{ "data": { "a": { "slug": "sendcloud", "name": "Sendcloud", "vendor": "Sendcloud B.V.", "vendorUrl": "https://www.sendcloud.com", "kind": "http-api", "category": "shipping", "summary": "Shipping platform for European online shops from Sendcloud B.V. in Eindhoven. Its API v3 and hosted MCP server quote carrier rates, create labels, validate addresses, track parcels and handle returns across the carriers an account has enabled.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/sendcloud", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/sendcloud.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/sendcloud.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/sendcloud.json", "license": "Proprietary service under Sendcloud's terms and conditions", "transports": [ "http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://mcp.sendcloud.com/mcp", "packages": [], "auth": "mixed", "authNotes": "Self-serve. A person signs up at account.sendcloud.com, adds an invoice and sender address, then creates a Sendcloud API integration in the panel, which issues a public and secret key pair. The pair works as HTTP Basic or is exchanged at https://account.sendcloud.com/oauth2/token for a one-hour Bearer token (client credentials, scope `api`). The MCP server uses an OAuth 2.0 sign-in at account.sendcloud.com, found through RFC 9728 metadata, with the same single scope. No partner or sales approval is needed for API v3.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "Free plan at €0 for up to 20 parcels a month at Sendcloud's carrier rates, and a 14-day trial of paid plans with no card per the pricing page. Lite is €28 a month plus €0.10 a label, Growth €87 plus €0.09, Premium €175 plus €0.08, Pro €639 plus €0.07, Enterprise on request, with 20 per cent off for yearly billing. Carrier postage is extra. There is no sandbox, but 50 Unstamped letter test labels are free. The pricing table has an API access row whose per-plan marks we couldn't read (https://www.sendcloud.com/pricing/).", "priceSummary": "$31.30 / mo", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "no", "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the developer docs, the OpenAPI specs or the pricing page (checked 2026-10-07).", "endpoints": [] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-10-07" }, "docsUrl": "https://sendcloud.dev", "llmsTxt": "https://sendcloud.dev/llms.txt", "openapi": "https://sendcloud.dev/.openapi/v3/shipments/openapi.yaml", "capabilities": [ "shipping.rates", "shipping.labels", "shipping.tracking", "shipping.address-validation", "shipping.returns" ], "tags": [ "hosted", "freemium", "free-tier", "mcp", "oauth", "api-key", "openapi", "llms-txt", "webhooks", "status-page", "europe", "iso27001" ], "lastRelease": "2026-10-05", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 62, "grade": "B", "agentReady": false, "rank": 314, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 629, "categoryRank": 2, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 71, "maintenance": 67, "payments": 37, "reliability": 68, "schema": 89, "security": 49, "transparency": 72 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-07" }, "negative": -3, "negativeNotes": [ "21 and 25 September 2026. The API v3 changelog records `insurance.currency` and `insurance.value` removed from POST /parcels/tracking, and `status_code`, `status_description` and `sub_status_code` removed from tracking event responses, with no earlier deprecation entry for those fields. The changes are documented on the day, so the deduction is the minimum (https://sendcloud.dev/api/v3/changelog.md)" ], "verdict": "API v3 has 29 public OpenAPI 3.1 specs, an llms.txt index, a dated changelog and a hosted MCP server with toolset filtering. OAuth has one scope, `api`, so a credential can't be limited to reading. The changelog records response fields removed from tracking events on 25 September 2026 with no earlier deprecation entry.", "bestFor": "An agent shipping parcels for a European shop that wants many carriers behind one account, including its own carrier contracts on paid plans.", "strengths": [ "29 public OpenAPI 3.1 specs covering 104 API v3 operations, with an llms.txt index and Markdown copies of every docs page", "Hosted MCP server at mcp.sendcloud.com/mcp with 24 toolsets, a `?toolsets=` filter and read-only, idempotent and destructive annotations per the docs", "A repeated `external_reference_id` on shipment creation returns the existing shipment with a 409 instead of buying a second label", "Free test labels through the `sendcloud:letter` and `sendcloud:letterreturn` shipping options, up to 50 before charges apply", "Dated API v3 changelog with 37 entries between 9 July and 5 October 2026" ], "weaknesses": [ "One OAuth scope, `api`, and key pairs with full account access. No read-only credential was found in the reviewed documentation", "Changelog entries of 21 and 25 September 2026 record removed request and response fields on parcel tracking with no earlier deprecation entry", "No Retry-After header or backoff guidance was found for 429 responses", "No official SDK was found in the reviewed documentation, and the MCP server isn't in the official MCP registry", "No test environment. Labels other than the Unstamped letter options are charged unless the carrier accepts a cancellation" ], "agentNotes": [ "Use API v3 at https://panel.sendcloud.sc/api/v3. The v2 create-parcel endpoint is closed to accounts created from April 2026", "Test with `shipping_option_code` `sendcloud:letter` (returns use `sendcloud:letterreturn`). Any other label is billed unless cancelled within the carrier's deadline", "Set `external_reference_id` on every shipment so a retry returns the existing shipment (409) instead of a second label", "Read the `errors` array on synchronous announce responses. A carrier failure can arrive inside a success status", "Connect MCP with `?toolsets=shipments,shipping-options,parcel-tracking,returns` to keep the tool list short. Create and cancel tools act on the live account" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "B", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 62 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 71, "maintenance": 67, "payments": 37, "reliability": 68, "schema": 89, "security": 49, "transparency": 62 }, "provenanceScore": 81 }, "connect": { "http": "curl -X POST --location \"https://account.sendcloud.com/oauth2/token\" \\\n --header \"Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded\" \\\n -d \"grant_type=client_credentials\u0026scope=api\" \\\n --basic --user your_sendcloud_public_key:your_sendcloud_private_key", "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http sendcloud https://mcp.sendcloud.com/mcp", "config": { "mcpServers": { "sendcloud": { "type": "http", "url": "https://mcp.sendcloud.com/mcp" } } } }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/shipping.rates", "tool": "https://letme.dev/sendcloud" }, "area": "business", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Lite plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 31.3, "note": "€28, 400 labels a month, plus €0.10 a label" }, { "item": "Growth plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 97.24, "note": "€87, 1,000 labels a month, plus €0.09 a label" }, { "item": "Premium plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 195.6, "note": "€175, 10,000 labels a month, plus €0.08 a label" }, { "item": "Pro plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 714.21, "note": "€639, 30,000 labels a month, plus €0.07 a label" }, { "item": "Label fee on Lite", "unit": "tx", "usd": 0.11, "note": "€0.10 a label on top of carrier postage, €0.25 above the monthly limit" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Sendcloud B.V.", "domain": "sendcloud.com", "domainRegistered": "2008-07-29", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://www.sendcloud.com/terms-conditions/", "privacy": "https://www.sendcloud.com/privacy-policy/", "statusPage": "https://status.sendcloud.com", "changelog": "https://sendcloud.dev/api/v3/changelog", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-07", "notes": [ "The terms, last updated 1 September 2026, name Sendcloud B.V., registration 66572959, Stadhuisplein 10, 5611 EM Eindhoven, with Sendcloud GmbH, Ltd., SAS and Srl for Germany and Austria, the UK, France and Italy. Dutch law applies.", "The MCP server answers at mcp.sendcloud.com and tokens come from account.sendcloud.com. The REST API answers at panel.sendcloud.sc, a second Sendcloud domain.", "www.sendcloud.com/.well-known/security.txt and /security.txt return 404. The bug bounty page sends reports to security@sendcloud.com.", "RDAP for sendcloud.com gives a registration date of 2008-07-29.", "Unit prices are converted from euros at the ECB reference rate of 1.1177 for 7 October 2026, read through api.frankfurter.dev." ], "score": 81 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/sendcloud.json", "live": { "slug": "sendcloud", "probe": { "target": "https://mcp.sendcloud.com/mcp", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-08T17:36:45.156031945Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 405, "lastMs": 74, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 84, "p95ms24h": 126, "samples24h": 25, "samples30d": 25, "days": [ { "date": "2026-10-08", "probes": 25, "ok": 25 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.sendcloud.com", "indicator": "none", "summary": "All Systems Operational", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T17:25:42.672960135Z" }, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://sendcloud.com/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "none", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T15:38:40.272539649Z" }, "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T17:36:45.156031945Z" } }, "answer": "Sendcloud scores 62 (B) on agent readiness against ShipStation API's 59.3 (C), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. ShipStation API leads on maintenance \u0026 community.", "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": 382, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 629, "categoryRank": 4, "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": "2026-10-08T17:36:45.330297128Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 404, "lastMs": 349, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 348, "p95ms24h": 390, "samples24h": 25, "samples30d": 25, "days": [ { "date": "2026-10-08", "probes": 25, "ok": 25 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.shipstation.com", "indicator": "none", "summary": "All Systems Operational", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T17:25:43.366024704Z" }, "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" }, "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T17:36:45.330297128Z" } }, "facts": [ { "a": "HTTP API", "b": "HTTP API", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "Sendcloud B.V.", "b": "Auctane LLC d/b/a ShipStation", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "https://mcp.sendcloud.com/mcp", "b": "https://api.shipstation.com/v2", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "HTTP", "b": "HTTP", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "OAuth or key", "b": "API key", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Freemium", "b": "Freemium", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "Proprietary service under Sendcloud's terms and conditions", "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": "yes", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "2026-10-05", "b": "2026-10-01", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "no date given", "b": "no date given", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "no date given", "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": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "yes", "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": "none", "b": "6.8k npm/wk", "name": "Popularity" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "Sendcloud scores 62 (B) on agent readiness against ShipStation API's 59.3 (C), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. ShipStation API leads on maintenance \u0026 community.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Sendcloud or ShipStation API?" }, { "answer": "Sendcloud takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in. ShipStation API needs an API key.", "question": "Do Sendcloud and ShipStation API need an API key?" }, { "answer": "Yes. Sendcloud has a hosted endpoint at https://mcp.sendcloud.com/mcp and ShipStation API at https://api.shipstation.com/v2.", "question": "Can an agent call Sendcloud and ShipStation API without installing anything?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": [ "Schema \u0026 documentation, 89 against 83", "Agent ergonomics, 71 against 64", "Security \u0026 auth, 49 against 32", "Transparency \u0026 trust, 72 against 64" ], "also": null, "goodFor": "An agent shipping parcels for a European shop that wants many carriers behind one account, including its own carrier contracts on paid plans.", "slug": "sendcloud", "watchFor": "One OAuth scope, `api`, and key pairs with full account access. No read-only credential was found in the reviewed documentation" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Maintenance \u0026 community, 73 against 67" ], "also": [ "No incidents deducted, where Sendcloud loses 3 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-sendcloud.json", "title": "EasyPost vs Sendcloud", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easypost-vs-sendcloud" }, { "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-sendcloud.json", "title": "Easyship vs Sendcloud", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easyship-vs-sendcloud" }, { "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/sendcloud-vs-shippo.json", "title": "Sendcloud vs Shippo", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/sendcloud-vs-shippo" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shippo-vs-shipstation.json", "title": "Shippo vs ShipStation API", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shippo-vs-shipstation" } ], "scores": [ { "by": 4, "edge": "sendcloud", "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "sendcloud": 68, "shipstation": 64, "weight": 16 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 6, "edge": "sendcloud", "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "sendcloud": 89, "shipstation": 83, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 7, "edge": "sendcloud", "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "sendcloud": 71, "shipstation": 64, "weight": 13 }, { "by": 17, "edge": "sendcloud", "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "sendcloud": 49, "shipstation": 32, "weight": 14 }, { "by": 3, "edge": "shipstation", "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "sendcloud": 37, "shipstation": 40, "weight": 10 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "by": 6, "edge": "shipstation", "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "sendcloud": 67, "shipstation": 73, "weight": 7 }, { "by": 8, "edge": "sendcloud", "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "sendcloud": 72, "shipstation": 64, "weight": 7 } ], "summary": "Sendcloud scores 62 (B) on agent readiness against ShipStation API's 59.3 (C), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. ShipStation API leads on maintenance \u0026 community. Both do shipping rates.", "verdicts": { "sendcloud": "API v3 has 29 public OpenAPI 3.1 specs, an llms.txt index, a dated changelog and a hosted MCP server with toolset filtering. OAuth has one scope, `api`, so a credential can't be limited to reading. The changelog records response fields removed from tracking events on 25 September 2026 with no earlier deprecation entry.", "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/sendcloud-vs-shipstation", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/sendcloud-vs-shipstation.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/sendcloud-vs-shipstation.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/sendcloud-vs-shipstation.min.md" }, "markdown": "Sendcloud scores 62 (B) on agent readiness against ShipStation API's 59.3 (C), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. ShipStation API leads on maintenance \u0026 community. Both do shipping rates.\n\n- Sendcloud: grade B, 62/100, rank #314 of 629. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/sendcloud.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/sendcloud.json\n- ShipStation API: grade C, 59.3/100, rank #382 of 629. 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### Sendcloud (B)\n\nGood for: An agent shipping parcels for a European shop that wants many carriers behind one account, including its own carrier contracts on paid plans.\n\nAhead on:\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 89 against 83\n- Agent ergonomics, 71 against 64\n- Security \u0026 auth, 49 against 32\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 72 against 64\n\nWatch for: One OAuth scope, `api`, and key pairs with full account access. No read-only credential was found in the reviewed documentation\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- Maintenance \u0026 community, 73 against 67\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- No incidents deducted, where Sendcloud loses 3 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 | Sendcloud | ShipStation API | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 68 | 64 | Sendcloud +4 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 89 | 83 | Sendcloud +6 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 71 | 64 | Sendcloud +7 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 49 | 32 | Sendcloud +17 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 37 | 40 | ShipStation API +3 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 67 | 73 | ShipStation API +6 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 72 | 64 | Sendcloud +8 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | -3 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **62 · B** | **59.3 · C** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Sendcloud | ShipStation API |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |\n| Vendor | Sendcloud B.V. | Auctane LLC d/b/a ShipStation |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://mcp.sendcloud.com/mcp` | `https://api.shipstation.com/v2` |\n| Transports | HTTP | HTTP |\n| Auth | OAuth or key | API key |\n| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | Proprietary service under Sendcloud's terms and conditions | 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 | yes | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | yes |\n| Last release | 2026-10-05 | 2026-10-01 |\n| Terms last updated | no date given | no date given |\n| Privacy policy last updated | no date given | 2026-03-18 |\n| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict automated access | yes | yes |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | yes | not found in the text |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | yes | yes |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not found in the text | yes |\n| Popularity | none | 6.8k npm/wk |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Sendcloud.** API v3 has 29 public OpenAPI 3.1 specs, an llms.txt index, a dated changelog and a hosted MCP server with toolset filtering. OAuth has one scope, `api`, so a credential can't be limited to reading. The changelog records response fields removed from tracking events on 25 September 2026 with no earlier deprecation entry.\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### Sendcloud\n\n1. Use API v3 at https://panel.sendcloud.sc/api/v3. The v2 create-parcel endpoint is closed to accounts created from April 2026\n2. Test with `shipping_option_code` `sendcloud:letter` (returns use `sendcloud:letterreturn`). Any other label is billed unless cancelled within the carrier's deadline\n3. Set `external_reference_id` on every shipment so a retry returns the existing shipment (409) instead of a second label\n4. Read the `errors` array on synchronous announce responses. A carrier failure can arrive inside a success status\n5. Connect MCP with `?toolsets=shipments,shipping-options,parcel-tracking,returns` to keep the tool list short. Create and cancel tools act on the live account\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, Sendcloud or ShipStation API?\n\nSendcloud scores 62 (B) on agent readiness against ShipStation API's 59.3 (C), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. ShipStation API leads on maintenance \u0026 community.\n\n### Do Sendcloud and ShipStation API need an API key?\n\nSendcloud takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in. ShipStation API needs an API key.\n\n### Can an agent call Sendcloud and ShipStation API without installing anything?\n\nYes. Sendcloud has a hosted endpoint at https://mcp.sendcloud.com/mcp and ShipStation API at https://api.shipstation.com/v2.\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/sendcloud-vs-shipstation.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/sendcloud-vs-shipstation.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"sendcloud\", \"b\": \"shipstation\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare sendcloud shipstation`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/sendcloud.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/shipstation.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Sendcloud or ShipStation API\n\n- [EasyPost vs Sendcloud](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easypost-vs-sendcloud.md)\n- [EasyPost vs ShipStation API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easypost-vs-shipstation.md)\n- [Easyship vs Sendcloud](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easyship-vs-sendcloud.md)\n- [Easyship vs ShipStation API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/easyship-vs-shipstation.md)\n- [Sendcloud vs Shippo](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/sendcloud-vs-shippo.md)\n- [Shippo vs ShipStation API](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/shippo-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": "Sendcloud vs ShipStation API", "url": "" } ], "description": "Sendcloud scores 62 (B) on agent readiness against ShipStation API's 59.3 (C), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. ShipStation API leads on maintenance \u0026 community. Both do shipping rates. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "Sendcloud B 62", "ShipStation API C 59.3", "scores" ], "h1": "Sendcloud vs ShipStation API", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-sendcloud-vs-shipstation.png", "path": "/compare/sendcloud-vs-shipstation", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "Sendcloud vs ShipStation API for AI agents, B 62 vs C 59.3", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-08", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/sendcloud-vs-shipstation" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 2000, "slim": 680 }, "version": 1 }