iPaaS: Integration Platforms as a Service
Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) tools provide low-code environments for connecting applications and automating workflows between them — without writing custom integration code. They sit between full-custom API integrations and manual processes, enabling sophisticated multi-system workflows through visual configuration.
What iPaaS Tools Do
iPaaS platforms provide pre-built connectors to hundreds of applications (Salesforce, HubSpot, Stripe, Slack, Google Workspace, etc.) and visual workflow builders to define how data flows between them. Trigger-action logic: "When a new contact is created in HubSpot, create a customer in Xero and send a Slack notification."
Major iPaaS Platforms
- Zapier: Largest connector ecosystem, non-technical user friendly. Best for simple trigger-action automations. Pricing scales with task volume and features.
- Make (formerly Integromat): More powerful than Zapier, supports complex branching logic and data transformation. Better value at volume. Requires slightly more technical understanding.
- n8n: Open-source iPaaS you can self-host. Full control, no per-task pricing, extensive connector library. Requires technical setup and maintenance.
- Microsoft Power Automate: Deep Microsoft 365 and Azure integration — the default for Microsoft-centric organisations.
- Workato: Enterprise iPaaS with governance, versioning, and advanced capabilities. Appropriate for complex enterprise integration requirements.
When to Use iPaaS vs Custom Integration
- iPaaS: Available connectors exist, non-technical staff will maintain it, workflow logic fits the platform's model, speed of implementation is priority
- Custom integration: Complex business logic, high-volume data sync, real-time performance requirements, advanced error handling and recovery needs