An integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) can be a game-changer for businesses looking to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. But with all the options available, how do you know which iPaaS to choose?

Five key takeaways about iPaaS solutions:

  • Businesses face significant challenges managing the many data streams an organization generates. An iPaaS solution ties together disparate systems, centralizing control and streamlining your data flow.
  • iPaaS solutions automate workflows, leading to improved efficiency and better decision-making.
  • Using an iPaaS cloud-based service can significantly reduce manual data handling, enhance real-time data access, and foster collaboration across departments, making it a strategic investment for growth and competitiveness.
  • Data-heavy companies need scalable and adaptable technology. Implementing an iPaaS solution can future-proof operations, seamlessly integrating new applications and technologies whenever needed without disrupting existing workflows or resulting in bottlenecks.
  • Integration capabilities, ease of use, access to support, and pricing are among the most important factors to consider when looking for an iPaaS solution that aligns with your specific needs, technical abilities, and budget.

This post compares five leading iPaaS services—Integrate.io, Albato, DBSync Cloud Workflow, Hightouch, and Workato—focusing on key aspects such as ease of use, pricing, integration capabilities, and more, to help you decide which service is right for your business.

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An iPaaS service helps you connect, manage, and make sense of all your cloud services and the data they generate all in one place. Not only does iPaaS speed up how quickly you can bring new products to market with the tools you already use, but it also lets you tap into more even data sources than before. Businesses appreciate the flexibility iPaaS provides because it scales with your needs, supports your product features, and makes integrating new apps a breeze. Plus, it cuts down on the hassles of downtime and long development cycles, giving you the tech backbone you need to keep everything running smoothly.

Whether you’re a Data Engineer, Chief Technology Officer, Data Analyst, a member of a data team, or a citizen integrator, this post explores the top five iPaaS solutions in 2024 to help you choose the one that’s right for your use case and organization.

The Importance of iPaaS Solutions

iPaaS is an alternate way to manage business data in-house using data integration tools. Data management often proves to be a significant drain on resources, time, and money. Traditional data management requires coding professionals to build data pipelines from the ground up. An iPaaS solution empowers companies to house their data in a unified repository that seamlessly connects to all the business’s applications so your apps are continuously updated and operate at peak performance.

It used to be that data integration required long hours of demanding work, or middleware that was often outside a business’s budget. Before the introduction of iPaaS, internal teams had to build customized programs to unify company data. These teams needed data management professionals, coding experts, and other experienced individuals to adequately operate—not to mention that every new software program or database needed a new pipeline, built, coded, and ready to go.

It's nothing for a large organization to use or be connected to more than 150 different apps and software programs, some of which are in the cloud or provided by software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms.

Today, businesses are connected to more devices, apps, platforms, and services than ever before. For instance, the Internet of Things (IoT) connects devices with company equipment, providing data from mobile phones, site cameras, vehicle sensors, and so much more—data that a company may very well want to collect and analyze. Secure data management is a priority.

With the vast amounts of data today’s businesses generate, data integration tools are a must. Then add cloud computing solutions and edge computing tools, plus data warehouses as the repository of truth. An organization’s systems may also need to extract, transform, and load information from device management applications, customer resource management (CRM) programs, and Ecommerce tools. The nature of data management today is the equivalent of having several guests over that all have keys to your vault.

As cybercrimes increase and criminals become increasingly sophisticated, data security challenges increase. An iPaaS provider must guarantee your data’s security as it passes through the provider’s pipelines. But it’s not enough to just guarantee secure pipelines and client data—iPaaS providers must also exhibit transparency in regards to their data security measures. What exactly are they doing to protect your company data during the integration process?

Criteria for Selecting iPaas Solutions

In addition to reviewing a provider’s security processes and methodology, when evaluating iPaaS solutions, also look at the provider’s:

  • Integration capabilities: Does the provider mostly serve SMBs or do they also have the ability to service clients with vast amounts of data?

  • Key features: Does the iPaaS platform support real-time analytics and reporting? Data mapping? Pre-built connectors?

  • Ease of use: Think of the departments and teams that generate and interact with your business’s data. Do you have a full-scale data team? Coding experts? Or is yours a smaller company that relies heavily on citizen integrators?

  • Scalability: Every business starts somewhere, but that doesn’t mean that’s the position they’ll always hold—so, even if you’re a small manufacturing company, you may experience an influx of new customers requiring an iPaaS that can scale with you as your business—and your data—grows.

  • Access to support (and the level of support offered): Like ease of use, access to support is a huge factor if your small firm doesn’t have a data team, or if available staff has minimal knowledge of coding essentials.

  • Pricing models: Your budget plays a big role in the iPaaS solution you choose. Do you need a provider that offers flat-fee pricing, pay-as-you-go options, or are you comfortable with a subscription model that can suddenly jump to the next level almost invisibly once you’ve exceeded your subscription’s transaction level?

  • Trial or demo availability: While not a deal-breaker, access to a free version, free trial, or a sandbox demo to try out a platform helps you see for yourself if a particular service is right for you and your team.

But there are several iPaaS providers—what will work best for you?

Review of the 5 Best iPaaS Solutions in 2024

To help you choose the best iPaaS solution for your use case, we’ve compiled a list of our top five picks:

  1. Integrate.io
  2. Albato
  3. DBSync Cloud Workflow
  4. Hightouch
  5. Workato

#1. Integrate.io

Rating: 4.3/5 (G2)

Integrate.io has powerful ETL and reverse ETL, or ELT, capabilities, which streamline data processes. Our platform ensures data integrity and scalability for businesses looking to harness insights for the future. With a user-friendly interface and seamless integration with some of the leading software programs, business intelligence (BI) tools, and analytics platforms, it’s the go-to choice for businesses that rely on accurate data for informed decision-making.

Key features:

  • Reporting
  • Auditing
  • Real-Time Analytics
  • Pre-built Connectors

What it is

Integrate.io is a low-code data pipeline iPaaS that specializes in Operational ETL so companies can automate business processes and manual data preparation for better insights in real-time.

Use cases

Our core use cases focus on:

  • File data preparation and B2B data sharing
  • Preparing and loading data to CRMs and ERPs such as Salesforce, NetSuite, and HubSpot
  • Powering data products with real-time database replication

Integration capabilities

We offer more than 220 pre-built connectors in one single platform so your business’s software, apps, and services can be seamlessly integrated into one cohesive source of truth. Integrate.io can extract, transform, and load the data from such data-heavy business tools as:

  • ERP Systems
  • Accounting Systems
  • Customer Relationship Management Programs
  • Marketing Automation Systems

Ease of use

Integrate.io is known for its user-friendly interface. Our drag-and-drop functionality allows less-technical team members to develop custom ETL workflows. Our platform is designed to be intuitive, with a no-code/low-code user interface that makes enterprise-grade data integrations available to everyone, regardless of technical experience.

Scalability

Integrate.io is enterprise-grade scalable, with advanced data preparation built natively into the platform. It’s designed to handle the growing data integration needs of businesses as they expand.

Support

Integrate.io offers 24/7 email, phone, and chat support to all users, along with 30 days of tailored onboarding support. Customer support resources are considered crucial for iPaaS users, especially when working on new or complex data management and integration projects, which is why our customer support remains highly rated.

Pricing models

  • Starter: $15,000/yr**
  • Professional: $25,000/yr**
  • Enterprise: Contact us
  • **Additional connectors: $2,000 per connector per year

What users say

Users have praised Integrate.io for its ease of use, and its focus on speed, compatibility, and meaningful features.

Free trial: Yes (14-day free trial)

Recommended reading: Mulesoft vs. Integrate.io: A detailed comparison

#2. Albato

Rating: 4.6/5 (G2)

Albato’s value is centered on its workflow automation tool, which helps businesses streamline repetitive processes and increase overall company efficiency. It offers a no-code solution for rapid expansion of native integrations, reducing churn rate and increasing user satisfaction by enabling quick and hassle-free integration setups.

Key features:

  • Data Mapping
  • Data Transformation
  • API Management Real-Time Integration
  • Multi-tenant architecture
  • 600+ pre-built app connectors

What it is

Albato is an innovative iPaaS solution that focuses on simplifying the integration process for SaaS platforms. It enables rapid expansion of native integrations, reducing churn rate via a no-code way to get integrations up and running quickly. Founded in

2018 and headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, Albato aims to help SaaS tools integrate cloud applications, build automation flows, and create replicable use cases.

Use cases

Albato is used for creating and managing integrations between various cloud applications and automating workflows. It’s particularly beneficial for SaaS platforms looking to expand their integration capabilities without investing heavily in development resources, as evidenced in their JivoChat case study.

Integration capabilities

Albato offers a wide range of integration capabilities, and a no-code App Integrator, allowing users to develop integrations for public or private use without writing a single line of code.

Ease of use

Albato is praised for its design and ease of use in automation, enabling users to automate everything from simple tasks to complicated workflows using a large panel of apps. The platform is designed to be intuitive, allowing users to set up their first integrations quickly, often within minutes.

Support

Albato is known for its responsive customer service, with users highlighting the platform's phenomenal support. The company offers dedicated customer service, tech support, and an engineering team to manage and maintain all integrations from one place, ensuring users have the assistance they need.

Pricing models

  • Free: $0
  • Basic: $15/mo
  • Standard: $42/mo
  • Embedded: Contact Albato

What users say

Users appreciate Albato for its ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and responsive customer support. However, some users have noted a desire for more integrations to further enhance its capabilities and create more seamless workflows. Despite this, the platform's value for money and the ability to quickly add requested integrations are frequently mentioned positives.

Free trial: 7-day free trial

And there is a free sandbox version that provides users with five, two-step automations and 1,500 individual operations per month to get a feel for how the platform works.

#3. DBSync Cloud Workflow

Rating: 4.7/5 (G2)

What it is

DBSync Cloud Workflow is a cloud data management solution designed to automate business processes and facilitate seamless data integration across various applications. It supports a wide range of integrations, including ERP and database applications, making it a versatile tool for businesses needing enhanced data accessibility.

Use cases

DBSync Cloud Workflow is particularly effective in automating business processes, eliminating double data entry, and enabling scheduled ETL operations. It has use cases in various industries, including construction, manufacturing, and retail, where it helps businesses achieve data transparency, reduce employee overhead, and improve project delivery times by integrating systems like Dynamics 365, QuickBooks, and other cloud and on-premise applications.

Integration capabilities

The cloud data management platform has a set of integration capabilities, offering pre-built connectors for a wide array of applications such as Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, Amazon S3, Amazon Redshift, and Azure Gen2. It enables users to perform ETL operations, integrate and replicate data across SaaS CRM, Accounting, ERP, and eCommerce applications to databases of their choice.

Ease of use

DBSync Cloud Workflow is recognized for its plug-and-play nature, offering a user-friendly experience that simplifies integration. The platform providing a free edition that allows businesses to start integrating their systems without upfront costs.

Support

DBSync is known for its responsive customer service. Users highlight the platform's quick and helpful support that assists users in managing and maintaining their integrations efficiently.

Pricing models

  • Starter: $2,400/yr
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing

What users say

Users have praised DBSync Cloud Workflow for its ease of use, effective integration capabilities, and responsive customer support but note that it doesn’t have as many connectors as other iPaaS options.

Free trial: Free trial available

#4. Hightouch

Rating: 4.6/5 (G2)

What it is

The iPaaS provider Hightouch is a Composable Customer Data Platform (CDP) and a Data Activation platform that syncs data from any data warehouse into the tools that a business operates on. It allows anyone in an organization to explore customer data and sync it to marketing, advertising, sales, and customer success tools without engineering effort. Hightouch is designed to sit on top of an organization's existing data infrastructure, to flexibly access customer data at scale.

Use cases

Hightouch use cases vary, but it’s mainly used in marketing departments. Some of its use cases include understanding and mapping the customer journey, crafting personalized experiences, and driving personalization at scale.

Integration capabilities

Hightouch helps businesses sync data from their data warehouse into over 200 advertising platforms, CRMs, and more. It supports a wide array of sources including data warehouses. It also provides Software Development Kits (SDKs) that can be deployed to an app or site.

Ease of use

Hightouch is recognized for its ease of use, which some users claim allowed them to start syncing data in as little as 5 minutes. It provides a user-friendly experience that simplifies data integration.

Support

Hightouch gets high marks for its excellent customer service, with users highlighting responsiveness as a key factor.

Pricing models

  • Free: Extremely limited, free forever plan
  • Starter: $350/mo after 30 days
  • Business: Contact Hightouch

What users say

Users have generally positive feedback about Hightouch, praising its ease of use, the ability to quickly sync data, and responsive customer support. However, some users have expressed a desire for more integrations than just those targeted to marketing professionals. Others have noted that pricing can be a concern for businesses with large amounts of data or complex requirements.

Free trial: The Starter Plan starts free. After 30 days, you can choose to stay on the starter plan or upgrade your Starter plan for increased workspaces and functionality. 

#5. Workato

Rating: 4.7/5 (G2)

What it is

Workato is an iPaaS tool that offers a cloud-native, unified solution for enterprise automation and integration. It provides a platform for building and automating workflows across cloud and on-premises apps and data. Workato uses "recipes" which are sets of instructions that automate complex workflows, and various conditions can trigger these recipes and can call other recipes or apps as REST endpoints.

Recommended reading: Workato vs. Zapier vs. Integrate.io

Use cases

Business use Workato across various departments such as IT, HR, finance, sales, marketing, and customer success. It automates a business’s processes, such as lead-to-cash, employee lifecycle, and customer and sales data syncing. Workato is also used for middleware solutions to send information between systems like Salesforce and QuickBooks.

Integration capabilities

Workato’s connector library has more than 1,000 apps and a Connector SDK for building custom connections. It supports many SaaS application integrations with SaaS apps, on-prem systems, databases, and more, without requiring coding or technical knowledge. The platform also allows users to develop, publish, and and handle their own API integration and API management.

Ease of use

Workato is designed to be user-friendly, helping users create complex recipes within days. The user interface, workflow, formulas, and other features are intuitive, making it easy for users to automate workflows and build integrations.

Scalability

This iPaaS operates in a Common Workato Runtime (CWR) that offers instant and near-unlimited scale, eliminating and minimizing downtime, while meeting the growing cloud integration solutions and automation needs of businesses.

Support

Excellent real-time support via live chat.

Pricing models

Workato pricing is not published.

What users say

While some users say Workato is easy to use and intuitive, with a quick learning curve. Others say it’s hard to set up and configure, the iPaaS isn’t always reliable, and that platform navigation requires a lot of trial and error. Unfortunately, other users cite inflexible ETL/ELT functionality, complex scripting, and a lack of transparency in pricing as further disadvantages.

Free trial: Free demo version

Recommended reading: Workato vs. Boomi

How to Implement an iPaas Solution

To implement an iPaaS solution effectively, follow these summarized steps:

  1. Understand what you need: Look at your organization's technical and business needs, and define clear integration goals up front to guide the implementation.

  2. Evaluate and choose the right solution: Evaluate several iPaaS vendors, and consider aspects such as scalability, pricing model, and key features, to choose a solution that aligns with your organization's requirements.

  3. Plan out and design your integration so it’s unique to your use case: Develop an integration strategy that takes into account all of the connectors you need and unique workflows you have, ensuring the architecture is flexible, scalable, and, most of all, secure.

  4. Now it’s time to deploy your solution: Set up and configure the iPaaS platform you chose, be sure to follow the provider's guidelines, and monitor the integration processes to ensure they’re functioning as intended.

  5. Prepare for ongoing management and optimization: Have a skilled team ready to continuously monitor the platform, evaluate its performance, and tweak your integrations where and when necessary to improve your results.

  6. Ensure your provider is accessible for support: Take advantage of the support and consulting services offered by your iPaaS vendor during onboarding for to learn troubleshooting tips and invaluable strategic guidance.

Most of all, it’s important that the solution you choose aligns with your organization's specific needs and integration goals.

iPaaS Solutions Can Help You Build a Solid Foundation of Data in 2024

You likely face challenges daily trying to manage the many data streams your organization generates. A solid iPaaS solution can tie together disparate systems and help you harness control of your data flows.

The best iPaaS solution for you should be a strategic investment that significantly reduces manual data handling, enhances real-time data access, and fosters collaboration across and between departments, making it a strategic investment for growth and competitiveness.

Evaluate carefully an iPaaS’s track record on integration capabilities, ease of use, access to support, and transparency in pricing as you search for an iPaaS solution that aligns with your needs, abilities, and budget.

Build Your Data Foundation with Integrate.io

See for yourself how Integrate.io can help on your data integration journey. Take advantage of our free, 14-day trial to discover the difference our pre-built connectors, ETL, Reverse ETL, and real-time analytics can make. Or, learn from our experts with hands-on  guidance when you schedule a demo.