Are you looking for merge alternative to boost your SaaS integration? If so you have landed to the right place.

In this article, we analyse the top Merge alternatives in 2024, including Cobalt, APIdeck, Finch, and others. We provide an overview of each platform's features, advantages, and limitations to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your requirements.

Unified platforms like merge.dev provides a robust infrastructure for building integration but often comes with challenges which are solved by alternative platforms like Cobalt.

Before we dive deep into these alternatives, we will begin with a brief overview of Merge's core functionalities. This context will serve as a baseline for evaluating each alternative, allowing you to assess how they align with your current requirements and future scalability needs.

What is Merge?

Merge is an API integration platform that aims to streamline the process of connecting various software applications. It provides unified APIs across several business categories such as:

• HRIS
• CRM
• Accounting
• Payroll
• File storage

The platform's features cover the integration lifecycle from setup to maintenance and include observability tools for monitoring and troubleshooting. Through its unified API approach and suite of tools, Merge seeks to simplify data access and integration workflows for organizations dealing with multiple software systems.

Despite being a popular unified API platform amongst B2B SaaS companies, many limitations hold product managers and developers to look for an alternative to Merge for their SaaS Product.

• Cobalt is be your best merge alternative in embedded iPaaS segment. It gives your user full native experience without involving developers for new integration
• If you looking for an open source alternative to merge, then Nango might be your best alternative

Why look for merge.dev alternatives?

Before we deep dive into the reasons why people look for merge.dev alternatives, let first see the pros of the platform.

Merge.dev Pros

• Time-saving unified API approach
• Simplified maintenance

Merge.dev Cons

• Integration Issues: Merge sometimes faces compatibility challenges when integrating with specific applications, which might require additional customization and troubleshooting efforts from their development team.
• Poor Documentation: The documentation provided by Merge lacks comprehensive examples and detailed explanations, making it difficult for developers to implement and troubleshoot integrations effectively.
• Expensive Pricing: Merge's pricing can be high, especially for small to mid-sized businesses, potentially making it a less viable option for those with limited budgets and seeking cost-effective integration solutions.
• Data Limitations: Merge might impose restrictions on the volume or type of data that can be processed, which could hinder businesses with large-scale or complex data integration needs.
• Learning Curve: The platform may have a steep learning curve, requiring significant time and effort for new users to become proficient in utilizing its features and effectively managing integrations.

Top 7 Alternatives of Merge Worth Considering

According to the experts and reviews here are the top 7 alternative to merge in 2024.

• Cobalt - the #1 integration platform in embedded iPaas & unified api category
• APIdeck - unified api alternative based in EU region
• Finch - most prominent played in HRIS & payroll integration categor
• Codat - most prominent played in finance integration categor
• Hotglue - good for bulk data movement built on an open source tool
• Alloy - most prominent in e-commerce industry
• Knit - unified api alternative to merge but with limited integrations

Merge Alternative #1 - Cobalt

Cobalt is an embedded integration platform that provides a seamless experience for connecting SaaS applications. With Cobalt, SaaS companies can offer integrations to their customers in a white-labeled and native manner.

Boasting a rapidly growing catalog of over 250 pre-built integrations, Cobalt offers extensive coverage across numerous applications with just one API. This empowers SaaS companies to enhance their products by offering deep integrations in various categories like HR, CRM, and Accounting without overwhelming their engineering teams. Designed to be intuitive, Cobalt ensures ease of use and efficient integration management.

Features that make Cobalt as the best merge alternative

#1 Bi-directional sync

Cobalt offers seamless bi-directional sync, allowing for two-way data synchronization. You can fetch, pull, and push data effortlessly, ensuring that your information is always up-to-date and consistent across all platforms.

#2 Workflow as a code

With Cobalt, you can design business logic through workflows, eliminating the need for developer intervention for every new use case. Cobalt handles all the scaling and infrastructure, streamlining the integration process and saving valuable development resources.

#3 White labelled

Cobalt provides a native authentication experience, running in the background to manage token refresh, retries, and rate limits. This white-labeled solution ensures a seamless and branded user experience without compromising functionality.

#4 Unified data model

Cobalt allows you to configure your own data model, enabling you to handle every integration consistently. This unified approach simplifies data management and ensures compatibility across various integrations.

#5 Integration observability

Cobalt offers full visibility to developers for every request made, making it easy to debug and troubleshoot issues. This integration observability feature enhances transparency and control, ensuring smooth and reliable operations.

#6 Release management

Cobalt provides developers with a complete git-like experience for managing integration development and releases in production. This feature gives developers more control over what to release and when, ensuring a smooth and controlled deployment process.

Pros & Cons of Cobalt:

👍 Ease of Use:

Users frequently mention that Cobalt's platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Its intuitive interface simplifies the process of managing integrations.

👍 Customer Support:

Many reviewers praise Cobalt's customer support, highlighting the responsiveness and helpfulness of the team. The support provided during onboarding and for ongoing queries is highly appreciated.

👍 Efficiency and Speed:

Cobalt significantly reduces the time required to build and launch integrations. Users report being able to implement integrations in hours or days instead of months, greatly enhancing operational efficiency.

👍 Extensive Integration Catalog:

With over 250 pre-built integrations, Cobalt offers extensive coverage across numerous applications. This wide range of integrations meets diverse business needs and reduces the development effort for integrating various platforms.

👍 Cost-Effectiveness:

Several users note that Cobalt is economical, offering a scalable solution that saves engineering resources. The platform's ability to handle integrations efficiently without requiring extensive developer time is a significant cost-saving factor.

👍 Customization and Scalability:

‍Cobalt provides customizable and scalable integration solutions. Users appreciate the platform’s flexibility in handling unique integration requirements and its ability to scale as the business grows.

👍 Positive Impact on Integration Strategy:

Users report that Cobalt has positively transformed their integration strategies, making it easier to connect with various platforms and enhancing their product offerings.

👍 Unified APIs:

The unified API approach simplifies integration tasks, making it easier to manage and maintain integrations. This approach is particularly beneficial for businesses needing to integrate with multiple third-party platforms.

👎 Limited Connectors:

Despite its extensive catalog, some users may find that certain niche applications are not covered.

👎 API Limitations:

‍There may be restrictions on API functionalities that could impact specific integration scenarios.

👎 Difficult Setup:

Initial setup and configuration can be challenging and may require technical expertise.

Merge Alternative #2 - APIdeck Unify

Apideck Unify enables developers to build integrations at scale through a set of Unified APIs covering various categories such as:

• Accounting
• CRM
• HRIS
• ATS
• File storage
• Project Management
• eCommerce

This platform is designed to save time and reduce maintenance costs, allowing engineers to focus on core product development. Apideck Unify supports global SaaS companies such as Invoice2go, Degreed, Gong, and Personio in accelerating their integration strategies through a single, cohesive platform.

Key Features of Apideck Unify:

• Unified APIs: Provides a consistent API interface for multiple application categories.
• Wide Application Coverage: Supports integration across diverse categories such as Accounting, CRM, HRIS, ATS, File Storage, Project Management, and eCommerce.
• Scalability: Designed to handle integrations at scale, catering to the needs of growing businesses.
• Time and Cost Efficiency: Reduces the time and cost associated with building and maintaining integrations, allowing engineers to focus on other critical aspects of product development.
• Support for Global SaaS Companies: Trusted by well-known SaaS companies to streamline their integration processes.

Benefits of Using Apideck Unify:

• Customer Support: Apideck offers responsive and helpful customer support, ensuring users can quickly resolve any issues.
• Ease of Use: The platform offers a user-friendly interface, making it accessible to developers with varying levels of expertise.
• Integrations: Provides a wide range of integration options, covering numerous application categories.
• Integration Capabilities: Capable of handling complex integrations with seamless data synchronization between different applications.

Drawbacks of Apideck Unify:

• Limited Connectors: Some users find that Apideck does not support all the connectors they need for specific applications.
• API Limitations: There may be restrictions on API functionalities that could impact certain integration scenarios.
• Missing Features: Some users report that specific features they require are not available.
• Expensive: A few users find the pricing to be on the higher side, particularly for smaller businesses.
• Integration Issues: Some users have experienced problems with integrations not functioning smoothly, which can impact overall system performance.

Merge Alternative #3 - Finch

Finch is a powerful tool designed to unlock organization, pay, and benefits data from over 200 payroll and HRIS systems with a single integration. The platform aims to democratize access to employment sector infrastructure, fostering innovation and enabling the creation of excellent products for both employers and employees.

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Key Features of Finch:

• Extensive Integration Capabilities: Supports over 200 payroll and HRIS systems, offering broad coverage for diverse business needs.
• Bi-Directional Sync: Allows for both reading and writing capabilities, ensuring up-to-date and consistent data across platforms.
• White-Labeling: Provides a seamless, native user experience by embedding integrations within a product under the business’s brand.
• Customizability: Offers extensive customization options to tailor integrations to specific needs and workflows.

Benefits of Using Finch:

• Ease of Use: Finch’s documentation is user-friendly, enabling quick integration and a minimal learning curve for developers.
• Customer Support: The customer support team is responsive and helpful, providing guidance and assistance throughout the integration process.
• Integration Capabilities: Supports a wide array of payroll and HRIS systems, offering versatility and comprehensive integration options.
• Efficiency: Users report significant time savings in integration setup and maintenance, with some integrations completed within a week.
• Data Normalization: Finch standardizes data across various providers, ensuring clean and consistent data handling.
• Scalability: Pricing is startup-friendly and becomes more cost-effective as the business scales.

Cons of Using Finch:

• Limited Connectors: While Finch supports many systems, some users find gaps in its coverage, particularly with more obscure payroll systems.
• API Limitations: Some users desire more comprehensive API functionalities, such as enhanced write capabilities.
• Missing Features: Certain specific features or broader integration categories outside of HRIS/payroll may not be fully supported.
• Dashboard Limitations: Users have noted that the dashboard could offer more data visibility, such as error logs and status notifications.
• Rate Limits: Users have encountered rate limits, although Finch’s support team provides options to mitigate throttling issues.

Merge Alternative #4 - Codat

Codat helps banks build deeper connections with their business customers by providing products that make it easy to access, synchronize, and interpret data from customers’ financial software. This capability supports specific use cases such as onboarding suppliers to commercial card programs and underwriting business loans. Codat is used by some of the largest banks in the world to grow their share of wallet, reduce churn, and scale their operations.

Key Features of Codat:

• Data Synchronization: Seamlessly integrates and synchronizes data from various financial software, ensuring up-to-date and consistent information.
• Use Case Support: Designed to support specific financial use cases, such as supplier onboarding and loan underwriting.
• Scalability: Helps large banks scale their operations effectively.
• Financial Data Access: Provides easy access to customer financial data, enhancing decision-making processes.
• Investor Backing: Supported by major financial and venture capital firms, ensuring robust development and growth.

Benefits of Using Codat:

• Ease of Use: The platform is user-friendly and simplifies the integration process.
• Customer Support: Codat offers responsive and helpful customer support.
• Data Management: Efficiently handles and manages large volumes of financial data.
• Easy Integrations: Facilitates seamless integrations with various financial software.

Benefits of Using Codat:

• Lack of Integrations: Some users report that the platform does not support all the integrations they require.
• Feature Issues: Certain features may not meet all user expectations or specific business needs.
• Time Delays: Users have experienced delays in certain processes, impacting overall efficiency.
• Unclear Explanations: Documentation and support explanations can sometimes be unclear, causing difficulties in implementation.

Merge Alternative #5 - Hotglue

Hotglue is a platform that enables developers to quickly and efficiently provide native, user-facing SaaS integrations to customers. By embedding Hotglue into a web application, users can connect their third-party SaaS apps directly within the application, ensuring scalable data ingestion. Additionally, Hotglue offers an open-source library of connectors, facilitating more integrations without requiring additional development resources.

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Key Features of Hotglue:

• Native SaaS Integrations: Allows customers to connect their third-party SaaS apps without leaving the web application.
• Scalable Data Ingestion: Ensures reliable and scalable data ingestion from connected applications.
• Open-Source Connector Library: Provides a library of connectors that can be used to expand integration options without requiring additional development resources.
• Embedding Capability: Integrates seamlessly within web applications to offer a cohesive user experience.
• Developer Control: Maintains control over the data and integrations, ensuring flexibility and customization.

Benefits of Using Hotglue:

• Customer Support: Users appreciate the responsive and helpful customer support provided by Hotglue.
• Ease of Use: The platform is user-friendly, making it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise.
• Integrations: Hotglue supports a wide range of SaaS applications, offering versatile integration options.
• Integration Capabilities: Capable of handling complex integrations, ensuring seamless data synchronization between different applications.

Drawbacks of Using Hotglue:

• Complexity: Some users find the platform complex, particularly during initial setup and configuration.
• Integration Issues: Occasional problems with integrations not functioning as smoothly as expected.
• User Interface: The user interface has been criticized for lacking in design and usability.
• Reliability: A few users have experienced reliability issues, impacting their overall experience.

Merge Alternative #6 - Alloy

Alloy Automation is an integration platform designed to streamline the development of native integrations between a platform and third-party applications. It offers two primary products: Alloy Embedded and Alloy Unified API, providing a fast and efficient way for developers and product managers to build powerful, customizable integration experiences.

Key Features of Alloy:

• Alloy Embedded: Enables seamless embedding of integration capabilities into your platform.
• Alloy Unified API: Provides a single API to integrate with multiple third-party applications.
• Customizable Integration Experiences: Allows for tailored integration solutions to meet specific business needs.
• Developer-Friendly: Designed with developers in mind to simplify the integration process.
• Comprehensive Documentation: Offers detailed resources to assist with integration development.
• Support for Various Applications: Compatible with a wide range of third-party applications.

Benefits of Using Alloy:

• Speed of Implementation: Allows for rapid development and deployment of integrations.
• Customizability: Offers flexible integration options to suit unique business requirements.
• Ease of Use: Designed to be user-friendly for both developers and product managers.
• Unified Approach: Simplifies the integration process by using a single API for multiple applications.
• Robust Support: Provides comprehensive documentation and resources to assist with integration tasks.

Drawbacks of Using Alloy:

• Learning Curve: May require some time for new users to become proficient.
• Pricing: The cost may be a consideration for smaller organizations.
• Complexity of Custom Integrations: Customizing integrations to meet specific needs can be complex.
• Dependency on Third-Party Applications: Effectiveness is reliant on the capabilities of third-party applications.

Alloy’s Customer Review

G2: 4.8/5

Merge Alternative #7 - Knit API

Knit API is a robust tool designed to streamline the integration of various applications into a single, cohesive system with minimal effort. By utilizing Knit, developers can establish bi-directional syncs—both reading and writing capabilities—across a wide array of applications, including HRIS (Human Resource Information Systems), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), Accounting, and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems.

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Key Features of Knit API:

• Extensive Integration Capabilities: Knit supports hundreds of applications, making it a versatile solution for businesses needing to connect diverse systems.
• Bi-Directional Sync: Ensures data can be read from and written to the connected applications, maintaining consistency and up-to-date information across platforms.
• White-Labeling: Knit can be embedded within a product, providing a seamless and native user experience, and allowing businesses to offer integrations under their own branding.
• Customizability: Offers extensive customization options, allowing businesses to control how integrations are set up and managed, tailored to specific needs and workflows.
• One-Time Integration Effort: Simplifies the integration process, requiring a single setup effort to enable continuous and dynamic connectivity with multiple applications.

Benefits of Using Knit API:

• Ease of Use: The intuitive interface and straightforward setup make Knit API accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise.
• Extensive Integrations: Supports a wide range of applications across HRIS, CRM, Accounting, and ERP systems, offering versatile integration options.
• Customer Support: Responsive and helpful customer service aids in the quick resolution of issues.
• Data Security: Employs advanced security measures to ensure the protection of sensitive information.
• Integration Capabilities: Capable of handling complex integrations with seamless data synchronization between different applications.

Knit API’s Drawbacks:

• User Interface: Some users find the interface design and usability could be improved, affecting the overall user experience.
• Integration Gaps: Despite its broad range, there are gaps in supporting specific applications needed by some users.
• Documentation: Users have reported that the documentation could be more comprehensive to better assist with understanding and utilizing the API.
• Examples: There is a noted need for more practical examples and use cases to help users apply the API to their specific needs.
• Integration Issues: Some users have experienced problems with integrations not functioning smoothly, impacting system performance.

Final Thought

Selecting the right integration platform is crucial for enhancing your SaaS product's efficiency and customer experience. While Merge is a notable unified API platform, its limitations—such as integration issues, poor documentation, high pricing, data restrictions, and a steep learning curve—make it less ideal for some businesses. Exploring alternatives like Cobalt, Knit API, APIdeck Unify, Finch, Codat, Hotglue, and Alloy Automation can offer better-suited solutions.

Each platform has unique features, benefits, and limitations. By evaluating these options based on ease of use, customer support, integration capabilities, and pricing, you can find an integration platform that best aligns with your specific needs and goals, ensuring seamless workflows and enhanced product offerings.

While Merge is a strong contender for your integration needs, Cobalt offers a comprehensive solution that may better align with your long-term goals. Schedule a demo with our integration experts today to discover how Cobalt stands out.