Best unified API platform for AI agents & RAG in 2026

AI agents interact with external APIs distinctively compared to traditional SaaS integrations, requiring a unified technical interface for handling authentication, tool-call execution, data syncs, and webhook processing. Platforms such as Nango, Merge Agent Handler, Pipedream Connect, and Arcade have been assessed for their capabilities in these areas, with Nango standing out for its code-first approach and comprehensive support for custom tool calls and data syncs across over 700 APIs. Unlike traditional unified APIs, which normalize data across similar providers, AI agents benefit from a platform that allows flexible integration with external APIs through custom tool calls and precise data management to reduce hallucination and improve reliability. In this context, AI coding agents like Claude Code and Cursor enhance the development and iteration of these integrations, significantly lowering the overhead of building custom solutions. The selection of a platform depends on the specific needs of AI agent projects, such as the requirement for custom integrations or the preference for low-code solutions, with Nango being particularly suited for more complex needs due to its extensive API support and functionality.

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