Relay.app Is Shutting Down: What to Do & Best Alternatives
Last updated: July 17, 2026 · Reviewed by: IntegrateStack Editorial
Relay.app, the human-in-the-loop automation platform, has announced it is shutting down. If you have workflows running on Relay, or were considering it, here's exactly what's happening, the dates that matter, how to export your data, and which alternatives to move to.
Quick Answer
Relay.app is shutting down. Free accounts lose access on August 15, 2026; paying customers lose access on September 14, 2026. New signups and free-to-paid upgrades are already turned off. Export your workflows, run history, and data now, Relay.app has not named a recommended migration path or successor. The closest alternatives depend on what you used Relay for: Make.com for visual, no-code workflows with approval-style branching, n8n if you want self-hosting and full workflow control, or Pabbly Connect if you want a low-cost, unlimited-run option.
Shutdown Timeline
Relay.app confirmed the shutdown on its homepage. Here's what's confirmed so far:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Now | New signups and free-to-paid upgrades are turned off. Existing workflows keep running. |
| August 15, 2026 (23:59 PT) | Free accounts and all associated data are permanently deleted. |
| September 14, 2026 | Paid accounts lose access. Annual subscribers get a prorated refund for the unused portion of their billing period within 5 business days; monthly subscribers aren't charged again. |
Relay.app has not announced a recommended alternative or migration path, its shutdown notice only points users to data export documentation. Technical support continues through the wind-down period.
What Existing Relay.app Users Should Do
- Export your data now. Relay.app lets you export workflows, sequences, and MCP servers as JSON, run history, and tables as CSV. Don't wait until the deadline week, do it as soon as you can.
- Document your approval logic. Relay's core feature was human-in-the-loop approval steps. No competing platform imports these 1:1, so screenshot or write out each workflow's approval rules, routing logic, and notification channels before you rebuild.
- Pick a replacement platform based on what your workflow needs (see alternatives below), and rebuild your highest-priority workflows first.
- Cancel or let your subscription lapse on your own timeline, paying customers keep access until September 14, 2026, and annual subscribers get a prorated refund automatically.
Best Relay.app Alternatives
No platform replicates Relay's native "human step" block exactly, but each of these can approximate it with the right configuration.
Make.com, best for visual, no-code approval branching
Make ↗ is the closest match for teams that liked Relay's visual, no-code interface. You can approximate a human approval step with a router branch that waits on a webhook (triggered by a Slack button or a form submission) before continuing the scenario. It won't be a native block, but Make's massive app library (1000+ integrations) and polished builder make it the fastest platform to get productive on if you're moving off Relay's no-code UI.
Try Make →
n8n, best for technical teams and self-hosting
n8n ↗ has a built-in Wait node and human-in-the-loop patterns (pause a workflow until a webhook, form response, or Slack approval comes back) that map reasonably well onto what Relay did natively. If your team wants full control over the approval logic, or needs to self-host for data privacy reasons, n8n gives you the most flexibility, at the cost of a steeper learning curve than Relay or Make.
Try n8n →
Pabbly Connect, best for budget-conscious teams
Pabbly Connect ↗ doesn't have native approval steps, but its unlimited workflows and low flat pricing make it a reasonable landing spot for simpler Relay workflows that don't strictly need a human checkpoint, or where you're comfortable adding one via a delay-and-webhook pattern.
Try Pabbly Connect →Frequently Asked Questions
When is Relay.app shutting down? ▼
Free accounts lose access on August 15, 2026 at 23:59 PT, when all free-account data is permanently deleted. Paying customers keep access until September 14, 2026. New signups and free-to-paid upgrades are already disabled.
Will I get a refund if I'm a paying Relay.app customer? ▼
Annual subscribers receive a prorated refund for the unused portion of their billing period within 5 business days. Monthly subscribers won't be charged again and keep access through the end date.
How do I export my data from Relay.app? ▼
Relay.app lets you export workflows, sequences, and MCP servers as JSON and AI prompts, run history, and tables as CSV. Do this before your account's shutdown date.
What is the best alternative to Relay.app? ▼
It depends on what you used Relay for. Make.com ↗ is the closest match for teams that want a visual, no-code builder. n8n ↗ suits technical teams that want self-hosting and full control over approval logic. Pabbly Connect ↗ is the lowest-cost option for simpler workflows.
Does any alternative have Relay's exact human-in-the-loop approval feature? ▼
No platform replicates Relay's native human-step block exactly. Make and n8n can both approximate it, pausing a workflow on a webhook, form response, or Slack button click, but it has to be manually configured rather than dropped in as a single native node.