{ "data": { "a": { "slug": "karrio", "name": "Karrio", "vendor": "Karrio, Inc.", "vendorUrl": "https://www.karrio.io", "kind": "http-api", "category": "shipping", "summary": "Karrio is an open-source multi-carrier shipping server from Karrio, Inc. Its REST API quotes rates, buys labels, tracks parcels and books pickups through the owner's own carrier accounts, self-hosted with Docker or run by Karrio as a paid platform.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/karrio", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/karrio.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/karrio.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/karrio.json", "repo": "https://github.com/karrioapi/karrio", "license": "LGPL-3.0 for the server, SDK and modules. Code under `ee/` is under the Karrio Enterprise licence and needs a subscription for production use. The MCP package in `packages/mcp` is Apache-2.0", "transports": [ "http" ], "packages": [ { "registry": "pypi", "name": "karrio" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "karrio-server" }, { "registry": "oci", "name": "karrio/server" } ], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "A private API key from the instance's dashboard, sent as the HTTP Basic username with no password or as `Authorization: Token key_...`. Keys carry a label and are bound to test or live mode, and the docs say a private key can perform any request without restriction. A JWT pair is also issued by `POST /api/token` for an email and password. On a self-hosted instance the owner creates the first account, so no approval from Karrio is involved. The managed platform is reached through a demo booking.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "Free when self-hosted under LGPL-3.0, with carrier postage billed by the owner's own carrier accounts. The platform page says the managed Scale platform starts at $499 a month with pay-as-you-go pricing and a commercial licence for embedding starts at $50,000 a year, with no unit prices published. An agent can start on a self-hosted instance in test mode with no contract. The managed platform has no self-serve signup, only a demo booking (checked 2026-10-08).", "priceSummary": "$499 / mo", "where": "local", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the repository, the OpenAPI file, the docs or the platform page (checked 2026-10-08).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": 799, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": 338, "asOf": "2026-10-08" }, "docsUrl": "https://www.karrio.io/docs", "openapi": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/karrioapi/karrio/main/schemas/openapi.yml", "capabilities": [ "shipping.rates", "shipping.labels", "shipping.tracking", "shipping.returns" ], "tags": [ "open-source", "self-hosted", "api-key", "openapi", "graphql", "webhooks", "sandbox", "docker", "python", "mcp" ], "lastRelease": "2026-06-23", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 48.7, "grade": "D", "agentReady": false, "rank": 617, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 722, "categoryRank": 8, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 57, "maintenance": 29, "payments": 40, "reliability": 76, "schema": 68, "security": 44, "transparency": 56 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-08" }, "negative": -7, "negativeNotes": [ "12 March to 23 June 2026. Versions 2026.1.22 to 2026.1.31 applied an MD5 `PASSWORD_HASHERS` override outside the test runner, so production instances stored MD5 password hashes. Fixed in 2026.1.32 and described in the changelog, with no published advisory, so 4 of a possible 15 (https://github.com/karrioapi/karrio/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md).", "8 October 2026. The README and the MCP guide tell users to run `npx karrio-mcp` and `npx -y @karrio/mcp`, and the npm registry answers 404 for both. The examples' API host `api.karrio.io` didn't resolve the same day. 3 for a claim the listing can't meet (https://registry.npmjs.org/@karrio%2fmcp, https://www.karrio.io/docs/developing/mcp-server)." ], "verdict": "A current OpenAPI 3.0.3 contract with 65 paths, a free LGPL-3.0 server and 30 carrier connectors suit a team that hosts it. The last release was 23 June 2026, the `@karrio/mcp` package the docs install is absent from npm, and `api.karrio.io` didn't resolve on 8 October 2026.", "bestFor": "A team that wants to host its own multi-carrier API with its own carrier contracts and can maintain a Django and PostgreSQL stack.", "strengths": [ "OpenAPI 3.0.3 contract in the repository at version 2026.1.32, with 65 paths covering rates, shipments, trackers, pickups, manifests, orders, documents and webhooks", "The core server and SDK are LGPL-3.0 and run on the owner's infrastructure with Docker Compose, with no fee to Karrio", "30 carrier connectors in `modules/connectors`, among them UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL Express, Canada Post, DPD and Australia Post, used with the owner's own carrier accounts", "API keys are bound to test or live mode, and test mode runs rates, labels, trackers and pickups against carrier sandboxes", "Default throttles are in the settings file with numbers (600 requests a minute per user, 300 for carrier calls) and can be changed by environment variable" ], "weaknesses": [ "No release since 2026.1.32 on 23 June 2026, 107 days before this check, and fix pull requests opened in September 2026 were still open", "Neither `@karrio/mcp` nor `karrio-mcp` exists on npm, though the README and the MCP guide give `npx` commands for them", "`api.karrio.io` didn't resolve and `app.karrio.io` answered 503 with a paused deployment on 8 October 2026, and the managed platform starts with a demo booking", "Versions 2026.1.22 to 2026.1.31 stored passwords as MD5 hashes in production, fixed in 2026.1.32 with a changelog line and no published advisory", "No idempotency keys were found, and a private API key can perform any request. Team permissions and audit logging sit in the paid `ee/` code" ], "agentNotes": [ "Run your own instance with Docker Compose and call it at `http://localhost:5002`. Don't rely on `api.karrio.io`, which didn't resolve on 8 October 2026", "Don't run `npx karrio-mcp` or `npx -y @karrio/mcp`. Neither name is published on npm, so build the server from `packages/mcp` in the repository", "Change the default `admin@example.com` and `demo` login before the instance is reachable, and upgrade to 2026.1.32 or later so passwords aren't stored as MD5", "Don't blind-retry `POST /v1/shipments` with a `service` set or `POST /v1/shipments/{id}/purchase`. Fetch the shipment and check its status first, since no idempotency key exists", "Use a test-mode API key while building. Send it as the HTTP Basic username or as `Authorization: Token key_...`" ], "metrics": { "kind": "local", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "D", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 48.7 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 57, "maintenance": 29, "payments": 40, "reliability": 76, "schema": 68, "security": 44, "transparency": 59 }, "provenanceScore": 53 }, "connect": { "install": "git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/karrioapi/karrio\ncd karrio\ngit submodule update --init community\ncd docker\ndocker compose up", "http": "curl http://localhost:5002/v1/shipments \\\n -u key_xxxxxx:" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/shipping.rates", "tool": "https://letme.dev/karrio" }, "area": "business", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Open-source edition, self-hosted", "unit": "month", "usd": 0, "note": "LGPL-3.0, you pay for your own hosting and carrier postage" }, { "item": "Scale managed platform, starting price", "unit": "month", "usd": 499, "note": "plus pay-as-you-go usage with no published unit price, by demo booking" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Karrio, Inc.", "domain": "karrio.io", "domainRegistered": "2022-01-20", "endpointOnVendorDomain": false, "terms": "https://www.karrio.io/terms-of-service", "privacy": "https://www.karrio.io/privacy-policy", "statusPage": "", "changelog": "https://github.com/karrioapi/karrio/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-08", "notes": [ "The Customer Terms and Conditions (last modified 8 April 2025) name Karrio, Inc., a Delaware corporation at 760 Chemin Marie-Le Ber, Verdun, Quebec, Canada, and govern the hosted platform. The self-hosted open-source edition is governed by LGPL-3.0, and `LICENSE_EE` points `ee/` users to the subscription terms at docs.karrio.io/product/resources/terms, an older copy dated 19 April 2022.", "The privacy policy (last modified 8 April 2025) covers karrio.io and associated services and excludes customer data processed on a customer's behalf. No data processing addendum was found.", "The graded surface is an instance on the owner's own host, so the endpoint isn't on the vendor's domain. `api.karrio.io` didn't resolve and `app.karrio.io` returned 503 on 8 October 2026.", "No status page was found. `status.karrio.io` didn't resolve and the site links none.", "www.karrio.io/.well-known/security.txt returns 404. `SECURITY.md` in the repository sends reports to hello@karrio.io.", "The changelog page on www.karrio.io stops at 2024.12.6. `CHANGELOG.md` in the repository is current to 2026.1.32.", "RDAP for karrio.io gives a registration date of 2022-01-20." ], "score": 53 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/karrio.json" }, "answer": "ShipStation API scores 59.3 (C) on agent readiness against Karrio's 48.7 (D), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Karrio leads on reliability and security \u0026 auth.", "b": { "slug": "shipstation", "name": "ShipStation API", "vendor": "Auctane LLC d/b/a ShipStation", "vendorUrl": "https://www.shipstation.com", "kind": "http-api", "category": "shipping", "summary": "Multi-carrier shipping API from ShipStation, an Auctane brand. API v2 at api.shipstation.com/v2 quotes rates, buys and voids labels, validates addresses, tracks parcels and creates return labels, with batches, manifests, pickups and inventory.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/shipstation", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/shipstation.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/shipstation.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/shipstation.json", "repo": "https://github.com/ShipEngine/shipengine-openapi", "license": "Proprietary service under ShipStation's terms of service. The v2 OpenAPI file is marked MIT and the SDKs on GitHub are Apache 2.0", "transports": [ "http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://api.shipstation.com/v2", "packages": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "shipengine" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "shipengine" } ], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "Self-serve API key sent in an `API-Key` header, with no partner or sales approval. Two routes lead to a v2 key. A ShipStation API account (formerly ShipEngine) gets production keys and `TEST_` sandbox keys from api-portal.shipstation.com on every plan, Free included. A ShipStation platform account needs the Standard or Premium plan and generates one v2 key at a time in API Settings, shown once. The docs say the key gives full access to the account. No OAuth, scopes or read-only keys were found.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "ShipStation API (formerly ShipEngine) has a Free plan at $0 with a sandbox and, by the pricing page, no card. Advanced is $75 a month for 1,000 labels ($0.075 a label over), $325 for 5,000 ($0.065) or $600 for 10,000 ($0.060), and Enterprise is by quote from 25,000 shipments a month. On the ShipStation platform the API comes with Standard (from $29.99 a month for 50 shipments) and Premium (from $349.99), after a 30-day trial with no card, and has no sandbox. Postage is charged separately at carrier rates (checked 2026-10-07).", "priceSummary": "$75 / mo", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the v2 docs, the OpenAPI spec or the pricing pages (checked 2026-10-07).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": 6835, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-07" }, "docsUrl": "https://docs.shipstation.com/api-overview", "llmsTxt": "https://docs.shipstation.com/llms.txt", "openapi": "https://docs.shipstation.com/_bundle/apis/@shipstation-v2/openapi.yaml", "capabilities": [ "shipping.rates", "shipping.labels", "shipping.tracking", "shipping.address-validation", "shipping.returns" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "freemium", "free-tier", "sandbox", "api-key", "openapi", "llms-txt", "webhooks", "python", "javascript", "dotnet", "status-page" ], "lastRelease": "2026-10-01", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 59.3, "grade": "C", "agentReady": false, "rank": 433, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 722, "categoryRank": 5, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 64, "maintenance": 73, "payments": 40, "reliability": 64, "schema": 83, "security": 32, "transparency": 64 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-07" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "A public OpenAPI 3.1 contract with 173 operations, Markdown docs for agents and a free ShipStation API plan with a sandbox make a first rate quote or test label reachable without a contract. One API key carries full account access, with no scopes, read-only mode or idempotency keys on label purchases.", "bestFor": "An agent working inside a merchant's existing ShipStation account (orders, batches, inventory, labels), or a developer who wants a free sandbox through the ShipStation API plans.", "strengths": [ "Public OpenAPI 3.1 spec for v2 with 173 operations and 372 schemas, plus llms.txt and a Markdown copy of every docs page", "ShipStation API Free plan at $0 with no card stated, and a sandbox on every ShipStation API plan through `TEST_` keys", "200 requests a minute by default, with `Retry-After` on 429 responses", "Errors carry `error_source`, `error_type`, `error_code` and a `request_id`, and separate carrier faults from ShipStation's own", "Release notes show new v2 endpoints in every month from June to October 2026" ], "weaknesses": [ "One API key with full account access. No scopes, read-only keys or approval step before a label is bought", "No idempotency key on label purchase, so a retry after a timeout can buy a second label", "ShipStation platform accounts have no sandbox, and API access needs the Standard plan (from $29.99 a month) or Premium", "The official SDKs call api.shipengine.com/v1, and the JavaScript SDK was last tagged on 31 January 2024", "No security.txt, certification, disclosure policy, DPA or named subprocessor list found on the pages we read" ], "agentNotes": [ "Send the key in an `API-Key` header to https://api.shipstation.com/v2. A key that starts `TEST_` runs in the sandbox on the same host", "Call GET /v2/carriers first. Rate and label calls need `carrier_ids` or a `carrier_id` and a `service_code` from that account", "Don't blindly retry POST /v2/labels after a timeout. List labels first, then void a duplicate with PUT /v2/labels/{label_id}/void", "Check the `errors` array on 2XX responses too, and read `error_source` to tell a carrier fault from a ShipStation one", "On a platform (Standard or Premium) key every label is real and charged. Ask the owner before buying, and void test labels at once" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "C", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 59.3 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 64, "maintenance": 73, "payments": 40, "reliability": 64, "schema": 83, "security": 32, "transparency": 42 }, "provenanceScore": 85 }, "connect": { "http": "curl -iX GET https://api.shipstation.com/v2/carriers \\\n-H 'API-Key: __YOUR_API_KEY_HERE__'", "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http shipstation-api https://docs.shipstation.com/mcp" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/shipping.rates", "tool": "https://letme.dev/shipstation" }, "area": "business", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "ShipStation API Free", "unit": "month", "usd": 0, "note": "sandbox included, postage extra" }, { "item": "ShipStation API Advanced, 1,000 labels", "unit": "month", "usd": 75, "note": "$325 for 5,000 labels, $600 for 10,000" }, { "item": "Label over the Advanced 1,000 allowance", "unit": "tx", "usd": 0.075, "note": "$0.065 on the 5,000 tier, $0.060 on the 10,000 tier" }, { "item": "ShipStation platform Standard, 50 shipments", "unit": "month", "usd": 29.99, "note": "lowest platform plan with API access" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Auctane LLC d/b/a ShipStation", "domain": "shipstation.com", "domainRegistered": "2005-04-14", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://www.shipstation.com/terms-of-service/", "privacy": "https://www.shipstationglobal.com/legal/privacy-policy/", "statusPage": "https://status.shipstation.com", "changelog": "https://docs.shipstation.com/apis/release-notes", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-07", "notes": [ "The terms of service, effective 16 July 2026, name Auctane LLC d/b/a ShipStation and its affiliates, with Auctane, Inc. as parent.", "www.shipstation.com/privacy-policy/ redirects through auctane.com to www.shipstationglobal.com/legal/privacy-policy/, Auctane, Inc.'s policy for ShipStation, ShipEngine, Stamps.com and its other brands, effective 18 March 2026.", "/.well-known/security.txt returns 404 on www.shipstation.com, api.shipstation.com, docs.shipstation.com and www.shipstationglobal.com.", "The v2 API answers at api.shipstation.com. Webhook signing keys and the older v1 endpoints sit on api.shipengine.com, and the docs link a dashboard at dashboard.shipengine.com.", "RDAP for shipstation.com gives a registration date of 2005-04-14." ], "score": 85 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/shipstation.json", "live": { "slug": "shipstation", "probe": { "target": "https://api.shipstation.com/v2", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-08T21:12:21.464303917Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 404, "lastMs": 322, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 342, "p95ms24h": 390, "samples24h": 64, "samples30d": 64, "days": [ { "date": "2026-10-08", "probes": 64, "ok": 64 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.shipstation.com", "indicator": "none", "summary": "All Systems Operational", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T21:06:25.774611149Z" }, "versions": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "shipengine", "version": "1.0.7", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:29:10.143981506Z" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "shipengine", "version": "2.1.1", "released": "2026-05-06", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:29:10.99861941Z" } ], "githubStars": 29, "npmWeekly": 6835, "pypiWeekly": 3230, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://shipstation.com/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "none", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T15:38:39.702773194Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://docs.shipstation.com/apis/release-notes", "kind": "changelog", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:19:24.519853433Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "0c732bd7a0dc" }, { "url": "https://www.shipstationglobal.com/legal/privacy-policy/", "kind": "privacy", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:30:24.90838573Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "6fef845000ca" }, { "url": "https://www.shipstation.com/terms-of-service/", "kind": "terms", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:30:23.462749118Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "d03451a2fa29" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T21:12:21.464303917Z" } }, "facts": [ { "a": "HTTP API", "b": "HTTP API", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "Karrio, Inc.", "b": "Auctane LLC d/b/a ShipStation", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "no (local only)", "b": "https://api.shipstation.com/v2", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "HTTP", "b": "HTTP", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "API key", "b": "API key", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Freemium", "b": "Freemium", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "LGPL-3.0 for the server, SDK and modules. Code under `ee/` is under the Karrio Enterprise licence and needs a subscription for production use. The MCP package in `packages/mcp` is Apache-2.0", "b": "Proprietary service under ShipStation's terms of service. The v2 OpenAPI file is marked MIT and the SDKs on GitHub are Apache 2.0", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "no", "b": "yes", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "2026-06-23", "b": "2026-10-01", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "2025-04-08", "b": "no date given", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "2025-04-08", "b": "2026-03-18", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Customer content may train models" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms or service can change without notice" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "yes", "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver" }, { "a": "799 stars, 338 PyPI/wk", "b": "6.8k npm/wk", "name": "Popularity" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "ShipStation API scores 59.3 (C) on agent readiness against Karrio's 48.7 (D), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Karrio leads on reliability and security \u0026 auth.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Karrio or ShipStation API?" }, { "answer": "Both need an API key.", "question": "Do Karrio and ShipStation API need an API key?" }, { "answer": "No hosted endpoint is listed for Karrio. ShipStation API has a hosted endpoint at https://api.shipstation.com/v2.", "question": "Can an agent call Karrio and ShipStation API without installing anything?" }, { "answer": "Karrio is open source (LGPL-3.0 for the server, SDK and modules. Code under `ee/` is under the Karrio Enterprise licence and needs a subscription for production use. The MCP package in `packages/mcp` is Apache-2.0). No open-source release is listed for ShipStation API.", "question": "Are Karrio and ShipStation API open source?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": [ "Reliability, 76 against 64", "Security \u0026 auth, 44 against 32" ], "also": [ "Open source" ], "goodFor": "A team that wants to host its own multi-carrier API with its own carrier contracts and can maintain a Django and PostgreSQL stack.", "slug": "karrio", "watchFor": "No release since 2026.1.32 on 23 June 2026, 107 days before this check, and fix pull requests opened in September 2026 were still open" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Schema \u0026 documentation, 83 against 68", "Agent ergonomics, 64 against 57", "Maintenance \u0026 community, 73 against 29", "Transparency \u0026 trust, 64 against 56" ], "also": [ "A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install", "No incidents deducted, where Karrio loses 7 points for them" ], "goodFor": "An agent working inside a merchant's existing ShipStation account (orders, batches, inventory, labels), or a developer who wants a free sandbox through the ShipStation API plans.", "slug": "shipstation", "watchFor": "One API key with full account access. No scopes, read-only keys or approval step before a label is bought" } ], "job": { "capability": "shipping.rates", "name": "Shipping rates" }, "others": [ { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easypost-vs-karrio.json", "title": "EasyPost vs Karrio", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easypost-vs-karrio" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easypost-vs-shipstation.json", "title": "EasyPost vs ShipStation API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easypost-vs-shipstation" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easyship-vs-karrio.json", "title": "Easyship vs Karrio", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easyship-vs-karrio" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easyship-vs-shipstation.json", "title": "Easyship vs ShipStation API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easyship-vs-shipstation" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-sendcloud.json", "title": "Karrio vs Sendcloud", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-sendcloud" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shipbob.json", "title": "Karrio vs ShipBob", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shipbob" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shippo.json", "title": "Karrio vs Shippo", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shippo" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/sendcloud-vs-shipstation.json", "title": "Sendcloud vs ShipStation API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/sendcloud-vs-shipstation" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shipbob-vs-shipstation.json", "title": "ShipBob vs ShipStation API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shipbob-vs-shipstation" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shippo-vs-shipstation.json", "title": "Shippo vs ShipStation API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shippo-vs-shipstation" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-ship24.json", "title": "Karrio vs Ship24", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-ship24" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ship24-vs-shipstation.json", "title": "Ship24 vs ShipStation API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ship24-vs-shipstation" } ], "scores": [ { "by": 12, "edge": "karrio", "karrio": 76, "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "shipstation": 64, "weight": 16 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 15, "edge": "shipstation", "karrio": 68, "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "shipstation": 83, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 7, "edge": "shipstation", "karrio": 57, "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "shipstation": 64, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 12, "edge": "karrio", "karrio": 44, "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "shipstation": 32, "weight": 14 }, { "by": 0, "edge": "", "karrio": 40, "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "shipstation": 40, "weight": 10 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 44, "edge": "shipstation", "karrio": 29, "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "shipstation": 73, "weight": 7 }, { "by": 8, "edge": "shipstation", "karrio": 56, "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "shipstation": 64, "weight": 7 } ], "summary": "ShipStation API scores 59.3 (C) on agent readiness against Karrio's 48.7 (D), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Karrio leads on reliability and security \u0026 auth. Both do shipping rates.", "verdicts": { "karrio": "A current OpenAPI 3.0.3 contract with 65 paths, a free LGPL-3.0 server and 30 carrier connectors suit a team that hosts it. The last release was 23 June 2026, the `@karrio/mcp` package the docs install is absent from npm, and `api.karrio.io` didn't resolve on 8 October 2026.", "shipstation": "A public OpenAPI 3.1 contract with 173 operations, Markdown docs for agents and a free ShipStation API plan with a sandbox make a first rate quote or test label reachable without a contract. One API key carries full account access, with no scopes, read-only mode or idempotency keys on label purchases." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shipstation", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shipstation.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shipstation.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shipstation.min.md" }, "markdown": "ShipStation API scores 59.3 (C) on agent readiness against Karrio's 48.7 (D), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Karrio leads on reliability and security \u0026 auth. Both do shipping rates.\n\n- Karrio: grade D, 48.7/100, rank #617 of 722. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/karrio.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/karrio.json\n- ShipStation API: grade C, 59.3/100, rank #433 of 722. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/shipstation.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/shipstation.json\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### Karrio (D)\n\nGood for: A team that wants to host its own multi-carrier API with its own carrier contracts and can maintain a Django and PostgreSQL stack.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 76 against 64\n- Security \u0026 auth, 44 against 32\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- Open source\n\nWatch for: No release since 2026.1.32 on 23 June 2026, 107 days before this check, and fix pull requests opened in September 2026 were still open\n\n### ShipStation API (C)\n\nGood for: An agent working inside a merchant's existing ShipStation account (orders, batches, inventory, labels), or a developer who wants a free sandbox through the ShipStation API plans.\n\nAhead on:\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 83 against 68\n- Agent ergonomics, 64 against 57\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 73 against 29\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 64 against 56\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install\n- No incidents deducted, where Karrio loses 7 points for them\n\nWatch for: One API key with full account access. No scopes, read-only keys or approval step before a label is bought\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Karrio | ShipStation API | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 76 | 64 | Karrio +12 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 68 | 83 | ShipStation API +15 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 57 | 64 | ShipStation API +7 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 44 | 32 | Karrio +12 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 40 | 40 | even |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 29 | 73 | ShipStation API +44 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 56 | 64 | ShipStation API +8 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | -7 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **48.7 · D** | **59.3 · C** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Karrio | ShipStation API |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |\n| Vendor | Karrio, Inc. | Auctane LLC d/b/a ShipStation |\n| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | `https://api.shipstation.com/v2` |\n| Transports | HTTP | HTTP |\n| Auth | API key | API key |\n| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | LGPL-3.0 for the server, SDK and modules. Code under `ee/` is under the Karrio Enterprise licence and needs a subscription for production use. The MCP package in `packages/mcp` is Apache-2.0 | Proprietary service under ShipStation's terms of service. The v2 OpenAPI file is marked MIT and the SDKs on GitHub are Apache 2.0 |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | no | yes |\n| Last release | 2026-06-23 | 2026-10-01 |\n| Terms last updated | 2025-04-08 | no date given |\n| Privacy policy last updated | 2025-04-08 | 2026-03-18 |\n| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict automated access | not found in the text | yes |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | yes | not found in the text |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text | yes |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not found in the text | yes |\n| Popularity | 799 stars, 338 PyPI/wk | 6.8k npm/wk |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Karrio.** A current OpenAPI 3.0.3 contract with 65 paths, a free LGPL-3.0 server and 30 carrier connectors suit a team that hosts it. The last release was 23 June 2026, the `@karrio/mcp` package the docs install is absent from npm, and `api.karrio.io` didn't resolve on 8 October 2026.\n\n**ShipStation API.** A public OpenAPI 3.1 contract with 173 operations, Markdown docs for agents and a free ShipStation API plan with a sandbox make a first rate quote or test label reachable without a contract. One API key carries full account access, with no scopes, read-only mode or idempotency keys on label purchases.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Karrio\n\n1. Run your own instance with Docker Compose and call it at `http://localhost:5002`. Don't rely on `api.karrio.io`, which didn't resolve on 8 October 2026\n2. Don't run `npx karrio-mcp` or `npx -y @karrio/mcp`. Neither name is published on npm, so build the server from `packages/mcp` in the repository\n3. Change the default `admin@example.com` and `demo` login before the instance is reachable, and upgrade to 2026.1.32 or later so passwords aren't stored as MD5\n4. Don't blind-retry `POST /v1/shipments` with a `service` set or `POST /v1/shipments/{id}/purchase`. Fetch the shipment and check its status first, since no idempotency key exists\n5. Use a test-mode API key while building. Send it as the HTTP Basic username or as `Authorization: Token key_...`\n\n### ShipStation API\n\n1. Send the key in an `API-Key` header to https://api.shipstation.com/v2. A key that starts `TEST_` runs in the sandbox on the same host\n2. Call GET /v2/carriers first. Rate and label calls need `carrier_ids` or a `carrier_id` and a `service_code` from that account\n3. Don't blindly retry POST /v2/labels after a timeout. List labels first, then void a duplicate with PUT /v2/labels/{label_id}/void\n4. Check the `errors` array on 2XX responses too, and read `error_source` to tell a carrier fault from a ShipStation one\n5. On a platform (Standard or Premium) key every label is real and charged. Ask the owner before buying, and void test labels at once\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Karrio or ShipStation API?\n\nShipStation API scores 59.3 (C) on agent readiness against Karrio's 48.7 (D), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Karrio leads on reliability and security \u0026 auth.\n\n### Do Karrio and ShipStation API need an API key?\n\nBoth need an API key.\n\n### Can an agent call Karrio and ShipStation API without installing anything?\n\nNo hosted endpoint is listed for Karrio. ShipStation API has a hosted endpoint at https://api.shipstation.com/v2.\n\n### Are Karrio and ShipStation API open source?\n\nKarrio is open source (LGPL-3.0 for the server, SDK and modules. Code under `ee/` is under the Karrio Enterprise licence and needs a subscription for production use. The MCP package in `packages/mcp` is Apache-2.0). No open-source release is listed for ShipStation API.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shipstation.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shipstation.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"karrio\", \"b\": \"shipstation\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare karrio shipstation`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/karrio.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/shipstation.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Karrio or ShipStation API\n\n- [EasyPost vs Karrio](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easypost-vs-karrio.md)\n- [EasyPost vs ShipStation API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easypost-vs-shipstation.md)\n- [Easyship vs Karrio](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easyship-vs-karrio.md)\n- [Easyship vs ShipStation API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easyship-vs-shipstation.md)\n- [Karrio vs Sendcloud](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-sendcloud.md)\n- [Karrio vs ShipBob](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shipbob.md)\n- [Karrio vs Shippo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shippo.md)\n- [Sendcloud vs ShipStation API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/sendcloud-vs-shipstation.md)\n- [ShipBob vs ShipStation API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shipbob-vs-shipstation.md)\n- [Shippo vs ShipStation API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shippo-vs-shipstation.md)\n- [Karrio vs Ship24](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-ship24.md)\n- [Ship24 vs ShipStation API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/ship24-vs-shipstation.md)\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-10-08", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.4", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Compare", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/" }, { "name": "Karrio vs ShipStation API", "url": "" } ], "description": "ShipStation API scores 59.3 (C) on agent readiness against Karrio's 48.7 (D), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Karrio leads on reliability and security \u0026 auth. Both do shipping rates. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "Karrio D 48.7", "ShipStation API C 59.3", "scores" ], "h1": "Karrio vs ShipStation API", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-karrio-vs-shipstation.png", "path": "/compare/karrio-vs-shipstation", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "Karrio vs ShipStation API for AI agents, D 48.7 vs C 59.3", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-08", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/karrio-vs-shipstation" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 2250, "slim": 730 }, "version": 1 }