Merge.dev vs Nango: Which API integration platform should you choose in 2026?

Merge.dev and Nango offer different approaches to API integrations, with Merge providing a unified API across nine categories and a separate Merge Agent Handler for AI agents, both constrained by fixed schemas and limited customization. Merge's solutions are suited for straightforward integration needs that fit within its pre-built catalog, but they lack flexibility for custom fields and objects, and do not support AI coding agents for new integrations. In contrast, Nango is an open-source platform that allows engineers or AI coding agents to build integrations as code, providing extensive customization and support for over 700 APIs across 30 categories. Nango's cloud runtime ensures secure, scalable operations with features like API authentication, data syncs, webhooks, and a single interface for all integration patterns. For businesses where integrations are a core aspect of the product, and require extensive customization or AI tool calls, Nango's platform is more adaptable, offering real-time observability, white-label authentication, and a unified stack for various integration components.