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Comparison · Infra & APIs

Hanko vs Merge

A side-by-side editorial comparison of Hanko and Merge — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

Hanko vs Merge: at a glance

FeatureHankoMerge
SectorInfra & APIsInfra & APIs
Velocity score0.05.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesauthentication, passkeys, enterprise-sso, identityapi-integration, llm-gateway, agent-tools, connector-catalog
Last editorial update1h ago3h ago
WebsiteVisit →—

What is Hanko?

Hanko maps SAML and OIDC attributes into custom claims, a step toward enterprise SSO.

Hanko is a passkey-first authentication platform, open source or cloud-hosted. October's update lets teams bring attributes from SAML and custom OIDC connections into Hanko as custom claims, configured in the Cloud Console. Earlier 2026 releases added Firebase password hash import, inactivity logouts, session transparency and stronger passcode policies.

Read the full Hanko trajectory →

What is Merge?

Merge adds connectors and new models weekly while fixing ERP sync details underneath.

Merge ships weekly across Gateway, Unified and Agent Handler. October brought new Agent Handler connectors (Google Workspace, Ironclad, Zoom Phone, Meta Ads, TikTok for Business, Warp), Gateway support for GPT-6.1 Terra, Gemini 4 Argon and Mistral Large 4, custom prompt classifiers and a management API for security rules. Unified got NetSuite, QuickBooks, SharePoint and Jira sync fixes.

Read the full Merge trajectory →

Hanko vs Merge: editorial side-by-side

H
Hanko
INFRA · APIS
0.0

Hanko maps SAML and OIDC attributes into custom claims, a step toward enterprise SSO.

◆ Current state

Hanko is a passkey-first authentication platform, open source or cloud-hosted. October's update lets teams bring attributes from SAML and custom OIDC connections into Hanko as custom claims, configured in the Cloud Console. Earlier 2026 releases added Firebase password hash import, inactivity logouts, session transparency and stronger passcode policies.

◆ Where it's heading

Hanko is filling in what enterprise customers expect from an identity provider: SSO attribute mapping, session controls and migration paths from incumbents. Releases arrive monthly or less, each with a narrow feature.

◆ Prediction

More enterprise SSO features, such as directory sync or role mapping from claims, are the likely next additions; the entries do not confirm a timeline.

M
Merge
INFRA · APIS
5.0

Merge adds connectors and new models weekly while fixing ERP sync details underneath.

◆ Current state

Merge ships weekly across Gateway, Unified and Agent Handler. October brought new Agent Handler connectors (Google Workspace, Ironclad, Zoom Phone, Meta Ads, TikTok for Business, Warp), Gateway support for GPT-6.1 Terra, Gemini 4 Argon and Mistral Large 4, custom prompt classifiers and a management API for security rules. Unified got NetSuite, QuickBooks, SharePoint and Jira sync fixes.

◆ Where it's heading

Merge is positioning Gateway and Agent Handler as the governed path for enterprise AI, adding admin controls and API management alongside catalog growth. The Unified integrations business keeps getting steady correctness fixes rather than new categories.

◆ Prediction

Expect more connectors and same-week model additions in Gateway, plus more management-API coverage; pricing or packaging changes are not visible in the entries.

Alternatives to Hanko and Merge

Other Infra & APIs products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Hanko or Merge.

See all Hanko alternatives → · See all Merge alternatives →

Recent activity from Hanko and Merge

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 3d agoMergeGPT-6.1 Terra, Gemini 4 Argon, and Mistral Large 4
  2. 3d agoMergeNetSuite contact sync filters and subsidiary coverage
  3. 3d agoMergeEight new connectors
  4. 10d agoMergeThree new connectors & beta connector launch
  5. 10d agoMergeCustom prompt classifiers and reasoning token counts
  6. 10d agoMergeQuickBooks Online contact and address improvements
  7. 1mo agoHankoHanko maps SAML and OIDC attributes to custom claims
  8. 5mo agoHankoJune 2026 Updates
  9. 6mo agoHankoApril 2026 Updates
  10. 8mo agoHankoMarch 2026 Updates
  11. 9mo agoHankoJanuary 2026 Updates
  12. 11mo agoHankoDecember 2025 Updates

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Hanko and Merge?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Merge is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is Hanko better than Merge?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Merge is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Infra & APIs products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to Hanko?

Top Hanko alternatives in Infra & APIs are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Hanko alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/hanko for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to Merge?

Top Merge alternatives in Infra & APIs are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Merge alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/merge-dev for the full list with editorial commentary on each.