Relay vs Zapier vs Lindy: Pros, Cons, and Features Compared

Relay.app offers simple automation, Zapier has the largest integration library, and Lindy is one of the easiest tools to create AI agents that automate tasks. I tested and compared them for weeks to see which one is ideal for different use cases.

Relay.app vs Zapier vs Lindy: At a glance

Relay.app, Zapier, and Lindy are among the top 10 automation tools, and all three cater to different use cases. 

Relay focuses on workflows that mix AI agents with human input. Zapier is known for its massive integration library. Lindy also offers no-code AI agents that can manage tasks across channels like email, phone, and documents. 

Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison of the three:

Choose Relay if you prefer automation with human reviews and a smaller integration library. Go with Zapier if you need complex logic and the widest app coverage. Pick Lindy if you want AI agents that handle multi-channel tasks without writing code.

Overview of Relay.app, Zapier, and Lindy

Let’s first understand what each tool does best before comparing features and pricing. Relay, Zapier, and Lindy all automate differently. Here’s how:

Relay.app

Relay helps teams automate tasks that still need human approvals or inputs. It lets you create workflows with approval steps, manual reviews, and add AI agents within workflows for tasks like summarizing, extracting data, or classifying information. 

The platform works best for teams that want oversight and flexibility without coding. Relay offers a clear pricing model based on steps and AI credits, making costs easy to track as usage grows.

Zapier

Zapier lets you automate workflows by connecting different apps. It offers over 8,000 integrations, from CRMs to project management tools. Users can build multi-step automations with conditions, filters, and loops. 

Zapier also includes new AI tools like Tables, Interfaces, and Canvas that allow complex automation. 

Lindy

Lindy allows you to create AI agents that can automate tasks without writing code. These agents work across different channels like email, text, and phone calls. It also offers prebuilt templates and 4,000+ integrations that help you execute workflows like sending follow-up emails, joining meetings, making calls, and updating CRMs, without constant oversight. 

It suits small and medium-sized teams that want to automate complex processes and increase their throughput without adding headcount.

Relay vs Zapier vs Lindy: Feature breakdown

All three of the tools have features that help them stand out. Here’s how they differ across different aspects:

Workflow automation

Relay lets you add approvals, assign reviews, and insert AI agents inside workflows to summarize or extract data. Each flow runs on a clear step and credit system, so teams can predict how much each process will cost. 

Zapier helps teams chain multiple apps together, create conditional paths, and add filters or loops. It is one of the best tools for teams that manage complex multi-step processes. Zapier’s features, like Canvas and Interfaces, help you visualize and plan workflows.

Lindy’s AI agents can complete tasks like reading emails, making calls, writing summaries, or updating CRMs. Templates let users launch agents for sales, support, or operations quickly. 

Integrations and ecosystem

Relay offers more than 100 native integrations and supports all of them across every plan. This makes it consistent for small teams that don’t need thousands of apps.

Zapier has over 8,000 integrations. It connects almost every major SaaS platform and adds new ones regularly. For companies with complex software stacks, this reach is unmatched.

Lindy can integrate with 4,000+ apps, including Google Workspace, HubSpot, and Salesforce. Its agents also work across communication tools like Slack, email, and phone systems, expanding automation beyond app-level triggers.

Ease of use

Relay’s interface is simple. Each step is easy to follow, and built-in approvals make error recovery straightforward. Reviews on G2 and Software Advice often praise its design and clarity.

Zapier is familiar to most users, but as workflows grow, it requires more maintenance. Managing multiple Zaps and tasks can become time-consuming.

Lindy gives you a drag-and-drop and AI workflow builder. You can describe what you want the agent to do and the AI will create it for you. Then, you can modify it or pick a template. This lowers the learning curve for non-technical teams.

Pricing and value of these tools

Budget and pricing play a role in deciding which platform makes sense for your team. Here’s what you get with each tool for what you pay:

You can estimate Relay’s pricing by counting steps and AI credits, and paid plans add more capacity without hidden fees. It’s a good fit for small to mid-sized teams that value cost control.

Zapier offers more flexibility, but its pay-per-task system can increase costs quickly for large workflows. It suits teams that need reach and scale more than budget predictability.

Lindy offers a free tier, but has the biggest price jump to the paid tier. However, its capabilities, large knowledge base (20 million characters), and AI calling agents justify it for certain teams.

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Pros and cons of each tool

Reviews and user feedback often reveal what feature lists cannot. Here’s how teams rate Relay, Zapier, and Lindy in daily use:

Relay

• Pros
  
  • Clean interface and quick setup 
  • Hands-on support team
  • Easy to add approvals or review steps and helps reduce workflow errors
• Cons 
  
  • Smaller integration library 
  • Branching is not as advanced as other tools 
  • Limited export options for complex workflows

Zapier

• Pros 
  
  • Reliable and proven tool 
  • Massive integration ecosystem

• Cons
  
  • Cost increases with scale 
  • Time-intensive to manage multiple Zaps

Lindy

• Pros 
  
  • Easy to set up AI agents 
  • No-code visual workflow builder
  • Templates and app integrations for calls, emails, and other workflows
• Cons
  
  • Takes some time to set up complex workflows

Which tool should you choose?

The right choice depends on what you need from an automation tool. Each platform serves a different kind of workflow and team setup. Here’s how you can decide:

Choose Lindy if you…

• Need automation that involves communication or content.
• Want AI agents that handle calls, emails, and research.
• Prefer starting with templates instead of building flows from scratch. 

Choose Relay if you…

• Want automation with human checkpoints or approvals.
• Need simple AI actions like summarizing or extracting text.
• Value ease of use over massive app coverage.

Choose Zapier if you…

• Rely on a range of apps across your stack.
• Want a proven platform with a strong support base.
• Can manage a task-based plan without worrying about overages.

My final verdict

Relay is best for teams that want automation with oversight and clear pricing. Zapier is ideal for those who need to connect multiple apps to automate their workflows. Lindy stands out for teams that want no-code AI agents to manage work across calls, emails, and documents.

If you want flexible, intelligent automation that still feels simple to manage, Lindy offers the most future-ready option.

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Try Lindy, an ideal Relay.app and Zapier alternative

Lindy beats Zapier and Relay.app when it comes to AI automation because of its customizable AI agents, pre-built templates and 4,000+ integrations. All of these let you launch automations quickly without writing code. 

Lindy helps automate your workflows with features like: 

• Drag-and-drop workflow builder for non-coders: You don’t need any technical skills to build workflows with Lindy. It offers a drag-and-drop visual workflow builder. 
• Create AI agents for your use cases: You can give them instructions in everyday language and automate repetitive tasks. For instance, create an assistant to find leads from websites and sources like People Data Labs. Create another agent that sends emails to each lead and schedules meetings with members of your sales team. ‍
• Send follow-up emails and keep everyone in sync: Lindy agents can send follow-up emails, schedule meetings, and keep everyone in the loop by triggering notifications in Slack by letting you build a Slackbot. ‍
• Supports tasks across different workflows: Lindy can handle meeting notes, website chat, lead generation, and content creation. You can create AI agents that help reduce manual work in training, content, and CRM updates.‍
• Automated sales outreach: Lindy can run multi-touch email campaigns, follow up on leads, and write follow-up replies using open rates, clicks, and prior messages.‍
• Cost-effective: Automate up to 40 monthly tasks with Lindy’s free version. The paid version lets you automate up to 1,500 tasks per month, which is a more affordable price per automation compared to many other platforms. 

Try Lindy free and automate up to 40 tasks with your first workflow. 

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Relay App and Zapier?

The difference between Relay and Zapier is that Relay adds human approvals and AI actions within workflows, while Zapier focuses on logic-based automation that connects thousands of apps. Relay works well for smaller teams that want control, while Zapier is better for larger setups that need complex logic and more integrations.

Is Lindy better than Relay App or Zapier?

Lindy is better than Relay.app or Zapier if you want AI agents that can automate tasks across email, phone, and CRM channels. Relay and Zapier suit structured, simple workflows better. 

Which is more affordable: Relay, Zapier, or Lindy?

Zapier is the most affordable tool among the three, offering paid plans from $29.99/month. Relay comes second, with its paid plans from $38/month. Lindy has the most expensive paid tier, at $49.99/month. 

Does Relay App support more complex workflows than Zapier?

No, Zapier supports more complex workflows than Relay.app due to its additional integrations, loops, and multi-branch logic.

What is Lindy’s advantage over Zapier?

The ability to work across multiple channels is Lindy’s advantage over Zapier. Its agents can write emails, join meetings, and take calls instead of just triggering actions between apps.

Can Lindy integrate with Salesforce and HubSpot?

Yes, Lindy integrates with Salesforce and HubSpot natively, along with more than 4,000 other business apps.

Is Zapier still worth it in 2025?

Yes, Zapier is still worth it over its alternatives in 2025 because it continues to expand integrations and add AI-assisted tools while staying reliable for established workflows.

Who should use Relay.app instead of Lindy?

Teams that want simple workflows with approval steps and clear cost tracking without multi-channel agents should use Relay App instead of Lindy.

Does Lindy offer a free plan?

Yes, Lindy offers a free plan with up to 40 free tasks per month, which helps teams test the platform and its capabilities before paying for the higher tiers.

Which tool scales best for enterprises?

Lindy scales best for enterprises because it supports large teams, is security-compliant, and offers custom usage limits while being affordable.