Relay.app is shutting down: Why and how to migrate to Softr

If you're a Relay.app user, you've probably already seen the news: Relay is shutting down.

Platform sunsets are never easy, especially when you've built important business processes around a tool you trust. The last thing you need is disruption to your operations while searching for a replacement.

Here's the good news: migrating doesn't have to be difficult.

Rather than simply replacing one automation platform with another, many teams are using this opportunity to build more complete business software—bringing together workflows, data, permissions, and user experiences in one place.

If you're evaluating new platforms, here's why Softr stands out as a powerful alternative to Relay and everything you need to know about making the transition.

Why teams are moving from Relay to Softr

Relay made it easy to automate business processes using AI, connect your favorite tools, and streamline repetitive work.

Softr takes that one step further.

Softr is an AI app builder for generating complete business software without code. Describe what you need, and the AI Co-Builder generates your database, interface, and business logic—already connected, secure, and ready for real users.

Unlike AI coding tools, this is just one way to build. You can also start from one of our templates or build your application from scratch using our drag-and-drop builder.

Alongside app building, Softr includes native Workflows for automating business processes with triggers, conditions, loops, webhooks, schedulers, AI actions, and integrations with the tools you already use.

Here are some of the biggest reasons Relay users are choosing Softr.

1. Build faster with an AI Co-Builder, not just a workflow editor

Migrating doesn't mean starting from a blank canvas.

Describe your app to the AI Co-Builder and it generates a complete starting point, including your database, pages, user groups, sample data, and business logic.

Whether you're rebuilding an internal operations tool, approval system, customer portal, or CRM, you can go from idea to working application in minutes.

If you'd rather build manually, you can start from one of our 80+ templates or create everything yourself using the same drag-and-drop builder.

We're also building AI into every stage of the product. Turn on Ask AI so users can get answers from your live business data, or use AI-enabled database fields to automate repetitive tasks like summarizing records, generating content, extracting information, and categorizing data.

 2. Connect your business data—with flexibility

Your workflows are only as useful as the data behind them.

Softr connects to 17+ data sources, including Airtable, Google Sheets, HubSpot, SQL databases, Notion, Supabase, and any REST API.

Looking to simplify your stack? You can also build on Softr Database, our native relational database designed specifically for business applications.

Whether you keep your existing data source or move everything into Softr, your applications and workflows stay connected as your business grows.

3. Automate workflows with native Workflows

If Relay powered your day-to-day operations, you'll find familiar capabilities in Softr Workflows.

Build automations using triggers, branches, conditions, loops, schedulers, webhooks, emails, custom code, and AI actions—all within Softr.

Rather than configuring every step manually, you can also describe the workflow you need to the Workflow AI Co-Builder and let AI generate the automation for you.

Need to notify teammates, update records, trigger external APIs, or automate approvals? You can build everything visually, or integrate with tools like Zapier, Make, and n8n if your workflow extends beyond Softr.

4. Granular permissions and flexible user management

As your business grows, controlling who has access to what becomes increasingly important.

Softr's users and permissions system lets you create custom user groups and define exactly what each user can view, edit, or manage—from entire pages to individual records and actions.

With application-wide data restrictions, you can define permission rules once and apply them across your entire app, making it easy to build secure customer portals, employee portals, and internal tools.

5. Build professional business apps

Automation is only part of the experience.

With Softr, you can build polished business applications that your team, customers, or partners actually use every day.

Create dashboards, CRMs, internal tools, client portals, inventory systems, project trackers, approval apps, and more using pre-built building blocks for tables, forms, Kanban boards, charts, calendars, and reports.

Need something more custom?

Use the Vibe Coding block to generate custom UI components from a natural language prompt while automatically matching your app's branding and securely connecting to your data.

Softr vs. Relay: a quick comparison

How to migrate from Relay to Softr

Moving from Relay doesn't have to mean rebuilding everything from scratch.

Here's one approach to getting started:

Start your app

Describe your application to the AI Co-Builder and let it generate a working starting point, or begin with one of our templates or a blank project if you prefer full control.

Connect your data

Connect your existing Airtable, Google Sheets, SQL database, HubSpot workspace, or another supported data source. You can also import your data into Softr Database if you're looking to consolidate your stack.

Build your interface

Use the drag-and-drop builder to recreate your dashboards, forms, portals, and pages—or ask the AI Co-Builder to generate them for you.

Set up users and permissions

Mirror your existing user roles with Softr's flexible user groups and permission settings.

Recreate your workflows

Build your Relay automations using Softr Workflows, either manually or by describing the workflow to the Workflow AI Co-Builder.

Publish your app

Add your branding, connect your custom domain, and launch your upgraded business application.

Ready to make the move?

Relay's shutdown is an opportunity to rethink how your business software works.

Instead of managing separate tools for automation, interfaces, permissions, and data, you can bring everything together in a single AI-native platform.

Start building with Softr for free and see how quickly you can recreate—and improve—your existing workflows.

Sign up free today to give it a try.

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