Abstract
Relay.app
| Feature | Abstract | Relay.app |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $13/mo | Free / from $16/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | design-teams, agencies, enterprise-design, product-teams | operations-teams, agencies, small-businesses, compliance-teams |
| Founded | 2015 | 2021 |
| Version Control | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branching | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design Reviews | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collections | ✓ | ✗ |
| Inspect | ✓ | ✗ |
| Integrations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Workflow Builder | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Steps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Human Approvals | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multiplayer Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Conditional Logic | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Abstract Pros
- Version control for design
- Great for teams
- Design reviews
- Branching
✗ Abstract Cons
- Sketch-focused
- Expensive
- Steep learning curve
✓ Relay.app Pros
- Human-in-the-loop approvals
- AI steps built in
- Collaborative workflows
- Clean modern interface
✗ Relay.app Cons
- Fewer integrations than Zapier
- Newer platform
- Limited advanced logic
The Verdict
Abstract is built for design teams and agencies, with a focus on version-control and branching. Relay.app targets operations teams and agencies and leads with workflow-builder and ai-steps.
Pricing is close: Abstract starts at $13/mo versus $16/mo for Relay.app — not a deciding factor on its own.
Relay.app has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Abstract requires a paid subscription from day one.
Both tools are a solid fit for agencies — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: Relay.app has a slight overall edge — but if version control for design matters most to you, Abstract may still be the right call.