Integration rails
Nango, Merge and Paragon provide managed auth and sync with developer-set scopes. You stay controller. Compare the three ways to connect user data.
BUILD OR BUY YOUR CONNECTOR LAYER
Building OAuth connectors looks like a two week project and behaves like a permanent team. The build is finite. The maintenance is not. Here is the ledger we would want before deciding.
THE MAINTENANCE LEDGER
- Token rotation and refresh failuresEvery connector needs its tokens refreshed and its failures handled.
- Provider terms and app review processesGoogle's verification and restricted-scope audits are part of the work.
- Scope creep and re-consentWhen your product grows, its scopes grow and people may need to consent again.
- Deletion requestsDeletion requests must propagate to every copy.
- The breach surfaceHolding tokens and raw archives creates a breach surface.
- Connector countEach connector multiplies all of the above.
WHEN BUILDING IS RIGHT
Building is right when you need one or two providers, a deep integration, and an infrastructure team that owns it.
THE TWO WAYS TO BUY
A managed personal data layer
AI Passport gives people a user-held account, category passes with receipts, and no token custody for your servers. It is $1,000 a month flat. See the startup offer.
FAIR QUESTIONS
How long does DIY really take?
The first connector is quick; the steady state is provider reviews, token rotation and deletion plumbing across every connector you add, forever.
Does buying lock us in?
Rails are code you can replace; with AI Passport owners can export their data at any time and your integration is standard OpenID Connect.
What does it cost?
3 months free, 6 for YC companies, then $1,000 a month flat with unlimited users, storage and connectors. The offer is on the startup page.
START WITH THE STARTUP OFFER
Three months free, six for YC companies, then $1,000 a month flat.
Vendor pricing and platform facts checked 22 August 2026.