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

Written by  
Everett Butler  
Head of Marketing

Everett compared Relay.app, Zapier, and Lindy across workflow automation, integration libraries, and pricing, weighing human-approval steps against Zapier's app connections and Lindy's AI agents.

Last Updated: November 12, 2025

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:**

| Tool                  | Best for                                           | Starting price (billed monthly) | Key strength                                                |
|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| [Lindy](/content/site-root.html)          | Teams that want AI agents for calling, email, operations, and other business workflows | From [$49.99/month](/content/pricing/index.html)        | Automates across email, calls, and documents                |
| [Relay.app](https://www.relay.app/)     | Teams that need AI with human checkpoints to support workflow automation    | From [$38/month](https://www.relay.app/pricing)           | Combines automation with human review steps                 |
| [Zapier](https://zapier.com/)          | Users who need broad integrations and advanced workflow control | From [$29.99/month](https://zapier.com/pricing)           | 8,000+ app connections and strong logic options             |

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.

### 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.

### 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](/content/integrations/index.html) that help you execute workflows like sending follow-up emails, joining meetings, making calls, and updating CRMs, without constant oversight.

## 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.

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**](https://www.relay.app/apps) 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**](https://zapier.com/apps). It connects almost every major SaaS platform and adds new ones regularly.

Lindy can integrate with [**4,000+ apps**](/content/integrations/index.html), including Google Workspace, HubSpot, and Salesforce.

### 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](https://www.g2.com/products/relay-app/reviews) and [Software Advice](https://www.softwareadvice.com/product/421476-Relay/) 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:**

| Tool                | Free plan                           | Paid plans start at (billed monthly) | Pricing model                      | Notes                                                  |
|---------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| Relay               | 200 steps and 500 AI credits       | $38/month                           | Usage-based (steps + AI credits) | Transparent pricing with clear credit tracking           |
| Zapier              | 100 tasks/month                     | $29.99/month                       | Task-based + overages           | Broad plan range for teams and enterprise use           |
| Lindy               | Up to 40 free tasks/month          | $49.99/month                       | Credit-based                       | Free plan offers room to explore features               |

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.

## 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.

## 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.

### 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.