A Relay user found its migration tool and support disappointing; verify the rebuild path.
7.1/10from
$9/mofree plan - Broad app coverage
ZapierZapierZapier is a practical choice when replacing Relay means connecting common business apps, with workflow oversight for IT teams. Its listed starting price is $19.99 with a free plan. Reddit users report a broad integration catalog, but Zapier warns that costs can rise with task volume. Model your expected tasks and test key app connections, including Attio, before migrating.
Trade-off: Task-volume costs can rise, and pricing needs checking against actual usage.
7.1/10from
$19.99/mofree plan - Microsoft workflows
Power AutomatePower AutomatePower Automate fits a Microsoft-centered stack, especially for Microsoft 365 workflows, approvals, employee onboarding and legacy UI automation with RPA. Its listed starting price is $15. Before replacing Relay, check licensing, limits and migration paths for the specific workflows you depend on. It is a less direct fit if your automation centers on non-Microsoft SaaS apps.
Trade-off: Check licensing, limits and migration paths before scaling.
7.0/10from
$15/mo - API and MCP access
MagicalMagicalMagical is worth evaluating if meeting follow-ups are central to your Relay workflows or you need API or MCP workflows. It starts at $29 and has a free plan. Check its limits, export options and integration details before adopting it, then confirm that the workflows and connected tools you need are supported.
Trade-off: Verify limits, export and integration details before adopting it.
5.8/10from
$29/mofree plan - Low-cost simple automations
IFTTTIFTTTIFTTT offers a low starting price for simple app-to-app automations, smart-home connections and prompt-driven AI workflows. Its listed price starts at $2.09 with a free plan. It is hosted rather than self-hosted or code-first, so it is a better fit for lightweight service bridges than complex business workflows that need detailed control.
Trade-off: It is not a self-hosted or code-first automation platform.
6.3/10from
$2.09/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Relay.app Relay.app (current) | 6.8 | $19/mo | Yes | Human-reviewed business workflows |
| n8n n8n | 7.4 | $20/mo | Yes | Teams orchestrating repeatable business workflows |
| Pipedream Pipedream | 7.4 | $99/mo | Yes | AI apps that need MCP tools |
| Make Make | 7.1 | $9/mo | Yes | Teams automating across many apps |
| Zapier Zapier | 7.1 | $19.99/mo | Yes | Teams connecting common business apps |
| Power Automate Power Automate | 7.0 | $15/mo | No | Microsoft 365 workflow automation |
| Magical Magical | 5.8 | $29/mo | Yes | Teams automating meeting follow-ups |
| IFTTT IFTTT | 6.3 | $2.09/mo | Yes | Simple app-to-app automations |
Questions people ask
Which Relay.app alternative can I self-host?
n8n is listed as open source and self-hostable, making it the clearest option here if you want control over where workflows run. Its listed starting price is $20 with a free plan. Compare the work of operating it yourself with hosted alternatives, and confirm that its APIs and migration path fit your workflows.
Which alternative has the lowest listed starting price?
IFTTT has the lowest listed starting price at $2.09, followed by Make at $9. Both have free plans. Starting prices do not establish what a production workload will cost: check current quotas and calculate expected usage before moving workflows that process frequent events.
Can I automatically migrate Relay.app workflows?
Do not assume a replacement will import Relay workflows automatically. Reddit users recommend exporting workflows early and checking branches, tables and app dependencies. A commenter describing Relay Rescue says it creates a Zapier rebuild planning packet, not an automatic migration. Test a representative workflow and confirm each vendor's migration options.