Which SaaS Tools Work Together? Integration Guide

What Are Integrations?

Integrations connect different tools so they work together. Instead of manually copying data between apps, they communicate automatically.

Example: When you create a task in Asana, it automatically creates a notification in Slack. That's an integration.

Why it matters:

• Reduces manual work
• Prevents data loss
• Saves hours per week
• Improves team efficiency

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The Core Tool Stack (3-5 Tools)

Most businesses use 3-5 core tools:

1. Project Management (Asana, Monday, ClickUp)
2. CRM (HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive)
3. Communication (Slack)
4. Accounting (Wave, Xero, QuickBooks)
5. Email (Gmail)

These need to talk to each other.

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Integration Matrix

Project Management Tools

Asana

Integrates with:

• ✅ Slack (notifications)
• ✅ Gmail (email-to-task)
• ✅ Google Drive (attach files)
• ✅ Zapier (anything else)
• ✅ Salesforce (sync data)
• ✅ HubSpot (sync data)

Best for: Teams that want reliable integrations with popular tools.

Monday.com

Integrates with:

• ✅ Slack (notifications)
• ✅ Gmail (email-to-board)
• ✅ Google Drive (attach files)
• ✅ Zapier (anything else)
• ✅ Salesforce (sync data)
• ✅ HubSpot (sync data)

Best for: Teams wanting both integrations AND visual customization.

ClickUp

Integrates with:

• ✅ Slack (notifications)
• ✅ Gmail (email-to-task)
• ✅ Google Drive (attach files)
• ✅ Zapier (anything else)
• ✅ 1000+ integrations (most of any tool)
• ✅ Salesforce (sync data)
• ✅ HubSpot (sync data)

Best for: Teams that need lots of integrations and one central tool.

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CRM Tools

HubSpot

Integrates with:

• ✅ Slack (notifications)
• ✅ Gmail (email sync)
• ✅ Google Drive
• ✅ Asana (task sync)
• ✅ Monday (task sync)
• ✅ Zapier (anything else)
• ✅ Stripe (payments)

Best for: Sales teams using Gmail and wanting all-in-one.

Salesforce

Integrates with:

• ✅ Slack (notifications)
• ✅ Gmail (email sync)
• ✅ Google Drive
• ✅ Asana (task sync)
• ✅ Zapier (anything else)
• ✅ Stripe (payments)
• ✅ Tableau (reporting)

Best for: Enterprise teams with custom integration needs.

Pipedrive

Integrates with:

• ✅ Slack (notifications)
• ✅ Gmail (email sync)
• ✅ Google Drive
• ✅ Zapier (anything else)
• ✅ Stripe (payments)
• ✅ Calendly (scheduling)

Best for: Sales teams wanting a simple, focused CRM.

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Communication Tools

Slack

Integrates with:

• ✅ Almost everything (Slack App Marketplace has 2000+)
• ✅ Asana (task notifications)
• ✅ Monday.com (board updates)
• ✅ ClickUp (task updates)
• ✅ HubSpot (deal notifications)
• ✅ GitHub (deployment notifications)
• ✅ Zapier (connect to anything)

Best for: Teams that need everything in Slack.

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Accounting Tools

Wave

Integrates with:

• ✅ Stripe (automatic payments)
• ✅ PayPal (automatic payments)
• ✅ Zapier (connect to anything)
• ⚠️ Limited native integrations
• ⚠️ No CRM sync
• ⚠️ No project management sync

Best for: Freelancers who don't need deep integrations.

Xero

Integrates with:

• ✅ Stripe (automatic payments)
• ✅ PayPal (automatic payments)
• ✅ Zapier (connect to anything)
• ✅ HubSpot (sync contacts)
• ✅ Salesforce (sync contacts)
• ✅ Google Drive

Best for: Small businesses wanting more integrations.

QuickBooks Online

Integrates with:

• ✅ Stripe (automatic payments)
• ✅ PayPal (automatic payments)
• ✅ Zapier (connect to anything)
• ✅ HubSpot (sync contacts)
• ✅ Salesforce (sync contacts)
• ✅ Slack (notifications)

Best for: Businesses wanting Intuit ecosystem (QuickBooks + Stripe + Square).

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Recommended Integration Stacks

Stack 1: All-In-One (Minimize Tools)

• Project Management: ClickUp ($5/user/month)
• Communication: Slack ($8/user/month)
• Accounting: Wave (free)

Total cost: $13/user/month Integrations: All talk to each other Best for: Startups on budget

Stack 2: Professional Small Business

• Project Management: Asana ($11/user/month)
• CRM: HubSpot ($50/month)
• Communication: Slack ($8/user/month)
• Accounting: Xero ($20/month)

Total cost: $89/month (5 person team example) Integrations: All talk to each other Best for: Growing service businesses

Stack 3: Enterprise Sales Team

• CRM: Salesforce ($75/month)
• Project Management: Asana ($25/user/month)
• Communication: Slack ($8/user/month)
• Communication: Salesforce Chatter (included)
• Accounting: QuickBooks ($30/month)

Total cost: $500+/month Integrations: All enterprise-grade Best for: Large sales teams

Stack 4: Creative Agency

• Project Management: Monday.com ($12/user/month)
• CRM: HubSpot ($50-200/month)
• Communication: Slack ($8/user/month)
• Time Tracking: Harvest ($12/user/month)
• Accounting: Xero ($20/month)

Total cost: $200+/month Integrations: All designed for agencies Best for: Creative services

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How to Set Up Integrations

Step 1: Choose Your Core Tools

Pick 3-5 tools you'll actually use.

Step 2: Check Integrations

Before buying, verify:

• "Does Tool A integrate with Tool B?"
• Look on the tool's website for integration marketplace
• Test in free trial if possible

Step 3: Activate Integrations

Most integrations are just a few clicks:

1. Open integration in Tool A
2. Click "Connect"
3. Authorize Tool B
4. Done

Step 4: Test & Verify

Create a test:

• Task in Project Management
• Verify notification in Slack
• Check it shows up in CRM

Step 5: Document for Team

Tell your team:

• "When you create task in Asana..."
• "Slack notifies assigned person"
• "You don't need to Slack them manually"

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When to Use Zapier

What's Zapier? Zapier connects tools that don't have direct integrations. It's a "middleman."

Example: You can't connect Wave to Monday directly. But Zapier can: "When new invoice created in Wave → Create task in Monday"

Cost: Free (3 zaps) or $20-50/month (unlimited)

Use Zapier when:

• Two tools don't integrate directly
• You want custom logic ("If customer is big, create task in Monday")
• You want to reduce manual work

Popular Zapier integrations:

• Stripe → Asana (new payment → new task)
• Form submission → Monday.com (form fills → create board item)
• Email → ClickUp (forward email → create task)
• Calendly → Slack (meeting booked → notify Slack)

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Common Integration Patterns

Pattern 1: Task Notification (Most Common)

Setup: Project Management → Slack

When a task is created/assigned/updated in your project tool, team gets notified in Slack instead of checking the tool.

Tools: Asana, Monday, ClickUp all have this

Pattern 2: Email to Task

Setup: Email → Project Management

Forward an email to your project management tool and it creates a task. Great for capturing work from email threads.

Tools: Asana, ClickUp, Monday (email-to-board)

Pattern 3: CRM to Project

Setup: CRM → Project Management

New customer created in HubSpot? Automatically creates project in Asana for onboarding.

Example: "New customer deal closed → Create onboarding project → Assign to team"

Pattern 4: Time Tracking to Invoicing

Setup: Time Tracking → Invoicing

Hours tracked in Harvest automatically create invoice items. Bill clients accurately.

Pattern 5: Payment Sync

Setup: Payment Provider → Accounting

Stripe charges sync automatically to Wave/Xero. No manual accounting entry.

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Integration Troubleshooting

Problem: Integration Breaks

Solution:

1. Check tool's status page (is it down?)
2. Re-authorize integration
3. Contact tool support

Problem: Data Not Syncing

Solution:

1. Check integration settings (permissions correct?)
2. Test with new data (does new integration work?)
3. Manual sync button if available

Problem: Too Many Notifications

Solution:

1. Turn off non-critical notifications
2. Batch notifications (hourly digest vs instant)
3. Use Slack focus modes (mute during focus time)

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The Golden Rule

Don't use more than 5 tools.

Every tool adds:

• Learning curve (training time)
• Switching cost (time moving between apps)
• Integration complexity (more things can break)
• Monthly cost

Pick your 3-4 essential tools, integrate them well, and master them before adding more.

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Integration Checklist Before Buying

Before you buy any tool:

• Check it integrates with your current tools
• Test the integration in free trial
• Verify it solves your actual problem
• Know the monthly cost including integrations

Example:

• Tool A: $50/month
• Zapier for integration: $20/month
• Real cost: $70/month (not $50)

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Quick Reference: Best Integration-Friendly Stack

Best for most teams:

1. ClickUp ($5-9/month) - 1000+ integrations
2. HubSpot (free or $50/month) - Excellent integration support
3. Slack ($8/month) - Everything integrates with Slack
4. Wave (free) - Stripe integrates directly

Why this stack?

• Cheapest option ($50-100/month for 5 person team)
• All tools integrate with each other
• ClickUp + Slack + HubSpot = full business coverage
• Wave is free accounting
• Stripe payments sync to Wave automatically

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Next Steps

1. Pick your 3-4 core tools (use our tool reviews)
2. Check integrations (before buying)
3. Start with free versions (test integrations)
4. Set up 2-3 key automations (biggest time-savers)
5. Add more integrations (as you learn)

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Need help choosing tools?

• Monday vs Asana vs ClickUp
• HubSpot vs Salesforce vs Pipedrive
• Best Tool for Your Situation

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Last updated: July 2026 From: App Buyer Guide