# Agent Payments Protocol [09 agent-services](https://www.agentlist.io/categories/agent-services)/[Google](https://www.agentlist.io/ai/google)/ACTIVE/aka AP2, Google AP2 Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) is Google's open spec for agent-initiated payments — signed mandates that prove a user authorized a purchase, riding existing card networks and payment rails instead of inventing new ones. - [Agent payments](https://www.agentlist.io/capabilities/payments) - [Agent-to-agent protocol](https://www.agentlist.io/capabilities/a2a) - [API-native](https://www.agentlist.io/capabilities/api-native) SEC.01 ## What it does - 01Signed intent/cart mandates - 02Card-network and payment-rail compatible - 03Verifiable credential chain - 04Crypto extension via x402 ecosystem - 05Open protocol SEC.02 ## Who it's for Merchants and platforms that need provable user authorization for agent purchases on the rails they already use. PRICING ## Pricing Open protocol (free). List prices as checked against the vendor's pricing page on 2026-09-25; plans change often, so confirm before deciding. caveat · before you adopt A spec, not a service — implementing means integrating with participating rails; still pre-ubiquity. ALT ## Other agent services (14) [AgentMail AgentMail · agent-services api · cloud · Free tier; usage-based (verify)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/agentmail) [x402 Coinbase · agent-services api · local/cloud · Open protocol (free); settlement on-chain](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/x402) [Skyfire Skyfire · agent-services api · cloud · Usage-based (verify)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/skyfire) [Payman Payman · agent-services api · cloud · Usage-based (verify)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/payman) [Nevermined Nevermined · agent-services api · cloud · Usage-based (verify)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/nevermined) [AgentCard AgentCard · agent-services api/cli · cloud · Per-card funding; no subscription](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/agentcard) [Keycard Keycard · agent-services api · cloud · Usage-based (verify)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/keycard) [Arcade Arcade · agent-services api · cloud · Free tier; usage-based (verify)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/arcade) [Scalekit Scalekit · agent-services api · cloud · Free tier; usage-based (verify)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/scalekit) [Composio Composio · agent-services api · local/cloud · Free tier; usage-based (verify)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/composio) [E2B E2B · agent-services api · cloud · Free tier; usage-based](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/e2b) [Browserbase Browserbase · agent-services api · cloud · Free tier; usage-based (verify)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/browserbase) [Exa Exa · agent-services api · cloud · Free tier; per-request pricing](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/exa) [Mem0 Mem0 · agent-services api · local/cloud · Free OSS; cloud tiers (verify)](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/mem0) VENDOR ## More from Google [Gemini Code Assist Google · ide-extension caution editor · cloud · Standard $19–22.80/user/mo; Enterprise $45–54; free individual tier ended Jun 2026](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/gemini-code-assist) [Jules Google · cloud-agent api · cloud · Free tier; higher limits in Google AI Pro / Ultra](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/jules) [Google Antigravity Google · ai-ide editor/cli · local/cloud · Individual free; higher quota via Google AI Pro $19.99 / Ultra $99.99–$199.99](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/antigravity) [Gemini CLI Google · cli-agent caution cli · local · Consumer/free tiers ended Jun 18, 2026; API key or Code Assist Standard/Enterprise only](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/gemini-cli) [Gemini Deep Research Google · research-agent chat/api · cloud · Included in Google AI Pro/Ultra](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/gemini-deep-research) VS ## Head-to-head (1) - [→Agent Payments Protocol vs x402](https://www.agentlist.io/compare/x402-vs-ap2) FAQ ## Frequently asked ### What is Agent Payments Protocol? Agent Payments Protocol (AP2) is Google's open spec for agent-initiated payments — signed mandates that prove a user authorized a purchase, riding existing card networks and payment rails instead of inventing new ones. ### Who is Agent Payments Protocol for? Merchants and platforms that need provable user authorization for agent purchases on the rails they already use. ### How much does Agent Payments Protocol cost? Open protocol (free). List prices as checked against the vendor's pricing page on 2026-09-25; plans change often, so confirm before deciding. ### Does Agent Payments Protocol run locally or in the cloud? Agent Payments Protocol runs locally on your machine and in the vendor's cloud. Its interfaces are an API or protocol. ### What are alternatives to Agent Payments Protocol? Other agent service entries in the catalog: AgentMail, x402, Skyfire, Payman, Nevermined, AgentCard, Keycard, Arcade, Scalekit, Composio, E2B, Browserbase, Exa, Mem0. Different categories solve the same problem differently — see the Agent services category page for tradeoffs. ### What should I know before adopting Agent Payments Protocol? A spec, not a service — implementing means integrating with participating rails; still pre-ubiquity. Spec sheet **Name**: Agent Payments Protocol **Vendor**: [Google](https://www.agentlist.io/ai/google) **Category**: [Agent services](https://www.agentlist.io/categories/agent-services) **Interfaces**: api **Hosting**: local · cloud **Pricing**: Open protocol (free) **Status**: actively maintained **Speaks**: - [A2A (Agent2Agent)](https://www.agentlist.io/transports/a2a) **Aliases**: AP2, Google AP2 **Record ID**: `sys://google/ap2` **Verified**: [2026-09-25](https://www.agentlist.io/changelog) Sources - [↗ ai.google](https://ai.google/) - [↗ github.com/google-agentic-commerce/AP2](https://github.com/google-agentic-commerce/AP2) Catalog entries are editorial records, not paid placements or endorsements. Pricing and status are approximate as of the seed date. --- Source: [Agent Payments Protocol — AGENT-SVC by Google | agentlist.io](https://www.agentlist.io/systems/ap2). This is the public page rendered as Markdown; interactive controls require the website.