Exit guide · automation
Relay.app shut down in September 2026: rebuild from retained copies
Relay.app's official notice says the service shut down in September 2026 and all accounts, workflows, and run history were permanently deleted. The live service is no longer an export path; rebuild from independent exports, documentation, or backups retained before shutdown.
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What actually matters
- Use independently retained exports, runbooks, or screenshots to reconstruct workflows; the shutdown notice says the service data was deleted.
- Map each Relay flow to Zapier tasks, Make credits, or n8n executions before rebuilding.
- Prioritise business-critical automations (billing, CRM, support) first.
- Re-create OAuth connections in the destination; do not assume tokens transfer.
- Re-create OAuth connections in the replacement service; do not assume credentials can be recovered from Relay.app.
The shortlist
- Zapier when you verify the required connectors and want a managed workflow editor.
- Make for visual multi-step flows already similar to Relay’s canvas.
- n8n when your team will operate it and can verify that its self-hosted data path meets your residency requirements.
Evidence-backed entries
A sensible test workflow
- 01Inventory every active Relay workflow and mark criticality + owner.
- 02Export today; screenshot or document each flow’s trigger and side effects.
- 03Rebuild top-critical flows first, then cancel or delete the Relay account on your schedule.
Common mistakes
- Treating the old export deadline as still available after the service shutdown.
- Assuming credentials or run history can be recovered from the deleted service.
- Rebuilding without testing triggers, permissions, and side effects in the destination.
Popular-AI shortlist snapshot: September 26, 2026. This guide is a starting framework, not a permanent ranking. Model prices, access, policies, and capabilities move quickly. Check the provider before committing spend or sending sensitive data.