agentlist

x402Coinbase · agent-servicesvsAgent Payments ProtocolGoogle · agent-services

The two open answers to 'how does an agent pay?' x402 (Coinbase) revives HTTP 402 for instant stablecoin settlement on Base; AP2 (Google) defines signed mandates that prove authorization over existing card and payment rails.

agentlist.io · spec diff · verified 2026-09-25 — list prices only, not benchmarks

SEC.01

Spec diff

x402Agent Payments Protocol
vendorCoinbaseGoogle
categoryagent-servicesagent-services
interfacesapiapi
hostinglocal · cloudlocal · cloud
pricingOpen protocol (free); settlement on-chainOpen protocol (free)
statusactively maintainedactively maintained
also known asHTTP 402, x402 ProtocolAP2, Google AP2
SEC.02

Pick which

pick x402 if

You want working machine-payable endpoints today — USDC on Base, no card network in the middle, minimal ceremony.

pick Agent Payments Protocol if

You need card-network compatibility and explicit user authorization — signed mandates that merchants and issuers already understand.

watch out

They're converging rather than competing — x402-style rails and mandate-signed card payments will coexist; don't hard-code one settlement layer.

SEC.03

Feature notes

  • x402
  • 01HTTP 402 status as payment handshake
  • 02USDC settlement on Base
  • 03Client and facilitator SDKs
  • 04Middleware for paid endpoints
  • 05Open spec with Coinbase backing
  • Agent Payments Protocol
  • 01Signed intent/cart mandates
  • 02Card-network and payment-rail compatible
  • 03Verifiable credential chain
  • 04Crypto extension via x402 ecosystem
  • 05Open protocol
FAQ

Frequently asked

x402 or Agent Payments Protocol — which should I pick?

The two open answers to 'how does an agent pay?' x402 (Coinbase) revives HTTP 402 for instant stablecoin settlement on Base; AP2 (Google) defines signed mandates that prove authorization over existing card and payment rails. Pick x402 if: You want working machine-payable endpoints today — USDC on Base, no card network in the middle, minimal ceremony. Pick Agent Payments Protocol if: You need card-network compatibility and explicit user authorization — signed mandates that merchants and issuers already understand.

Is x402 or Agent Payments Protocol cheaper?

x402: Open protocol (free); settlement on-chain. Agent Payments Protocol: Open protocol (free). List prices as of 2026-09-25; usage pools and seat terms change the real cost.

Does x402 or Agent Payments Protocol run locally?

x402 hosting: local, cloud. Agent Payments Protocol hosting: local, cloud. Interfaces differ too: x402 exposes api, Agent Payments Protocol exposes api.

Are x402 and Agent Payments Protocol still maintained?

x402: actively maintained. Agent Payments Protocol: actively maintained. Statuses are re-verified each catalog refresh (2026-09-25); see the changelog for the full history.

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