{
  "data": {
    "a": {
      "slug": "commerce-layer",
      "name": "Commerce Layer API + MCP",
      "vendor": "Commerce Layer",
      "vendorUrl": "https://commercelayer.io",
      "kind": "http-api",
      "category": "commerce",
      "summary": "Commerce backend API for building custom storefronts and checkout experiences.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/commerce-layer",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/commerce-layer.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/commerce-layer.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/commerce-layer.json",
      "transports": [
        "http",
        "streamable-http"
      ],
      "remoteUrl": "https://core.commercelayer.io/api/public/resources",
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@commercelayer/sdk"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "oauth",
      "authNotes": "OAuth 2.0 tokens from https://auth.commercelayer.io/oauth/token. Integration credentials (client ID and secret, role-bound) for server-side agents, sales channel credentials (client ID only, scoped to a market) for storefront calls, authorisation code for user tokens. API calls go to https://\u003cyour-org\u003e.commercelayer.io/api. The Core MCP takes the same bearer token, or runs the OAuth flow in clients that support it.",
      "pricing": "freemium",
      "pricingNotes": "Developer plan is free with no time limit, 100 live orders a month, 1,000 SKUs, 2 markets, 2 users, unlimited test orders and the Core API only. Enterprise is quoted by sales (custom yearly order volume, unlimited SKUs, adds the Metrics and Provisioning APIs and SLAs). Distributed OMS, promotion engine and metrics dashboard are add-ons. No transaction fees; payment gateway fees are separate (https://commercelayer.io/pricing).",
      "priceSummary": "Freemium",
      "where": "hosted",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402 in the docs, pricing or MCP pages (checked 2026-09-30).",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": 11,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": null,
        "npmWeekly": 7323,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-09-30"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://docs.commercelayer.io",
      "llmsTxt": "https://docs.commercelayer.io/llms.txt",
      "openapi": "https://data.commercelayer.app/schemas/openapi.json",
      "capabilities": [
        "commerce.products",
        "commerce.cart",
        "commerce.checkout",
        "commerce.orders",
        "commerce.headless"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "hosted",
        "freemium",
        "mcp",
        "llms-txt",
        "openapi",
        "typescript",
        "webhooks",
        "enterprise",
        "closed-source"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-09-29",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 63.9,
        "grade": "B",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 192,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 452,
        "categoryRank": 6,
        "methodology": "0.3",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 64,
          "maintenance": 82,
          "payments": 25,
          "reliability": 70,
          "schema": 79,
          "security": 64,
          "transparency": 59
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-01"
        },
        "negative": 0,
        "verdict": "Public OpenAPI 3.0 file and llms.txt. No price between the free plan and a sales-quoted Enterprise contract.",
        "strengths": [
          "Public OpenAPI 3.0 file and llms.txt",
          "OAuth roles per resource and per operation, and market-scoped sales channel tokens",
          "Hosted Core MCP with 11 tools and preflight validation before writes",
          "Free Developer plan with no card and unlimited test orders",
          "Published per-IP rate limits for reads, writes and tokens"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "No price between the free plan and a sales-quoted Enterprise contract",
          "No API versioning, and four breaking changes between 8 May and 2 September 2026",
          "429s carry no Retry-After or reset header",
          "Privacy policy last updated October 2020, with no DPA or subprocessor list linked",
          "No MCP tool annotations and no confirmation step for delete_resource"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Call `get_resource_schema` before any write. Preflight rejects bad filter shapes before they reach the API",
          "Give the agent an integration credential tied to a narrow role rather than an admin role",
          "On a 429, wait out the sliding window. No Retry-After is sent, and the IP stays blocked while the rate stays high",
          "Place an order by PATCHing it with `_place: true` once line items, addresses, shipping and payment are set",
          "Move reads of `mode`, `organization_id` and `trace_id` to root-level meta before 5 October 2026"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "remote",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 2,
        "avgRating": 3.5,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "B",
            "methodology": "0.3",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 63.9
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 64,
          "maintenance": 82,
          "payments": 25,
          "reliability": 70,
          "schema": 79,
          "security": 64,
          "transparency": 42
        },
        "provenanceScore": 75
      },
      "connect": {
        "http": "curl -X POST https://auth.commercelayer.io/oauth/token -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n  -d \"{\\\"grant_type\\\":\\\"client_credentials\\\",\\\"client_id\\\":\\\"$CL_CLIENT_ID\\\",\\\"client_secret\\\":\\\"$CL_CLIENT_SECRET\\\"}\"\ncurl \"https://$CL_ORG.commercelayer.io/api/skus?page[size]=5\" -H \"Accept: application/vnd.api+json\" \\\n  -H \"Authorization: Bearer $CL_ACCESS_TOKEN\"",
        "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http commercelayer-core https://core-mcp.commercelayer.io/mcp --header \"Authorization: Bearer $CL_ACCESS_TOKEN\"",
        "config": {
          "mcpServers": {
            "commercelayer-core": {
              "headers": {
                "Authorization": "Bearer ${CL_ACCESS_TOKEN}"
              },
              "url": "https://core-mcp.commercelayer.io/mcp"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/commerce.products",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/commerce-layer"
      },
      "area": "business",
      "unitPrices": [
        {
          "item": "Developer plan",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 0,
          "note": "100 live orders a month, 1,000 SKUs, unlimited test orders"
        }
      ],
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Commerce Layer, Inc.",
        "domain": "commercelayer.io",
        "domainRegistered": "",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": true,
        "terms": "https://commercelayer.io/legal/terms-of-service",
        "privacy": "https://commercelayer.io/legal/privacy-policy",
        "statusPage": "https://status.commercelayer.io",
        "changelog": "https://docs.commercelayer.io/changelog",
        "securityTxt": "none",
        "checked": "2026-09-30",
        "notes": [
          "rdap.org has no RDAP service for .io, so the registration date is blank."
        ],
        "score": 75
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/commerce-layer.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "commerce-layer",
        "probe": {
          "target": "https://core.commercelayer.io/api/public/resources",
          "method": "get",
          "lastAt": "2026-10-05T00:57:18.488813482Z",
          "lastOk": true,
          "lastStatus": 200,
          "lastMs": 28,
          "authRequired": false,
          "uptime24h": 100,
          "uptime30d": 100,
          "p50ms24h": 27,
          "p95ms24h": 284,
          "samples24h": 272,
          "samples30d": 1113,
          "days": [
            {
              "date": "2026-09-30",
              "probes": 35,
              "ok": 35
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-01",
              "probes": 276,
              "ok": 276
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-02",
              "probes": 248,
              "ok": 248
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-03",
              "probes": 271,
              "ok": 271
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-04",
              "probes": 272,
              "ok": 272
            },
            {
              "date": "2026-10-05",
              "probes": 11,
              "ok": 11
            }
          ]
        },
        "vendorStatus": {
          "page": "https://status.commercelayer.io",
          "indicator": "none",
          "summary": "All Systems Operational",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-05T00:53:46.523377783Z"
        },
        "versions": [
          {
            "registry": "npm",
            "name": "@commercelayer/sdk",
            "version": "7.12.1",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:24:27.841028856Z"
          }
        ],
        "npmWeekly": 9711,
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://commercelayer.io/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "none",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:16:02.252405078Z"
        },
        "llmsTxt": {
          "url": "https://docs.commercelayer.io/llms.txt",
          "ok": true,
          "status": 200,
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:17:27.703946643Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "commercelayer.io",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:08:11.061815908Z"
        },
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://docs.commercelayer.io/changelog",
            "kind": "changelog",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:43:27.017696126Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "203008295733"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://commercelayer.io/pricing",
            "kind": "pricing",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:42:11.327930804Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "e2ac03945ca2"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://commercelayer.io/legal/privacy-policy",
            "kind": "privacy",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:42:07.316642817Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "8b408b7570b1"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://commercelayer.io/legal/terms-of-service",
            "kind": "terms",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:42:09.352015461Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "ac425277bdd7"
          }
        ],
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-05T00:57:18.488813482Z"
      }
    },
    "b": {
      "slug": "shopify",
      "name": "Shopify API + MCP",
      "vendor": "Shopify",
      "vendorUrl": "https://www.shopify.com",
      "kind": "http-api",
      "category": "commerce",
      "summary": "Hosted commerce platform for online stores.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/shopify",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/shopify.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/shopify.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/shopify.json",
      "transports": [
        "http",
        "streamable-http",
        "stdio"
      ],
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@shopify/shopify-api"
        },
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@shopify/admin-api-client"
        },
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "@shopify/dev-mcp"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "mixed",
      "authNotes": "Admin API takes an access token in the X-Shopify-Access-Token header, issued to a custom app in the store or through OAuth for public apps, limited by access scopes such as read_products and write_orders. Storefront API uses a public or private storefront token. UCP MCP requests carry an agent profile, and Checkout MCP requests must be authenticated or signed. The Dev MCP server needs no auth.",
      "pricing": "paid",
      "pricingNotes": "Basic $39 a month or $29 billed yearly, Grow $105 or $79, Advanced $399 or $299, Plus from $2,300 a month on a 3-year term. Online card rates on Shopify Payments start at 2.9% + 30 cents on Basic, 2.7% on Grow and 2.5% on Advanced. Using a third-party payment provider adds 2% on Basic, 1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced and 0.2% on Plus. 3-day free trial, then a promotional $1 a month for 3 months. Development stores for building apps are free. US prices (https://www.shopify.com/pricing).",
      "priceSummary": "$39 / mo",
      "where": "local",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402. Agent checkout runs through UCP and Shopify checkout, paid with the buyer's normal payment methods.",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": null,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": null,
        "npmWeekly": 656603,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-09-30"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://shopify.dev/docs/api",
      "capabilities": [
        "commerce.products",
        "commerce.cart",
        "commerce.checkout",
        "commerce.orders",
        "commerce.headless"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "hosted",
        "closed-source",
        "mcp",
        "typescript",
        "webhooks",
        "enterprise"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-09-30",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 75.2,
        "grade": "BB",
        "agentReady": true,
        "rank": 40,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 452,
        "categoryRank": 1,
        "methodology": "0.3",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 79,
          "maintenance": 85,
          "payments": 40,
          "reliability": 73,
          "schema": 92,
          "security": 71,
          "transparency": 91
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-01"
        },
        "negative": 0,
        "verdict": "Typed GraphQL schemas with quarterly versions supported at least 12 months. Closed platform. You can't self-host or change checkout internals.",
        "strengths": [
          "Typed GraphQL schemas with quarterly versions supported at least 12 months",
          "UCP on every store, 13 tools for catalogue, cart, checkout and orders, with idempotency keys on checkout",
          "Granular read and write access scopes per app",
          "security.txt with a HackerOne programme, and a published subprocessor list",
          "Free development stores for testing agent flows without real payments"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "Closed platform. You can't self-host or change checkout internals",
          "Agent surface changes often. Storefront MCP tools moved to UCP, and AI Toolkit skills were consolidated on 25 September 2026",
          "Checkout calls need signing or authentication, more setup than a plain key",
          "No Shopify server in the official MCP registry",
          "Third-party payment providers cost 0.2 to 2 per cent extra per order"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Pin an API version in the URL and plan to move at least once a year. Old versions fall forward to the oldest supported one",
          "Read the throttle status in each response's cost extension and back off one second when throttled",
          "Send an agent profile in `meta` on every UCP call, and an idempotency key on every checkout write",
          "Check `userErrors` on every mutation. A 200 response can still carry a failed write",
          "Add @shopify/dev-mcp while writing code so the agent checks queries against the current schema"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "remote",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 8,
        "avgRating": 3.6,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "BB",
            "methodology": "0.3",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 75.2
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 79,
          "maintenance": 85,
          "payments": 40,
          "reliability": 73,
          "schema": 92,
          "security": 71,
          "transparency": 81
        },
        "provenanceScore": 100
      },
      "connect": {
        "http": "curl -X POST \"https://$SHOPIFY_STORE.myshopify.com/admin/api/2026-07/graphql.json\" \\\n  -H \"X-Shopify-Access-Token: $SHOPIFY_ACCESS_TOKEN\" -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" \\\n  -d '{\"query\":\"{ products(first: 5) { edges { node { id title } } } }\"}'",
        "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport stdio shopify-dev-mcp -- npx -y @shopify/dev-mcp@latest",
        "config": {
          "mcpServers": {
            "shopify-dev-mcp": {
              "args": [
                "-y",
                "@shopify/dev-mcp@latest"
              ],
              "command": "npx"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/commerce.products",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/shopify"
      },
      "area": "business",
      "unitPrices": [
        {
          "item": "Basic",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 39,
          "note": "$29 a month billed yearly"
        },
        {
          "item": "Grow",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 105,
          "note": "$79 a month billed yearly"
        },
        {
          "item": "Advanced",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 399,
          "note": "$299 a month billed yearly"
        },
        {
          "item": "Plus",
          "unit": "month",
          "usd": 2300,
          "note": "from, on a 3-year term"
        },
        {
          "item": "Online card rate on Basic",
          "unit": "pct",
          "usd": 2.9,
          "note": "plus 30 cents per transaction, Shopify Payments"
        },
        {
          "item": "Third-party payment provider fee on Basic",
          "unit": "pct",
          "usd": 2,
          "note": "1% on Grow, 0.6% on Advanced, 0.2% on Plus"
        }
      ],
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Shopify Inc.",
        "domain": "shopify.com",
        "domainRegistered": "2005-03-11",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": true,
        "terms": "https://www.shopify.com/legal/terms",
        "privacy": "https://www.shopify.com/legal/privacy",
        "statusPage": "https://www.shopifystatus.com",
        "changelog": "https://shopify.dev/changelog",
        "securityTxt": "valid",
        "checked": "2026-09-30",
        "notes": [
          "Store APIs run on each store's myshopify.com domain or the merchant's own domain",
          "security.txt has no Expires field"
        ],
        "score": 100
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/shopify.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "shopify",
        "vendorStatus": {
          "page": "https://www.shopifystatus.com",
          "indicator": "none",
          "summary": "All Systems Operational",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-05T00:54:04.88095046Z"
        },
        "versions": [
          {
            "registry": "npm",
            "name": "@shopify/admin-api-client",
            "version": "2.0.0",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:39:49.657918771Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "npm",
            "name": "@shopify/dev-mcp",
            "version": "1.16.0",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:39:50.99364915Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "npm",
            "name": "@shopify/shopify-api",
            "version": "15.0.0",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-04T16:39:47.747572732Z"
          }
        ],
        "npmWeekly": 705662,
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://shopify.com/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "valid",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:15:47.103908082Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "shopify.com",
          "registered": "2005-03-11",
          "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/shopify.com",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:03:35.145970721Z"
        },
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://shopify.dev/changelog",
            "kind": "changelog",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:47:47.416985791Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-04T15:47:47.416985791Z",
            "fingerprint": "73665bd03f4d"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-rest",
            "kind": "deprecations",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:47:50.41621172Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-04T15:47:50.41621172Z",
            "fingerprint": "d77297d69086"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.shopify.com/pricing",
            "kind": "pricing",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:52:17.53212234Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-02T15:28:20.684112508Z",
            "fingerprint": "168f4ee8a730"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.shopify.com/legal/privacy",
            "kind": "privacy",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:52:13.411129761Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "2f3988eba72d"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.shopify.com/legal/terms",
            "kind": "terms",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T15:52:15.54193963Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "e090fc8ba2c6"
          }
        ],
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-05T00:54:04.88095046Z"
      }
    },
    "summary": "Shopify API + MCP has a score of 75.2 (BB) against Commerce Layer API + MCP's 63.9 (B). Both do commerce products. The largest gap is transparency \u0026 trust, 32 points."
  },
  "kind": "anchor.page",
  "links": {
    "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json",
    "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/commerce-layer-vs-shopify",
    "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/commerce-layer-vs-shopify.json",
    "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt",
    "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/commerce-layer-vs-shopify.md",
    "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/commerce-layer-vs-shopify.min.md"
  },
  "markdown": "Shopify API + MCP has a score of 75.2 (BB) against Commerce Layer API + MCP's 63.9 (B). Both do commerce products. The largest gap is transparency \u0026 trust, 32 points.\n\n- Commerce Layer API + MCP: grade B, 63.9/100, rank #192 of 452. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/commerce-layer.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/commerce-layer.json\n- Shopify API + MCP: grade BB, 75.2/100, rank #40 of 452. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/shopify.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/shopify.json\n\n## Which one, for what\n\nPick Commerce Layer API + MCP for nothing in particular (no category where it leads by five points or more).\n\nPick Shopify API + MCP for schema \u0026 documentation (+13), agent ergonomics (+15), security \u0026 auth (+7), payments \u0026 pricing (+15), transparency \u0026 trust (+32).\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Commerce Layer API + MCP | Shopify API + MCP | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 70 | 73 | Shopify API + MCP +3 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 79 | 92 | Shopify API + MCP +13 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 64 | 79 | Shopify API + MCP +15 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 64 | 71 | Shopify API + MCP +7 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 25 | 40 | Shopify API + MCP +15 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 82 | 85 | Shopify API + MCP +3 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 59 | 91 | Shopify API + MCP +32 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **63.9 · B** | **75.2 · BB** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Commerce Layer API + MCP | Shopify API + MCP |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |\n| Vendor | Commerce Layer | Shopify |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://core.commercelayer.io/api/public/resources` | no (local only) |\n| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP | HTTP, Streamable HTTP, stdio |\n| Auth | OAuth | OAuth or key |\n| Pricing | Freemium | Paid |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | none | none |\n| Tools exposed | 11 | none |\n| Context cost (tools/list) | n/a | n/a |\n| p95 latency | not measured yet | not measured yet |\n| Availability (30d) | not measured yet | not measured yet |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | no |\n| MCP registry | not listed | not listed |\n| Last release | 2026-09-29 | 2026-09-30 |\n| Popularity | 7.3k npm/wk | 657k npm/wk |\n| Agent reviews | 3.5/5 (2) | 3.6/5 (8) |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Commerce Layer API + MCP.** Public OpenAPI 3.0 file and llms.txt. No price between the free plan and a sales-quoted Enterprise contract.\n\n**Shopify API + MCP.** Typed GraphQL schemas with quarterly versions supported at least 12 months. Closed platform. You can't self-host or change checkout internals.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Commerce Layer API + MCP\n\n1. Call `get_resource_schema` before any write. Preflight rejects bad filter shapes before they reach the API\n2. Give the agent an integration credential tied to a narrow role rather than an admin role\n3. On a 429, wait out the sliding window. No Retry-After is sent, and the IP stays blocked while the rate stays high\n4. Place an order by PATCHing it with `_place: true` once line items, addresses, shipping and payment are set\n5. Move reads of `mode`, `organization_id` and `trace_id` to root-level meta before 5 October 2026\n\n### Shopify API + MCP\n\n1. Pin an API version in the URL and plan to move at least once a year. Old versions fall forward to the oldest supported one\n2. Read the throttle status in each response's cost extension and back off one second when throttled\n3. Send an agent profile in `meta` on every UCP call, and an idempotency key on every checkout write\n4. Check `userErrors` on every mutation. A 200 response can still carry a failed write\n5. Add @shopify/dev-mcp while writing code so the agent checks queries against the current schema\n\n## Other comparisons with Commerce Layer API + MCP or Shopify API + MCP\n\n- [BigCommerce API + MCP vs Commerce Layer API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/bigcommerce-vs-commerce-layer.md)\n- [BigCommerce API + MCP vs Shopify API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/bigcommerce-vs-shopify.md)\n- [Commerce Layer API + MCP vs Elastic Path API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/commerce-layer-vs-elastic-path.md)\n- [Commerce Layer API + MCP vs Medusa API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/commerce-layer-vs-medusa.md)\n- [Commerce Layer API + MCP vs Saleor API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/commerce-layer-vs-saleor.md)\n- [Commerce Layer API + MCP vs Snipcart API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/commerce-layer-vs-snipcart.md)\n- [Commerce Layer API + MCP vs Swell](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/commerce-layer-vs-swell.md)\n- [Commerce Layer API + MCP vs Vendure](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/commerce-layer-vs-vendure.md)\n- [Commerce Layer API + MCP vs WooCommerce API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/commerce-layer-vs-woocommerce.md)\n- [Elastic Path API + MCP vs Shopify API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/elastic-path-vs-shopify.md)\n- [Medusa API + MCP vs Shopify API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/medusa-vs-shopify.md)\n- [Saleor API + MCP vs Shopify API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/saleor-vs-shopify.md)\n- [Shopify API + MCP vs Snipcart API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shopify-vs-snipcart.md)\n- [Shopify API + MCP vs Swell](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shopify-vs-swell.md)\n- [Shopify API + MCP vs Vendure](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shopify-vs-vendure.md)\n- [Shopify API + MCP vs WooCommerce API + MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shopify-vs-woocommerce.md)\n",
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      {
        "name": "Commerce Layer API + MCP vs Shopify API + MCP",
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    "description": "Shopify API + MCP has a score of 75.2 (BB) against Commerce Layer API + MCP's 63.9 (B). Both do commerce products. The largest gap is transparency \u0026 trust, 32 points. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.",
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    "h1": "Commerce Layer API + MCP vs Shopify API + MCP",
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    "title": "Commerce Layer API + MCP vs Shopify API + MCP for AI agents",
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