25 apps if they were MCU characters

What, you mean you don't personify everything in your life, including your work tools? You don't spend your free time imagining your favorite apps in a head-to-head Captain America: Civil War-style matchup? Weird.

Luckily for you, I do—and I'm here to share my vision. Buckle in while we build the Avengers from a list of the most popular business apps out there. (Also, it goes without saying, but: spoiler warning for the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.)

Apps as MCU characters at a glance

Nick Fury: Zapier

All of the apps on this list (and thousands more) integrate with Zapier, which means you can use Zapier to build a team powerful enough to have even Thanos quaking in his oversized boots. In other words, Zapier is the Nick Fury of the app world.

Nick Fury connects our favorite superheroes, orchestrates missions, and even builds new tools when his team needs them most. Nick has his flying helicarrier, and Zapier has Tables for storing your most crucial business data. Nick uses advanced hologram tech to conference with world leaders, and Zapier has Interfaces and Chatbots for building forms, client portals, and AI chatbots. Nick outfitted his SUV with futuristic and life-saving battle tech, and Zapier has Agents to help you get work done (and helpfully inform you when your air conditioning is at full power).

Every team needs that effortlessly cool friend who brings everyone together. The Avengers? Fury assembled them. The entire S.H.I.E.L.D. operation? Runs under his watch. Zapier does the same thing for businesses, helping different apps that wouldn't normally work together suddenly function as a single, unstoppable force—while bringing its own cutting-edge features along with it.

Iron Man (Tony Stark): ChatGPT

I'll never forget how our reality was upended when ChatGPT appeared on the scene. It was like the new AI technology got up at a podium, whipped off its sunglasses, and announced, "I am the future." Remind you of anyone? 

When Tony showed up, the Marvel Universe changed forever—and he set the tone for the MCU with his flashiness and confidence. Like Tony, ChatGPT is wickedly smart, always adapting, and always at the cutting edge of technology. It's a problem-solver that can pivot to meet any challenge, just like Stark tweaking his suits. 

Also, if Tony could upload his unconsciousness into an AI, he totally would.

Captain America (Steve Rogers): Microsoft Outlook

Outlook may be an old-school email app, but it's still a powerhouse (and can hold its own in a match-up). It's been around forever, it's trusted by businesses and individuals alike—and like Cap, it's dependable and always there when you need it.

One of Steve's defining characteristics is his "man out of time" feel (and of course, his uncanny ability to completely disguise himself with a simple blank baseball cap). Outlook similarly feels like it's been around forever, but like Cap, it absolutely still holds up.  

It even has a strong focus on security and privacy, which is why so many businesses trust it. Outlook is a classic (and sometimes underestimated) app that's reliable, strong, and has an old-school trust factor, just like Cap.

The Incredible Hulk (Bruce Banner): Notion

I have an unhealthy obsession with Notion. I use it for everything from to-do lists to note-taking and goal-setting. So I'm well aware of how deceptively mild-mannered Notion seems at first—but then you realize it can handle anything you throw at it, and it just gets more powerful over time. Sound like any (big, green) superheroes you know of?

Notion has two sides: one that's calm, intelligent, and controlled (a la Bruce Banner) and another that's powerful, unstoppable, and scales over time (enter the Hulk). You can use Notion's simplest features for a clean, structured, and highly organized knowledge base. In that approach, it's a thinking tool. But the more you build and expand in Notion, the more powerful it becomes. When you unleash its full potential (with databases, automations, and integrations), it's a beast.  

Thor: Microsoft Excel 

At first glance, Microsoft Excel might not seem flashy, but underestimate it at your own risk. It's ancient, ridiculously powerful, and when wielded by someone who truly understands its full potential, it absolutely smashes the competition.

Much like Thor, Excel is a classic powerhouse: one of the original heavy hitters that has stood the test of time. Sure, some might say it's a bit old-school, but those who master it know that it's a weapon of immense power, capable of handling complex calculations, automation, and data analysis that leave lesser tools in the dust. You don't need a fancy no-code solution when you've got a hammer that can do it all.

And, let's be real—have you ever seen someone truly proficient with Excel? It's like watching Thor wield Mjölnir. Pivot tables? VLOOKUPs? VBA macros? That's lightning in action.

Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff): ActiveCampaign

Much like Natasha's fighting style, ActiveCampaign is all about precision. It doesn't just blast messages into the void—it tracks engagement, personalizes interactions, and ensures every communication is targeted and effective. Just as Black Widow studies her opponents, anticipates their moves, and finds the perfect way to influence them, ActiveCampaign helps businesses understand their audience and convert leads into loyal followers.

But more than a spy, Black Widow is a strategist, a recruiter, and the person who makes sure the Avengers look good when it matters most. Whether she's testifying in front of Congress, persuading a rogue hero to join the team, or keeping the Avengers from completely falling apart, Natasha Romanoff knows how to craft the right message and deliver it at exactly the right time.  

ActiveCampaign does the same for businesses, automating marketing campaigns, nurturing customer relationships, and keeping everything organized—without demanding the spotlight.

Hawkeye (Clint Barton): Pipedrive

Hawkeye may not have super strength or a fancy metal suit, but what he does have is precision, reliability, and an uncanny ability to land his shots. Pipedrive is a highly specialized, no-nonsense CRM built for one purpose: helping sales teams close deals with deadly accuracy. It's not overloaded with unnecessary features or distractions. It just helps you aim, track, and hit your target.

Pipedrive quietly powers sales teams, making sure nothing slips through the cracks. It's structured, straight to the point, and ensures that when it's time to follow up, close a deal, or track performance, everything is exactly where it needs to be.

And while Hawkeye is often seen as the quiet, dependable Avenger, when he goes rogue (hello, Ronin), he's just as effective. Pipedrive's customizable features let users tailor it to their workflow, whether they're following a traditional sales pipeline or doing things their own way.

Maria Hill: Google Sheets

Maria Hill doesn't need to be in the spotlight—she's the one making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. That's exactly what Google Sheets does. It's structured, adaptable, and deeply reliable, helping teams analyze and organize information without any unnecessary flash.

Just like Hill is Nick Fury's right-hand woman, Google Sheets is the backbone of countless businesses, operations, and financial systems. It can handle anything you throw at it, from a simple task list to a multi-sheet dashboard—like Maria, who stays cool under pressure, no matter the crisis. With advanced formulas, automations, and integrations, Sheets can organize massive amounts of information, streamline decision-making, and keep entire operations on track.

When it comes down to it, Maria Hill and Google Sheets may not be the flashiest names in the MCU or the app world—but without them, everything would fall apart.

Loki: Google Ads

Google Ads operates in mysterious and ever-changing ways, constantly shifting the rules of engagement just when you think you've figured it out. Sound familiar?

Like Loki, Google Ads is all about illusion and persuasion. It determines what people see, controls the narrative, and can make or break an entire strategy. If you know how to use it, it's one of the most powerful tools in existence—able to influence audiences at an unimaginable scale. But if you don't, it'll drain your budget faster than Loki can disappear through a portal.

And let's not forget its mischievous nature. Google is notorious for its elaborate April Fools' jokes—from announcing fake products to making ridiculous "updates" that confuse users for a day. Sounds exactly like something Loki would do for fun. 

Falcon/Captain America (Sam Wilson): ClickUp

As a terminally slow runner, I've never related to someone more than when Sam's blood boiled over being lapped multiple times by Steve Rogers. But while Sam may have entered our lives as a loveable but mostly unremarkable side character, he's risen through the ranks to be the powerful new leader of the Avengers. 

Like Sam Wilson, ClickUp started as a side player in a crowded field, but over time, it evolved into a powerful, all-in-one tool that helps teams stay focused, organized, and ready for any challenge. It's structured, mission-ready, and designed to help users keep their objectives in sight (whether they're running a business or stopping the Red Hulk).

One of Sam's defining traits is his ability to connect with people and bring out their best. Unlike some rigid project management tools, ClickUp is built to be flexible, collaborative, and people-friendly. It offers multiple ways to work (whether you prefer Kanban, lists, Gantt charts, or automation) so teams can find a system that works for them. And ClickUp's AI-powered features are basically Redwing for productivity, helping users analyze tasks, streamline workflows, and stay ahead of the game.

Winter Soldier (Bucky Barnes): SQL Server

SQL Server operates quietly in the background, handling massive amounts of data with brute-force efficiency, just like Bucky methodically dismantling his enemies in combat. It's strong, dependable, and built for pure power.

Much like Bucky's vibranium arm, SQL Server is the perfect fusion of human intelligence and raw technological power. And just like Bucky has a set of trigger words that awaken his deadly Winter Soldier persona, SQL Server's true strength is unlocked through its command language. Behind its quiet exterior lies an arsenal of queries and procedures that can manipulate and retrieve massive datasets with precision and force. 

In the right hands (i.e., not Hydra's or Baron Zemo's), it's an unstoppable tool—capable of handling complex operations that keep entire systems running.  

Star-Lord (Peter Quill): Discord

Like Peter Quill, Discord is a bit of an outsider, a bit chaotic, and totally built for those who don't take themselves too seriously. It may not be everyone's go-to tool, but those who love it are ride-or-die.

Just like Star-Lord was a human thrown into the wider galaxy, Discord started as a simple gaming chat app before expanding into something so much bigger. Now, it's a hub for creators, communities, and teams, bringing people together in ways no one expected—kind of like how Quill accidentally assembled the most dysfunctional but fiercely loyal family in the universe.

On the surface, Discord seems like just a chat app, but dig deeper and you'll find voice channels, live streaming, automation tools, and AI features that make it ridiculously powerful. That's the same energy as Quill thinking he's just a guy with a Walkman—until he finds out he has literal Celestial powers.

Finally, Star-Lord's entire personality is built around his Awesome Mix, and while Discord isn't a music app, it's where countless people stream and share their favorite songs, host listening parties, and use bots to play music in voice channels. If Peter Quill had Wi-Fi in space, you know he'd have his own music-based Discord server.

Gamora: Shopify

Gamora and Shopify share more than just a striking green aesthetic—they're both relentless, efficient, and built for success. Just as Gamora was trained by Thanos to be the deadliest assassin in the galaxy, Shopify has been meticulously designed to dominate the eCommerce battlefield. It equips merchants with everything they need to convert visitors into buyers. 

Gamora's ability to adapt—whether outmaneuvering Nebula in combat or strategizing against Ronan—mirrors Shopify's flexibility, offering businesses customizable storefronts, seamless integrations, and scalable solutions that grow alongside them. And while Gamora fiercely protected the Orb from falling into the wrong hands, Shopify safeguards merchants with built-in fraud detection and secure transactions. 

Much like Gamora's eventual loyalty to the Guardians, Shopify remains steadfast in its mission to empower entrepreneurs, ensuring that no matter the challenge—whether intergalactic warfare or abandoned carts—the right tools are always within reach.

Drax: WooCommerce

Drax the Destroyer is brutally straightforward, ridiculously strong, and completely no-nonsense—which is exactly why WooCommerce is his perfect match. No frills, no unnecessary complexity, just raw (eCommerce) power designed to get the job done.  It's also a WordPress add-on, which means it doesn't work solo—just like Drax needs the rest of the Guardians to unlock his full potential. 

While Shopify might get more attention, WooCommerce quietly powers millions of online stores, offering endless customization and scalability. It's tough, durable, and can handle massive operations, much like Drax tanking through enemy after enemy without breaking a sweat.

Rocket Racoon: Twilio

Twilio is small, powerful, and built for people who love to tinker. This API-driven communication tool doesn't hold your hand, doesn't sugarcoat things, and definitely doesn't play nice just for the sake of it. It's fast, efficient, and ready to build whatever you need—as long as you're smart enough to handle it.

Like Rocket, Twilio is a tinkerer's dream. It's not just another plug-and-play messaging app—it's built for people who want full control over their automations, notifications, and workflows. Want to send thousands of texts, trigger voice calls, or integrate messaging into your product? You'd better be ready to get your hands dirty and code your own solution, because Twilio hands you the parts and lets you build your own masterpiece—just like Rocket scavenging for parts to build his latest weapon.

Groot: Airtable

Groot doesn't talk much, but he's the quiet backbone of the Guardians, supporting them in every mission. Airtable plays that same role for businesses, creators, and teams—keeping everything connected and growing together without any fuss.

At first glance, Groot could be mistaken for just another piece of muscle backing up Rocket's brains. Similarly, Airtable can look like just another spreadsheet, but start using it and you'll quickly realize it's a full-fledged database, project management tool, content planner, CRM—whatever you need it to be. Just like Groot, Airtable is a rock-solid yet adaptable tool that keeps teams organized and thriving.

And, of course, it grows with you. Groot has evolved over time—from towering warrior to Baby Groot to angsty teen, and back again. Airtable does the same thing, expanding and evolving to meet your needs. Start simple, and over time, it becomes a fully customized powerhouse, filled with automations, linked records, and workflows tailored exactly to how you work.

Nebula: Jira Software Cloud

Jira Software Cloud was built for Agile development, a methodology based on iteration, constant improvement, and flexibility. Sound familiar? 

Much like Nebula, Jira has been torn apart and rebuilt countless times—and its constant updates make it stronger, faster, and even more efficient. It may seem rigid and tactical at first, but beneath the surface, it's a deeply adaptable system that thrives in high-pressure environments. 

Jira is technical, precise, and built for pure efficiency—making it the ultimate cybernetic warrior of project management. It's a tactical powerhouse that streamlines projects, tracks every task, and automates workflows with a no-nonsense attitude. Whether you're a lone developer fine-tuning your code or an entire engineering team managing complex sprints, Jira is designed to keep everything on track, optimized, and battle-ready.

Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff): Webflow

Webflow is a tool for crafting entire digital worlds (AKA websites) from scratch. Much like Wanda meticulously built Westview to recreate her perfect reality, Webflow lets designers shape pixel-perfect, immersive web experiences exactly how they envision them. There are no limits, no rigid templates—just pure, limitless creation.

Webflow is for those who refuse to be constrained by rules. It's about bending reality to fit your Vision (pun intended), whether that's creating a beautiful website or rewriting the very fabric of existence.

Vision: Microsoft Dynamics 365

Much like how Vision was created from a fusion of JARVIS, Ultron, and the Mind Stone, Dynamics 365 blends human decision-making with AI-powered automation to create an enterprise resource planning system that's both highly logical and deeply intuitive.

At its core, Microsoft Dynamics processes vast amounts of information and transforms it into actionable insights—just like Vision can scan his surroundings, analyze patterns, and predict outcomes with near-perfect accuracy. Whether it's forecasting trends, optimizing operations, or understanding human behavior, Dynamics 365 is built to help organizations see beyond the present and prepare for the future.

War Machine (James "Rhodey" Rhodes): Asana

Unlike Tony Stark's freewheeling approach, Rhodey is disciplined and methodical. He doesn't just fly into battle—he follows a plan, assesses threats, and executes with efficiency. Asana works the same way, helping teams organize tasks, set deadlines, and meet every objective with no loose ends.

And just like War Machine's upgraded, battle-ready armor, Asana is loaded with features like workflow automation, task dependencies, reporting, and integrations with other tools. It's a project management powerhouse built for teams that need structured execution, whether they're running a marketing campaign or planning a military operation.

Ant-Man (Scott Lang): Trello 

Trello might seem small and simple—just like Scott Lang when he's in his miniature Ant-Man mode—but don't be fooled. This tool is way more powerful than it looks. 

With the right setup, Trello can scale up, automate workflows, and manage massive projects—kind of like how Ant-Man can shift from pint-sized thief to Giant-Man smashing through skyscrapers.

And let's be honest—Trello is just fun. Just like Scott Lang, Trello doesn't take itself too seriously, and its card-based interface makes it easy for anyone to pick up and use. Moving cards around, adding labels, and customizing boards adds a hint of playfulness to the driest of work projects.

Spider-Man (Peter Parker): Typeform

Typeform might seem like a simple and unassuming form builder at first, but just like your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, it's surprisingly powerful and always ready to help. Unlike traditional, boring forms, Typeform is sleek, conversational, and actually fun to use—just like Spidey himself.

Peter Parker is always interacting with people, gathering intel, and making sure the little guy is heard. Typeform does the same by turning data collection into an engaging conversation, making surveys, feedback forms, and quizzes feel natural rather than a chore. It's flexible, always there when you need it—and of course, it's completely web-based.

But don't be fooled by its approachable, easygoing nature. Just like Spidey, it's quick, agile, and capable of way more than people expect. With smart logic and automation, it's a versatile, intelligent tool that fits in equally well fighting crime on an airplane tarmac or solving equations at Midtown School of Science and Tech.

Doctor Strange: MySQL

Like the mystic arts, MySQL is not for beginners. It's a database app worthy of the vast library of Kamar-Taj: it stores, organizes, and retrieves massive amounts of structured information.

But MySQL isn't just about holding data—it's about manipulating, automating, and analyzing it to reveal deeper truths. Just as Strange studies ancient texts, deciphers spells, and bends time itself, MySQL lets users query past records, optimize present performance, and even predict future trends. If there were ever a tool built for seeing 14,000,605 possible outcomes and choosing the best one, this is it.

Black Panther (T'Challa): Stripe

In a world of crypto scams and memecoin rug pulls, it's refreshing to have futuristic financial technology that still respects our most cherished traditions (like FDIC insurance). In other words, Stripe is the Black Panther of financial technology.

T'Challa is a wise leader who balances power and responsibility, which is a great match for Stripe. While other payment tools exist, Stripe is the dominant force in online transactions. It's efficient and constantly evolving—dipping its toes into the crypto and AI spheres, for instance—while keeping its reputation as a secure and responsible payment processor. 

Stripe is also a great team player. It integrates with hundreds of apps, letting businesses connect their payment systems effortlessly—just like T'Challa forges alliances while still leading with wisdom and confidence. And much like how Black Panther moves between Wakanda and the larger world, Stripe lets businesses accept payments globally, breaking down barriers and bringing people together through commerce.  

Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers): Zoom

Captain Marvel has more than an awesome '90s soundtrack. She's one of the most powerful heroes in the MCU, capable of traveling across galaxies in an instant—and if there's one app that matches her speed, global reach, and raw power, it's Zoom.

Zoom is lightning-fast, connects people across vast distances, and instantly jumps into action when needed—just like Carol Danvers. And when we needed a solution for instant communication during the pandemic (the real-world version of the Blip), Zoom arrived like a photon blast, dominating the video conferencing space almost overnight.

Much like Captain Marvel, Zoom is independent, powerful, and impossible to ignore. It doesn't rely on a complex ecosystem; it just works—across devices, time zones, and entire planets (well, almost). 

Automate your (business) universe

Your tech stack is your business's personal Avengers. And like the Avengers, apps always work better together. Use Zapier to connect them all, add AI to the mix, and automate all your business-critical workflows. With zero risk of apocalypse.

Related reading:

• A guide to AI at Zapier: Give yourself automation superpowers 

• Zapier Agents: Combine AI agents with automation

• Zapier Interfaces: A no-code app builder powered by automation