Computer-based methods, computer-readable storage media and computer systems are provided for optimizing integration flow plans. An initial integration flow plan, one or more objectives and/or an objective function related to the one or more objectives may be received as input. A computing cost of the initial integration flow plan may be compared with the objective function. Using one or more heuristics, a set of close-to-optimal integration flow plans may be identified from all possible integration flow plans that are functionally equivalent to the initial integration flow plan. A close-to-optimal integration flow plan with a lowest computing cost may be selected from the set as a replacement for the initial integration flow plan.