Relay.app costs $15/mo.
These cost $0.
7 free alternatives to Relay.app, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
The top-rated free, open-source replacement for Relay.app is n8n (Open Source Open Source). Across this category, 7 self-hostable tools are available (including n8n and Flowise AI). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $900/year compared to Relay.app's $15/mo subscription.
The catch: Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Relay.app.
Relay.app vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $15/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n8n | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 209.7k | Relay.app vs n8n → |
| Flowise AI | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 55.6k | Relay.app vs Flowise AI → |
| Kestra | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 30.2k | Relay.app vs Kestra → |
| ActivePieces | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 25.4k | Relay.app vs ActivePieces → |
| Automa | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 21.7k | Relay.app vs Automa → |
| Automatisch | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 14k | Relay.app vs Automatisch → |
| ByteChef | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 1.1k | Relay.app vs ByteChef → |
The picks
7 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
n8n
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host209.7knov 2026Visual workflow automation platform for building AI agents and business processes, with 500+ integrations, human approval steps, code when needed, and self-hosting.
The catch vs Relay.appRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Relay.app.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/n8n-io/n8n or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 02
Flowise AI
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host55.6knov 2026Open source platform for building AI agents, chatbots, and multi-agent systems using a drag-and-drop interface, with support for 100+ LLMs and RAG.
The catch vs Relay.appRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Relay.app.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/flowiseai/flowise or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 03
Kestra
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host30.2knov 2026YAML-based orchestration platform with 1400+ plugins for running data pipelines, AI workflows, and infrastructure automation across teams at scale.
The catch vs Relay.appRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Relay.app.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/kestra-io/kestra or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 04
ActivePieces
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host25.4knov 2026Open-source integration platform for seamless workflow automation. Connect apps, automate tasks, and boost productivity effortlessly.
The catch vs Relay.appRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Relay.app.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/activepieces/activepieces or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 05
Automa
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host21.7knov 2026No-code platform for building AI agents and RPA workflows that automate repetitive business tasks across finance, HR, sales, and operations.
The catch vs Relay.appRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed UiPath.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/AutomaApp/automa or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 06
Automatisch
open sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host14knov 2026Self-hosted automation tool that connects your apps and services, enabling powerful integrations and efficient data flow across your ecosystem.
The catch vs Relay.appAutomatisch has far fewer connectors and much less transformation/retry polish than Albato, while also requiring self-hosting.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone the repository and run Docker Compose.
- setup
- Requires Docker, PostgreSQL/Redis configuration and secret management; the default sample login must be changed immediately.
- your data
- Application and credential data stays on the user's server in PostgreSQL, with Redis for queues/cache; credentials are encrypted.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 07
ByteChef
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host1.1knov 2026Create intelligent automation workflows combining AI agents with your favorite apps and services. Connect, automate, and scale your operations without complex coding.
The catch vs Relay.appRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Relay.app.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/bytechefhq/bytechef or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
Relay.app Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 7 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Relay.app open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Relay.app?+
The top free alternative to Relay.app is n8n (open source, Open Source). Visual workflow automation platform for building AI agents and business processes, with 500+ integrations, human approval steps, code when needed, and self-hosting. Other popular Relay.app replacements include Flowise AI, Kestra, ActivePieces.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Relay.app?+
Yes. Of the 7 free alternatives to Relay.app, 7 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: n8n (Open Source), Flowise AI (Open Source), Kestra (Open Source), ActivePieces (Open Source), Automa (Open Source), Automatisch (AGPL-3.0), ByteChef (Open Source).
How much does switching from Relay.app to a free alternative save?+
Relay.app starts at $15/month per seat ($180/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like n8n saves $900 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Relay.app clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Relay.app is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Relay.app or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 7 battle-tested open-source alternatives like n8n.
What is the catch when switching from Relay.app to n8n?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Relay.app.
