20+ Best API Integration Tools & Platforms (Updated 2024)

What is the Role of API integration?

The role of an API integration tool is to facilitate a seamless connection and interaction between different software applications, systems, apps, and data sources through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces).

Ultimately, API integration tools are critical for enabling data teams to automate workflows, streamline business processes, eliminate time-consuming tasks, and enhance functionality by integrating a diverse set of SaaS applications.

20 Best API Integration Tools and Platforms for 2023

1. Zapier

Zapier allows you to automate workflows by connecting various web applications together. It supports integration with over 2,000 apps, making it one of the most versatile API integration services.

Zapier offers pre-built connectors, known as "Zaps," that allow users to create integrations without writing code. Zapier supports data transformation and data mapping, enabling end users to design complex data integration flows using a simple visual interface.

2. Portable

Portable is the top choice for no code data integration.

With Portable, you'll find all the long-tail data connectors that Fivetran doesn't offer.

Portable is ideal for teams that need to connect uncommon data sources with various business applications.

If you need a specific data connector, the Portable team will build a custom integration within 48 hours.

3. MuleSoft Anypoint Platform

MuleSoft's Anypoint Platform is a leading integration platform that includes API management features. It allows businesses to design, build, manage, and secure APIs, as well as integrate applications, data, and devices. Anypoint Platform also provides capabilities for API analytics and monitoring.

4. IBM API Connect

IBM API Connect is an API management solution that offers tools for creating, managing, and securing APIs. It enables businesses to build APIs using a visual interface, apply policies for authentication and authorization, and gain insights through analytics and reporting.

5. Microsoft Azure API Management

Azure API Management is a cloud-based API management platform provided by Microsoft Azure. It allows you to create, publish, and manage APIs securely. Azure API Management offers features such as policy enforcement, authentication, caching, and analytics.

6. Dell Boomi

Dell Boomi is a cloud-based integration platform that offers a visual interface for designing, deploying, and managing integrations. It provides a comprehensive set of features for API management, data integration, and workflow automation.

7. Jitterbit

Jitterbit is an integration platform that enables businesses to connect applications, data, and APIs. It offers a low-code approach to integration, allowing non-technical users to build and manage integrations easily.

8. AWS API Gateway

AWS API Gateway is a fully managed service provided by Amazon Web Services that allows SaaS companies to create, publish, and manage APIs at any scale. It integrates well with other AWS services and provides features for authentication, authorization, and monitoring.

9. Apigee

Apigee is a full-featured API platform offered by Google Cloud. It provides tools for designing, building, securing, and analyzing APIs. Apigee offers features such as API management, developer portal, analytics, and monetization capabilities.

10. Kong

Kong is an open-source API platform that provides API management and microservices architecture capabilities. It offers features such as API gateway, developer portal, traffic control, and authentication and authorization mechanisms.

11. Tyk

Tyk is an open-source API management platform that provides a range of features for managing APIs. It offers an API gateway, developer portal, analytics, and access control mechanisms. Tyk can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud.

12. TIBCO Mashery

TIBCO Mashery is an API management platform that helps businesses design, deploy, and manage APIs. It provides features for API security, analytics, developer portal, and monetization capabilities.

Open-Source API Integrations

13. Apache Camel

Apache Camel is an open-source integration framework that supports the integration of diverse systems and applications through a wide range of connectors and protocols. It provides a rich set of components and a domain-specific language (DSL) for defining integration routes and transformations.

14. MuleSoft Community Edition

MuleSoft offers a Community Edition of their Anypoint Platform, which is an open-source integration platform. It provides a visual interface for designing integration flows, connectors for connecting to various systems, and tools for data transformation and routing.

15. Apache ServiceMix

Apache ServiceMix is an open-source enterprise service bus (ESB) based on the Apache Camel framework. It provides a lightweight, scalable, and flexible platform for integrating different systems and applications.

16. Talend Open Studio for ESB

Talend Open Studio for ESB is an open-source enterprise service bus and integration toolset. It offers a visual design environment for creating integration routes, support for various connectors, and extensive data mapping and transformation capabilities.

17. WSO2 Enterprise Integrator

WSO2 Enterprise Integrator is an open-source integration platform that combines the capabilities of an enterprise service bus, API management, and data integration. It provides a wide range of connectors, support for various integration patterns, and tools for designing, deploying, and managing data integration workflows.

18. Apache Nifi

Apache Nifi is an open-source data integration platform that enables the automation of data flows between systems. It offers a web-based graphical user interface (GUI) for designing data pipelines, support for real-time data streaming, and a wide range of processors for data transformation, enrichment, and routing.

Low-Code / No-Code Data Integration Solutions

19. Portable

Portable is the best choice for low-code / no-code data integration.

Integration solutions typically force clients to develop and maintain their code for custom connectors to bespoke applications; however, Portable is changing this.

With a no-code solution for custom data connectors, you can finally pull data from bespoke applications into your data warehouse with zero code.

With Portable, you can extract data seamlessly from bespoke applications and load the datasets into your analytics environment with no code.

20. Microsoft Power Automate

Microsoft Power Automate (formerly known as Microsoft Flow) is a low-code platform that allows users to create automated workflows and integrations between different systems and applications. It offers a wide range of connectors to popular data sources and supports data transformation and mapping capabilities. Power Automate enables users to build data integration workflows with a visual, drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible to non-technical users.

21. Tray.io

Tray is a no-code integration and automation platform that empowers users to build complex data integrations and workflows without coding. Tray supports event-based triggers, allowing users to create real-time data integration scenarios.

22. Workato

Workato is a low-code integration platform that enables users to build integrations and workflows across various systems and applications. It offers a visual interface with a library of pre-built connectors and recipes for popular use cases. Workato supports data mapping, transformation, and synchronization, making it suitable for data integration scenarios.

23. Integromat

Integromat is a no-code integration platform that enables users to automate workflows and data integrations between different systems and applications. It provides a visual builder with a wide range of connectors and pre-built templates for common integration tasks. Integromat supports data transformation, filtering, and aggregation, allowing users to manipulate data during the integration process.

API Integration Tool vs. iPaaS Solution (Integration Platform as a Service)

API Integration Tools:

API integration tools focus specifically on enabling the integration of different systems and applications through APIs.
These tools provide features and functionalities to connect, manage, and automate data flow between systems using APIs.
They often offer connectors or adapters for popular systems, data mapping and transformation capabilities, workflow orchestration, and monitoring tools.
API integration tools are typically more targeted and specialized in API-centric integrations, allowing organizations to create customized integration workflows and automate data exchange between specific applications or systems.

iPaaS Solutions:

iPaaS solutions offer a broader integration platform that encompasses not only API-based integrations but also supports various integration patterns, including API-centric, application-centric, data-centric, and event-driven integrations.
iPaaS solutions provide a comprehensive platform that includes features such as API management, data mapping and transformation, workflow orchestration, event-driven architecture, and support for both cloud-based and on-premises integrations.
They often come with pre-built connectors for a wide range of systems and offer a visual interface or low-code/no-code development environment to simplify the integration process.
iPaaS solutions are designed to be more comprehensive, allowing organizations to handle various integration scenarios beyond just API integrations.

Comparison Points:

Scope: API integration tools are focused on API-centric integrations, while iPaaS solutions offer a broader range of integration capabilities, including API-based integrations along with other integration patterns.
Customization: API integration tools often provide more flexibility and customization options, allowing organizations to tailor the integration workflows to their specific needs. iPaaS solutions, while still customizable, may have predefined templates or workflows that provide a quicker start for common integration scenarios.
Connectivity: Both API integration tools and iPaaS solutions offer connectivity options through connectors or adapters. However, iPaaS solutions generally have a larger library of pre-built connectors, covering a wider range of systems and applications.
Complexity: iPaaS solutions tend to provide more comprehensive features and may require a higher learning curve due to their broader scope. API integration tools may offer a more focused and streamlined experience for organizations primarily focused on API integrations.
Scalability: Both API integration tools and iPaaS solutions offer scalability, but iPaaS solutions often provide built-in scalability features, such as load balancing and horizontal scaling, to handle increasing integration demands.
Cost: API integration tools and iPaaS solutions vary in their pricing models. API integration tools may have a lower entry cost and offer more flexibility in terms of selecting specific features, while iPaaS solutions often have subscription-based pricing models that cover a broader range of integration capabilities.

Cloud-Based API Integrations vs. On-Premises Solutions

The difference can be understood by examining where the tools are hosted and managed.

Cloud-Based API Integration Tools:

Accessibility: Cloud-based tools can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, allowing users to work remotely and collaborate effectively.
Scalability: Cloud-based tools typically offer scalability, allowing organizations to easily adjust resources based on their integration needs. Users can scale up or down based on the volume of data or the number of integration tasks.
Maintenance and Updates: The service provider is responsible for maintaining and updating the infrastructure and software of the cloud-based tool. This reduces the burden on the organization's IT team, as they don't need to manage the infrastructure or apply updates themselves.
Cost: Cloud-based tools often follow a subscription-based pricing model, where organizations pay for the services they use. This model typically eliminates upfront infrastructure costs and allows for more predictable budgeting.
Reliability: Cloud-based tools are typically hosted on robust and redundant infrastructure, providing high availability and reliability. Service providers often have backup and disaster recovery measures in place to ensure data is protected.

On-Premises Solutions:

On-premises API integration solutions, as the name suggests, are installed and managed within the organization's own infrastructure.

Control: Organizations have complete control over the infrastructure, configuration, and management of the API integration solution. This allows for customization and fine-tuning based on specific security, compliance, or performance requirements.
Data Sovereignty: On-premises solutions provide greater control over data governance and compliance. Organizations can ensure that sensitive data remains within their own infrastructure, addressing any concerns related to data sovereignty or regulatory requirements.
Connectivity: On-premises solutions can facilitate integration with other on-premises systems and applications within the organization's network, without the need to transmit data over the internet.
Maintenance and Updates: Organizations are responsible for maintaining and updating the on-premises infrastructure and software. This requires internal IT resources and expertise to ensure the solution remains up to date and secure.
Cost: On-premises solutions typically involve upfront costs for hardware, licenses, and infrastructure setup. Ongoing maintenance, support, and upgrades may also incur additional expenses.

How to Choose the Best API Integration Platform

Define Your Integration Requirements: Consider the systems and applications you want to integrate, the data you need to exchange, the complexity of the workflows, and any specific integration patterns or protocols you require.
Research Available Options: Read reviews, compare functionalities, and evaluate the pros and cons of each tool. Consider factors like compatibility, ease of use, scalability, security, and support.
Evaluate Integration Capabilities: Assess the integration capabilities of each tool. Look for features such as pre-built connectors or adaptors for popular systems, support for different APIs and protocols, data transformation capabilities, event-driven architecture, and real-time data exchange. Consider whether the tool can handle both cloud-based and on-premises integrations, as well as support hybrid environments.
Consider Ease of Use: User-friendliness is essential, especially if you don't have extensive programming skills. Look for an API integration tool with a user-friendly interface, intuitive workflows, and visual design capabilities. Consider whether the tool provides a low-code or no-code approach, drag-and-drop functionality, or a visual flow designer, as these can greatly simplify the integration process.
Security and Compliance: Security is critical when integrating systems and exchanging sensitive data. Ensure that the API integration tool provides robust security features, including authentication mechanisms, data encryption, access controls, and compliance with industry standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA). Consider whether the tool offers monitoring and auditing features to track and analyze security-related events.
Cost and Value: Assess the cost structure and value provided by the API integration tool. Compare pricing models, including upfront costs, licensing fees, maintenance and support charges, and any additional costs for advanced features or scalability. Consider the value the tool brings to your organization in terms of increased productivity, efficiency, and ROI.
Trial and Proof of Concept: Whenever possible, take advantage of trial versions or request a proof of concept from the API integration tool provider. This allows you to test the tool with your specific use cases, evaluate its performance, and ensure it meets your integration requirements before committing to a purchase.

Key Functionalities of API Integration Solutions

Automate Workflows: API integration tools allow businesses to automate repetitive tasks and workflows by connecting various applications and systems. They enable data to flow seamlessly between different software components, reducing manual effort and increasing operational efficiency.
Enable Real-Time Data Exchange: API integration tools facilitate real-time data synchronization and communication between applications. They ensure that the data is up-to-date across systems, enabling businesses to make informed decisions based on the most recent information.
Enhance Functionality: API integration tools provide a range of functionalities to enhance the capabilities of applications. They allow businesses to extend the functionality of existing software systems by integrating additional features or connecting with external services through APIs.
Manage APIs: API integration tools often include API management capabilities, allowing businesses to effectively manage their APIs throughout their lifecycle. This includes tasks such as API design, documentation, versioning, security, monitoring, and analytics.
Connect Disparate Systems: API integration tools act as a bridge between different software applications and systems that may use different technologies, protocols, or data formats. They enable seamless communication and data exchange between these systems, regardless of their underlying architectures.
Simplify Integration Process: API integration tools provide a user-friendly interface and often utilize low-code or no-code approaches, making it easier for non-technical users to connect applications and create integrations. They offer drag-and-drop functionality, pre-built connectors, and templates to simplify and accelerate the integration process.
Support Digital Transformation: API integration tools play a crucial role in enabling digital transformation initiatives within organizations. They facilitate the integration of new applications, services, and technologies, allowing businesses to adapt and evolve in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Ensure Scalability: API integration tools are designed to handle large volumes of data and API requests. They provide scalability features, allowing businesses to accommodate growing demands and ensure smooth operations even during periods of high traffic or increased workload.

API Integration Use Cases

Building automated data pipelines.
Creating interactive dashboards, reports and data visualization.
Integration of CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) with other applications.
Integration of eCommerce platforms for seamless order processing and inventory management.
Application of API integration tools in IoT (Internet of Things) ecosystems.
Streamlining business processes by integrating enterprise systems (e.g., ERP, HRM).
Integration of software systems to enable end-to-end workflows.

How does an api integration platform help build automated data pipelines?

Data Mapping and Transformation: The integration platform provides tools to map and transform data from one format to another. It allows you to define data mapping rules, apply data transformations, and perform data enrichment as data flows through the pipeline.
Workflow Orchestration: An API integration platform allows you to design and automate complex workflows for data processing and transformation. Using a visual interface or workflow designer, you can define the sequence of actions, transformations, and conditions that data should undergo in the pipeline. This enables you to automate data-related tasks, such as data validation, aggregation, filtering, enrichment, and routing.
Real-time Data Streaming: Many API integration platforms support real-time data streaming capabilities. They enable data pipelines to handle continuous streams of data, ensuring near-instantaneous data delivery and processing. Real-time streaming allows you to build data pipelines that react to events or triggers, enabling timely actions and decision-making based on the latest data updates.
Error Handling and Monitoring: An API integration platform provides features for error handling and monitoring of data pipelines. It offers logging and alerting mechanisms to track the flow of data, identify errors or anomalies, and trigger notifications or automated actions when issues arise.
Scalability and Performance: API integration platforms are designed to handle large volumes of data and support scalable data pipelines. They often offer features like horizontal scaling, load balancing, and caching mechanisms to accommodate growing data loads and ensure optimal performance.
Security and Governance: API integration platforms prioritize data security and governance. They provide features like authentication, encryption, access controls, and data masking to protect sensitive data as it flows through the pipeline.

How does an API integration solution help create dashboards and automated reporting?

Data Aggregation: An API integration solution allows you to connect and fetch data from multiple data sources, systems, or applications using their respective APIs. It enables the aggregation of data from disparate sources into a centralized location or data warehouse, making it easier to access and analyze the data for visualization and reporting purposes.
Real-Time Data Updates: APIs provide a mechanism for retrieving real-time or near-real-time data from source systems. With an API integration solution, you can continuously fetch and update the data, ensuring that your visualizations and reports are based on the latest and most accurate information.
Data Transformation and Enrichment: The integration solution often includes features for data transformation, cleansing, and enrichment. It allows you to manipulate and preprocess the data before it is visualized or used for reporting. You can perform operations such as data cleansing, normalization, aggregation, calculations, or joining multiple datasets to create a unified and consistent dataset for visualization and reporting purposes.
Data Mapping: APIs often have different data structures or formats, which may not align with your reporting or visualization tools' requirements. An API integration solution assists in mapping and harmonizing the data from different APIs, ensuring that it is transformed into a compatible format that can be easily consumed by your visualization or reporting tools.
Integration with Visualization Tools: API integration solutions typically offer integrations with popular data visualization and reporting tools. They provide connectors, APIs, or plugins that allow you to connect your data directly to these tools. This integration simplifies the process of extracting and loading data into visualization tools, enabling you to create interactive charts, graphs, dashboards, and reports based on the integrated data.
Automated Data Refresh: With an API integration solution, you can set up automated data refresh or scheduled data pulls from the source systems. This ensures that your visualizations and reports are regularly updated with fresh data, eliminating the need for manual data extraction and refresh processes.

API integration with CRM systems

Data Synchronization: By integrating CRM with other systems such as marketing automation, ERP, or customer support platforms, APIs facilitate real-time data exchange, ensuring that customer information remains consistent and up-to-date across all integrated systems.
Streamlined Workflows: APIs enable the integration of CRM systems with other applications and workflows, streamlining business processes. For example, integrating CRM with marketing automation tools allows for seamless lead generation, nurturing, and conversion.
Automating Lead Management & Sales Processes: APIs enable the seamless integration of CRM systems with lead generation tools, email marketing platforms, and sales automation systems. This integration automates lead management, allowing for automated lead capture, nurturing, and conversion processes. APIs facilitate the transfer of leads and relevant data between systems, reducing time-consuming tasks and improving sales efficiency.
Customization and Extensibility: CRM systems often provide APIs that allow businesses to extend the functionality of the CRM platform or customize it according to specific business needs. APIs enable the development of custom integrations, extensions, or applications that enhance CRM capabilities, catering to unique requirements and workflows.

API integration with eCommerce platforms

Product Catalog and Inventory Management: APIs facilitate the integration of eCommerce platforms with product information management (PIM) systems, inventory management systems, and ERP systems. This integration allows for real-time synchronization of product catalogs, pricing, stock levels, and product attributes, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information across all integrated systems.
Order Processing and Fulfillment: APIs enable the integration of eCommerce platforms with order management systems, shipping carriers, and warehouse management systems. This integration automates the order processing workflow, allowing for seamless order placement, tracking, and fulfillment.
Third-Party Integrations: APIs allow eCommerce platforms to integrate with third-party services, such as email marketing platforms, social media channels, analytics tools, or review platforms. This integration enables businesses to leverage additional functionalities and expand their reach through various channels.
Streamlined Data Exchange: APIs simplify the process of exchanging data between the eCommerce platform and other systems. APIs provide predefined endpoints and data formats for seamless communication, making it easier to retrieve product information, update inventory, process orders, or track shipments.

The role and application of API integration tools in IoT (Internet of Things) ecosystems

Device Connectivity: API integration tools provide the means to connect and integrate IoT devices with the rest of the IoT infrastructure.
Data Aggregation and Management: API integration tools enable the collection, aggregation, and management of data generated by IoT devices.
Integration with IoT Platforms: API integration tools facilitate the integration of IoT devices with IoT platforms or middleware, which enable the secure and reliable exchange of data and control commands between devices and the platform.
Interoperability and Standardization: API integration tools promote interoperability and standardization within IoT ecosystems.
Application Integration: API integration tools enable the integration of IoT data and functionality with other applications and systems. They provide APIs that allow developers to access and utilize IoT data in various applications, such as enterprise systems, analytics tools, or custom software.
Security and Authentication: API integration tools incorporate security features to ensure the secure exchange of data and commands in IoT ecosystems. They provide authentication mechanisms, encryption, and access control to protect the privacy and integrity of IoT data.
Scalability and Flexibility: API integration tools support the scalability and flexibility requirements of IoT ecosystems. They handle the increasing volume of IoT data and the growing number of devices and connections.

What is the Role of SQL in API Integration?

SQL (Structured Query Language) plays a crucial role in API integration, particularly when it comes to data manipulation, retrieval, and transformation. Here are some key roles of SQL in API integration:

Data Retrieval: SQL is used to retrieve data from relational databases that serve as data sources for API integration. APIs often interact with databases to extract the required data. SQL queries are formulated to select specific data from tables or join multiple tables based on specific conditions, enabling the API to retrieve the necessary data for integration.
Data Transformation: SQL is instrumental in transforming the data retrieved from the source systems before it is integrated into the target system. With SQL, you can manipulate and reformat the data to align with the structure and requirements of the target API or application. This may involve data cleansing, aggregation, calculations, or the creation of derived fields.
Data Mapping: SQL is utilized for mapping data between different systems involved in API integration. It helps align the data structure and attributes from the source system to the target system's requirements. By defining SQL queries for mapping, you can ensure that the data extracted from the source system is appropriately transformed and matched to the corresponding fields in the target system.
Data Validation and Filtering: SQL queries can be employed to validate and filter the data before it is integrated into the target system via the API. You can use SQL conditions and constraints to check data integrity, apply business rules, and filter out irrelevant or erroneous data. This helps ensure that only valid and relevant data is processed and integrated.
Data Aggregation: SQL allows for the aggregation of data from multiple sources before it is integrated. By using SQL functions such as SUM, COUNT, AVG, or GROUP BY, you can perform calculations and generate aggregated values based on the retrieved data. This is particularly useful when integrating data from different systems into consolidated reports or analytics.
Data Synchronization: In scenarios where data needs to be synchronized between different systems, SQL is employed to identify and update the relevant records. By using SQL queries to compare and match data between source and target systems, you can determine the changes that need to be applied and ensure data consistency across systems.

Understanding Different types of APIs (REST APIs, SOAP APIs, etc.)

REST APIs (Representational State Transfer): REST APIs are widely used and follow the principles of the REST architectural style. They utilize standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to perform operations on resources. REST APIs typically return data in formats like JSON or XML.
SOAP APIs (Simple Object Access Protocol): SOAP APIs are based on the XML language and use the SOAP protocol for communication. They provide a standardized approach for exchanging structured information between systems over various protocols, such as HTTP, SMTP, or JMS.
GraphQL APIs: GraphQL is a query language for APIs that allows clients to request specific data they need. With GraphQL APIs, clients can define the structure of the response, reducing over-fetching or under-fetching of data. It provides a flexible and efficient way to retrieve data from servers.
WebSockets: WebSockets enable real-time, bidirectional communication between a client and a server. Unlike traditional APIs, which follow a request-response model, WebSockets provide a persistent connection that allows for ongoing, low-latency communication and data streaming.
JSON-RPC and XML-RPC APIs: JSON-RPC and XML-RPC are remote procedure call (RPC) protocols that allow applications to invoke methods or procedures on remote systems. They enable the execution of functions or procedures on a server and retrieve the results.
OpenAPI (formerly Swagger): OpenAPI is a specification that defines APIs in a machine-readable format. It allows developers to describe the structure, endpoints, parameters, responses, and other details of an API. OpenAPI promotes API documentation, visualization, and ease of integration.
OAuth and OAuth2: OAuth (Open Authorization) and OAuth2 are authorization frameworks used for secure API access. They allow users to grant third-party applications access to their data without sharing their credentials directly. OAuth and OAuth2 are widely used for authentication and authorization in API integrations.
gRPC: gRPC is a high-performance, open-source framework developed by Google. It facilitates communication between services using a binary protocol instead of textual formats like JSON or XML. gRPC supports multiple programming languages and enables efficient communication in microservices architectures.