Workato

General SaaS

Workato, Inc. · General SaaS app marketplaces

Best for: Developers building enterprise iPaaS connectors who want code-level control.

Overview

Workato is an enterprise-grade iPaaS whose connector ecosystem targets mid-market and large B2B rather than the SMB/no-code crowd. Developers build custom connectors with the Ruby-based Connector SDK; connectors are private by default and can be shared with open or closed source, with versioning and automatic update notifications. Alongside connectors, Workato ships over a thousand pre-built connectors and a large community library of reusable recipes, so distribution happens through both the connector catalog and recipe templates.

Workato's most distinctive channel is its Embedded/OEM platform: SaaS vendors embed Workato's integration engine inside their own product and expose a marketplace of connectors to their customers. The Embed Partner Program rewards partners with credit equal to 10% of a customer's first-year ARR toward their Embed contract. Pricing is enterprise-quoted, and the platform emphasizes governance, security, and orchestration depth over self-serve simplicity. Choose Workato when your integration story is enterprise B2B, when you need robust connector versioning and governance, or when you want to embed a white-labeled integration marketplace inside your own SaaS.

How to build & ship

  1. 1Scaffold a connector in Ruby using the Connector SDK (in-browser via Tools > Connector SDK, or locally with the SDK gem/emulator)
  2. 2Define connection/authentication and the object definitions
  3. 3Implement actions and triggers as Ruby lambdas that call your API
  4. 4Test the connector against live requests using the SDK's debugger/emulator
  5. 5Keep it private by default, or submit a pull request to Workato's connector repository for review
  6. 6On approval, the connector gains global scope and is listed for all customers

Key APIs & SDKs

Workato Connector SDK (Ruby)
SDK CLI / connector emulator
Connection, actions, triggers, object_definitions schema
custom_connector_docs (GitHub)
Workato Developer API

Integration types

Authentication & security

  • Primary auth: OAuth 2.0
  • Also supports: API key, JWT
  • Security review: Required
  • Custom SDK connectors are private by default; public sharing and the Embed Partner Program involve Workato review and partnership.
  • Custom connectors are private by default; making one globally available requires submitting a pull request that the Workato team reviews for code quality and behavior (no publicly fixed turnaround).
  • Varies by plan/contract; recipe/task and API limits are set per enterprise agreement.

Monetization

Onboarding
Enterprise contract (varies)
Commission
Embed partners can earn 10% of a customer's first-year ARR as Workato credit
Merchant of Record
Not applicable (Workato bills the enterprise/OEM partner directly)

Pros & cons for builders

Pros

  • Full Ruby SDK gives fine-grained control over auth and logic
  • In-browser and local development plus an emulator for testing
  • Strong fit for enterprise/iPaaS integration scenarios
  • Open- or closed-source publishing with auto-update notifications

Cons

  • Requires Ruby coding — steeper than pure no-code builders
  • Global listing gated behind a PR-based review
  • Enterprise-oriented platform, less consumer discovery