Activepieces vs Relay.app (2026)
Overview
Activepieces is an open-source workflow automation platform with built-in AI pieces. It provides a visual builder for connecting apps, AI models, and custom code into automated workflows. Self-hostable and extensible with custom pieces, Activepieces offers a Zapier-like experience for teams that need data control and customization.
Relay.app is a collaborative workflow automation platform built around human-in-the-loop AI. It combines traditional automation with AI steps and human approval gates, letting teams build workflows where AI handles the bulk of work but humans review and approve critical decisions. The leading choice for teams that need AI automation with oversight.
Key features
Core capabilities each platform advertises.
- Open-source workflow automation
- Visual flow builder
- Self-hosted with MIT license
- Growing integration library
- AI-powered automation
Strengths and tradeoffs
What each tool does well, and the limitations to keep in mind.
Pros
- Truly open-source with permissive MIT license allowing full commercial use and modification
- Unlimited task execution in paid plans, eliminating usage anxiety and unpredictable costs
- Strong community contribution with 60% of integrations built by users
- Hybrid approach supporting both no-code and code customization for technical flexibility
- Active development and rapid feature additions backed by Y Combinator
Cons
- Fewer integrations (500+) compared to Zapier (7,000+) or Make (3,000+)
- Smaller community and less extensive documentation than established competitors
- Self-hosting requires DevOps expertise and infrastructure management
- Relatively newer platform with potential stability concerns for mission-critical workflows
Pros
- Unique Human-In-The-Loop functionality for critical approval workflows and compliance needs
- Generous AI credits included in all plans (GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Gemini 1.5 Pro)
- 100% uptime record demonstrating exceptional reliability
- Award-winning platform specifically recognized for operations and compliance teams
- User-friendly interface balancing automation with necessary human oversight
Cons
- Limited integrations (100+ apps) compared to larger competitors like Zapier or Make
- Free tier is quite restrictive (200 steps) for serious usage
- Smaller team (27 employees) may limit support and feature development speed
- Less proven at enterprise scale compared to more established platforms
Activepieces or Relay.app — which should you choose?
Choose Activepieces if you wantChoose if you want
- Self-hosted business automation
- Internal workflow management
- Open-source alternative to Zapier
- Development and CI/CD automation
- Data processing pipelines
Choose Relay.app if you wantChoose if you want
Compare Activepieces and Relay.app on your own traffic
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