6 merge alternatives to consider in 2025

Merge does unified APIs really well. But here's the thing: if you're building AI agents and need rock-solid OAuth handling, you might be using the wrong tool.

I spent the last few weeks testing alternatives, focusing on how they handle AI workflows and authentication. Some were surprisingly good. Others? Not so much.

Here's what I found.

TL;DR

I tested six Merge alternatives that offer different strengths depending on what you’re building:

• Composio — Best for AI agents and developer tools

• Paragon — Best for embedded, customer-facing integrations

• Pipedream — Best for rapid prototyping and internal automation

• Nango — Best for control and self-hosting

• Kombo — Best for HR-tech integrations

• APIdeck — Best Merge-style unified API with advanced customization

If you’re building anything AI-related, Composio is your best choice. For everything else, it depends on your product and workflow.

1. Composio — Built for AI Agents, Not an Afterthought

Composio was designed from the ground up for AI-first workflows. It’s the only integration platform with native support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

It doesn’t just unify APIs; it makes them usable by AI systems natively.

Key Features

• 500+ SaaS integrations across productivity, dev, and communication apps.

• Automatic OAuth handling (token rotation, refresh, and expiration).

• Native MCP support for AI agents and developer environments.

• Clean Python and TypeScript SDKs, plus a CLI for quick setup.

• Self-hosting or managed options, depending on your needs.

When to Choose

Choose Composio if you’re building AI agents, developer tools, or automation workflows that need to connect to real-world data and apps.

It’s the only option that feels purpose-built for AI integrations rather than adapted for them.

Best for: AI agents, developer platforms, automation

Pricing: Free open-source core; usage-based enterprise tiers

Resources: Docs | GitHub | Website

2. Paragon — When You Need Embedded Integration UIs

Paragon takes a different route. Instead of focusing on unified APIs, it focuses on embedded integration experiences within your product.

Your customers connect their apps through a branded, no-code UI, while Paragon manages all the OAuth complexity behind the scenes.

Key Features

• White-label integration UI that your customers use directly.

• Visual workflow builder for mapping triggers and actions.

• Automatic OAuth and token lifecycle management.

• Multi-tenant support for SaaS teams.

• A hybrid no-code + API model for flexibility.

When to Choose

Choose Paragon if your users need to connect their own tools directly to your product.

It’s the best fit for SaaS products that want a clean, customer-facing integration layer without having to build one from scratch.

Best for: SaaS platforms with end-user integrations

Pricing: Free trial; usage-based tiers

Resources: Docs | Website

3. Pipedream — The Fastest Way to Prototype AI Workflows

Pipedream is an automation platform that’s both visual and code-friendly. You can connect APIs, AI models, and databases within minutes, then drop into custom Node.js code whenever you need flexibility.

It’s perfect for developers who want speed without losing control.

Key Features

• Visual workflow builder with code support.

• Thousands of prebuilt connectors for SaaS apps and APIs.

• Instant OAuth setup with token storage handled for you.

• Custom event triggers (HTTP, cron, webhooks, AI actions).

• Native OpenAI and Claude support for AI tasks.

When to Choose

Use Pipedream when you need to prototype quickly or automate internal workflows.

It’s not enterprise-grade like Merge or Composio, but nothing is faster for getting an idea off the ground.

Best for: Fast AI experimentation, internal tools, and automations

Pricing: Generous free tier; usage-based after that

Resources: Docs | Website

4. Nango — For Teams That Want Control

Nango is an open-source integration layer that prioritises transparency and ownership. You can self-host, customise the OAuth flow, and integrate at your own pace.

It’s lightweight but powerful enough to act as your internal integration hub.

Key Features

• Open-source and self-hostable (Docker-ready).

• Built-in OAuth management for dozens of SaaS providers.

• Connect UI that embeds seamlessly into your app.

• Detailed logging and rate-limit handling.

• Extendable with SDKs and APIs.

When to Choose

Go with Nango if you value control, customization, or data ownership.

It’s ideal for teams that want to host their own integration stack or embed OAuth without third-party dependencies.

Best for: Teams needing self-hosting or advanced customization

Pricing: Free for side projects; production starts around $250/month

Resources: Docs | GitHub | Website

5. Kombo — If You're Building HR Tech, This Is It

Kombo focuses entirely on HRIS integrations, and that focus shows. It offers normalized access to nearly every HR platform you can think of, from BambooHR and Workday to Personio and Gusto.

If your product touches HR data, this is your go-to.

Key Features

• Unified HRIS API for 40+ HR platforms.

• Normalized data models across systems.

• Automatic OAuth handling and token refresh.

• Real-time data syncs for employee and org updates.

• Detailed API logs for debugging.

When to Choose

Pick Kombo if your app relies on HR data and you don’t want to maintain dozens of separate integrations.

It’s purpose-built for the HR ecosystem, not a general integration tool.

Best for: HR-tech products, recruiting tools, workforce analytics

Pricing: Usage-based, startup-friendly

Resources: Docs | Website

6. APIdeck — Unified APIs with More Flexibility

APIdeck is closest to Merge in philosophy, but offers more customisation. It provides unified APIs across categories like CRM, accounting, HR, and e-commerce, while letting you tweak field mappings and schemas as needed.

Key Features

• Multi-category unified APIs for common SaaS data.

• Custom schema mapping and transformations.

• Comprehensive SDKs and API references.

• Built-in OAuth flow management.

• Usage analytics and request monitoring.

When to Choose

Choose APIdeck if you like the Merge-style unified API approach but want more flexibility in how data is structured.

It’s a great option for enterprise teams that need control without rebuilding their own abstraction layer.

Best for: Unified APIs with custom data mapping

Pricing: Free trial; usage-based plans

Resources: Docs | Website

Quick Comparison

So Which One Should You Actually Use?

Merge built something impressive for unified API integrations. But the integration platform space has evolved, especially around AI workflows.

If AI and automation are on your roadmap, Composio is the most future-proof alternative; it's the only platform designed with MCP and AI agents as core features rather than bolted-on extras.

For everything else, choose based on what you're actually building:

• Agent Native Products -> Composio

• Need embedded customer-facing UIs? → Paragon

• Building HR-tech? → Kombo

• Want speed over polish? → Pipedream

• Need developer control? → Nango

• Want unified APIs with flexibility? → APIdeck