Relay.app vs Zapier
You are picking between a human-in-the-loop, AI-native workflow tool (Relay.app) and the category leader for no-code automation (Zapier). The trade-off is workflow depth vs catalog breadth.
Relay.app
Human-in-the-loop workflow automation with AI steps, approvals, and a focus on cross-team collaboration over raw integration count.
Read review →
Zapier
Connects 7,000+ apps with no-code automation, AI-powered Zaps, and Tables/Interfaces — the default automation layer for SaaS.
Read review →Our take
For workflows where a human drafts, edits, or approves before something ships — especially AI-assisted ones — Relay.app wins clean. For broad, headless "trigger fires, action runs" automation across thousands of SaaS apps, Zapier still wins. Most teams will end up with both: Relay for the human-touch flows, Zapier for the long-tail integrations.
- Relay.app wins 5
- Zapier wins 2
- Ties: 2
Side-by-side
| Relay.app | Zapier | |
|---|---|---|
| Human-in-the-loop steps | First-class (approve, edit, assign) | Hacky (paths + delays) |
| AI steps | Native, deep, structured output | AI Actions bolted on, less coherent |
| Integration count | A few hundred (deep) | 7,000+ (broad) |
| Self-host | No | No |
| Pricing at low volume | Generous free tier | Free is very limited |
| Pricing at high volume | AI credits add up fast | Per-task pricing balloons |
| Collaboration model | Owners, editors, assignees per step | Workspace roles, no per-step assignment |
| Ecosystem maturity | Young, fewer templates | Largest in category |
| Lock-in | Medium (no JSON export) | High (proprietary, no export to OSS) |
FAQ
- Which is better, Relay.app or Zapier?
- For workflows where a human drafts, edits, or approves before something ships — especially AI-assisted ones — Relay.app wins clean. For broad, headless "trigger fires, action runs" automation across thousands of SaaS apps, Zapier still wins. Most teams will end up with both: Relay for the human-touch flows, Zapier for the long-tail integrations.
- What are the main differences?
- Human-in-the-loop steps: Relay.app — First-class (approve, edit, assign); Zapier — Hacky (paths + delays). AI steps: Relay.app — Native, deep, structured output; Zapier — AI Actions bolted on, less coherent. Integration count: Relay.app — A few hundred (deep); Zapier — 7,000+ (broad). Self-host: Relay.app — No; Zapier — No. Pricing at low volume: Relay.app — Generous free tier; Zapier — Free is very limited. Pricing at high volume: Relay.app — AI credits add up fast; Zapier — Per-task pricing balloons. Collaboration model: Relay.app — Owners, editors, assignees per step; Zapier — Workspace roles, no per-step assignment. Ecosystem maturity: Relay.app — Young, fewer templates; Zapier — Largest in category. Lock-in: Relay.app — Medium (no JSON export); Zapier — High (proprietary, no export to OSS).
- Is Relay.app cheaper than Zapier?
- Relay.app: Generous free tier. Zapier: Free is very limited.