Building an e-commerce website can be a complex task, but a robust and well-design eCommerce API can simplify and accelerate the process significantly.

The outcome is a better experience for both the firm as well as its customers.  However, the rapid growth of API economy, which is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 25.9%, reaching a record figure of 34.17 Billion by the end of 2032 has made several giants and fintech corporations jump into this market, making it highly saturated.

With so many eCommerce APIs available in the market it can often become overwhelming to select the solution the best fits the needs of your business.

Don’t Worry!

Our team of web developers in Dubai have curated a list of the top 15 best eCommerce APIs, which might be the perfect fit for your business.

But, before we dive deep into exploring the best eCommerce APIs, it is crucial to first understand what eCommerce APIs are and how they work.

Top eCommerce APIs for Developers by Category

eCommerce APIs can be categorised into distinct categories based on their functionalities. The table below highlights the top eCommerce APIs that have been tried and tested by our developers.

What are eCommerce APIs?

An eCommerce API is a set of rules that allows different software applications to communicate or share information with each other in the context of online shopping. Just like a translator who helps people speaking different languages to communicate, an API helps different software systems work together in your website.

From Shopify APIs to build your store to PayPal to streamline payments, these APIs are a backbone of smooth, present day eCommerce experience.

How Do eCommerce APIs Work?

eCommerce APIs facilitates communication between two distinction software applications, enabling seamless exchange of data between each other. In the domain of e-commerce, APIs might allow an online store to connect with other software application like the inventory management systems, payment gateways, and logistic service providers.

Different Types of eCommerce APIs

eCommerce APIs generally fall in to following main types:

Platform APIs

These APIs are crucial for developers, giving them tools to build online stores. By integrating with various eCommerce platforms, they provide key functions like product management, customer accounts handling and order processing etc. Shopify’s APIs are an example of this. WooCommerce is also very popular.

Payment APIs

These are critical for eCommerce API Integration, payment APIs connect your e-commerce store with various payment processors like PayPal, Stripe and Square. Stripe’s API processes billions of dollars annually over 120 countries, offering ease of integration and robust security features.

Inventory APIs

Role of Inventory APIs is to help businesses to keep track of their stock levels in real-time. Inventory APIs like TradeGecko (now QuickBooks Commerce) ensure that stock levels are accurately reflected across all sales channels, helping to prevent overselling and stockout. Inventory APIs integrate seamlessly with various eCommerce platforms.

Marketplace APIs

Marketplace APIs do the vital services for those selling on multiple platforms like Amazon and eBay. Amazon MWS (Marketplace Web Service) API helps you manage and update your listings and orders, and sync your inventory between your site and the marketplace.

Marketing APIs

Marketing APIs help businesses to launch, manage and monitor their marketing campaigns from their own website. MailChimp API, for example, allows eCommerce businesses to automate their email marketing endeavors, segment their customers and track campaign performance.

Why have eCommerce APIs become a necessity?

The charm of eCommerce APIs lies in their ability to automate complex tasks for businesses and developers: they don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time they are building an eCommerce website or adding new features in it. Here is a brief look on why eCommerce APIs have become a principal need.

Time and Cost Efficiency

Time is money. APIs save time and cost for businesses by not letting them start from the scratch every time they have to add some functionality. According to a 2023 study by RapidAPI, companies using APIs reported a significant reduction in their development time. This time reduction quickly translates to cost reduction.

Case Study: A McKinsey article, “APIs: The secret ingredient for one company’s massive tech leap”, published in October 2020, cites a case-study about Emirates NBD, a leading UAE bank. This bank managed to significantly reduce (up to 30%) their operational cost by automating their tasks with APIs as the cornerstone of their transformation drive.

Better Customer Experience

In the online sale and purchase realm, good customer experience is a must. According to a study conducted by National Retail Federation (NRF) in 2020, inconvenience is a major factor leading to cart abandonment. Payment APIs like PayPal and Stripe simplify the checkout process and thus contribute to reducing abandoned cart rates.

Scalability

As your business grows, APIs can grow with you. Shopify is an example here, which has the ability to handle up to 10,000 API requests or transactions per hour. So, APIs let businesses to scale without needing a complete system overhaul.

Improved Data Management

APIs offer precious help in data management. They often give real-time data synchronization across various systems and platforms. NetSuite’s API, for example, combines financial, CRM and eCommerce data, providing businesses a unified view of their operations. Inventory control can also be brought into the mix easily. All this greatly helps businesses to stay up-to-date data-wise, and make informed decisions.

Best eCommerce APIs for Developers

In a nutshell, the best eCommerce API is one that flawlessly fulfils all your operational requirements. However, the design of the eCommerce API is also crucial, because a poorly designed API can further complicate the process rather than streamline it. However, with so many options available, finding the best eCommerce API can often become troublesome. But we have simplified this process for you, by rounding up the 15 best eCommerce APIs for developers.

They are time tested and would do the job for you whether you’re a retail business or an eCommerce website developer. For better understanding we have divided them with respect to five main types, as mentioned before: Platform, Payment, Inventory, Marketplace, and Marketing APIs.

Platform APIs

Shopify

Shopify’s eCommerce APIs could be deemed one of the most secure and robust choices for eCommerce API integration with over 1.75 million active global merchants. Shopify offers both REST and GraphQL in its API, making it highly customizable. Developers can wield its robust toolkit to transform ordinary online stores into exceptional shopping experiences.

Shopify’s APIs include both Admin API and a free Storefront API. They support the ordinary functions like product management, order processing and inventory tracking. Moreover, the free Storefront API allows third-party integrations to enhance functionality. You can subscribe to enjoy additional features.

• Interesting Fact: Shopify handled 967,000 API requests per second during peak-time on Black Friday-Cyber Monday (BFCM) in 2023.
• Verdict: Shopify API is a top choice for businesses looking to create a custom eCommerce experience with ease of use and active community.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is one of the most popular open-source eCommerce platform that helps both developers and merchants build robust and secure eCommerce store. There are a range of eCommerce APIs hosted on WooCommerce’s online platform such as Restful API that helps in connecting eCommerce store with external system and resources. It is designed to transform eCommerce websites into fully functional online stores. Trusted by over 2 million active merchants, WooCommerce offers features like product listing, shopping cart management, payment processing and seamless integration with major eCommerce platforms like Amazon and Shopify.

Based on WordPress, the best thing about WooCommerce is its extensive ecosystem of extensions. This makes it the most useful API for enhancing store functionality and customization.

• Interesting Fact: WooCommerce powers about 30% of all online stores worldwide.
• Verdict: WooCommerce is a cost effective and highly customizable solution for companies looking to build online stores.

Magento

Magento is one of the favorites among renowned Platform APIs. Now owned by Adobe, it is designed with a high traffic environment in mind. Magento’s API supports all essential HTTP methods – GET, POST, PUT and DELETE – using XML and JSON. This means Magento is a highly integrable and versatile eCommerce API.

Best thing we like about Magento API is its high flexibility and customizability. It is best for eCommerce websites looking to enact custom-built experiences.

• Interesting Fact: Magento powers over 250,000 online stores globally.
• Verdict: Magento APIs are best for large-scale and complex eCommerce operations involving multi-store management.

BigCommerce

BigCommerce APIs support smooth and seamless eCommerce API integration. As a platform API, it offers all the essential features like product catalog management, order processing and inventory updation.

One exceptional feature of BigCommerce is Abandoned Cart Recovery. Meaning that you can re-engage with customers who chose merchandise but left without purchasing.

BigCommerce API’s support for both REST and GraphQL makes it suitable for third-party integrations.

• Interesting Fact: BigCommerce is integrable with other big eCommerce platforms like Amazon and eBay.
• Verdict: BigCommerce is great for simplifying the enactment of dynamic stores due to its advanced build.

Payment APIs

PayPal

When it comes to the best eCommerce API debate, PayPal is the name that certainly pops up. Well, it is definitely the most popular one among the Payment APIs.

PayPal wields global trust and reliability because its REST API does far more than processing payments. It handles orders, invoicing, subscriptions and disputes, making it a go-to online payment API solution for small and big businesses. Lastly, its API offers a straightforward mechanism for eCommerce integration.

• Interesting Fact: PayPal has over 400 million active accounts worldwide and processes about 40 million API requests per day.
• Verdict: PayPal API gives a secure and seamless payment integration for companies seeking familiarity and reliability.

Stripe

Stripe is an eCommerce API that has emerged as the market leader in the eCommerce payment API sphere. Stripe offers a suite of APIs that cater to all the needs associated with an all-round payment processor like PayPal, and more. With Stripe you can also make a tailored online payment flow.

What’s more, Stripe offers an impressive array of payment methods from credit/debit cards to digital wallets. It can handle even the local or regional payment methods well. Stripe is best-in-class and gives companies a surefire choice to offer a pleasant payment experience.

• Interesting Fact: Stripe API acts as a facilitator for Amazon Pay and Lyft, processing transactions in billions for them.
• Verdict: Stripe API has its strength in flexibility and scalability. It allows businesses to go for custom payment solutions and handle a wide range of transactions.

Square

Square’s API is distinguished for its dynamic nature. Square lets developers create custom payment solutions with aplomb.

Square has a unique point-of-sale (P.O.S) API which integrates seamlessly with hardware. This enables Square to track sales, manage inventory and engage customers on the go. Other two benefits of Square are secure payment processing and built-in fraud detection.

• Interesting Fact: Square’s card readers are so portable; you can take payments anywhere.
• Verdict: Square’s API is a good on-the-go choice for businesses due to its user-friendly interface and powerful POS capabilities.

Amazon Pay

Amazon also has its API integrations for payment. You can integrate Amazon Pay API directly to your WooCommerce or Shopify store. It is quick and reliable with Amazon’s name tag. Amazon Pay API gives customers that familiarity and reliability associated with the leading eCommerce platform. Amazon Pay offers a wide range of payment options with Amazon’s advanced fraud detection technology.

Best thing about Amazon Pay API is its ability to use Amazon’s vast ecosystem. It brings in real-time sales data, product information and even customer reviews directly from Amazon to your online store.

• Interesting Fact: Amazon Pay has over 300 million customer accounts globally.
• Verdict: Amazon Pay leverages Amazon’s trusted payment system to increase conversions and decrease cart-abandonment rate for businesses.

Inventory APIs

QuickBooks Commerce (formerly TradeGecko)

QuickBooks Commerce API was formerly TradeGecko. This powerful tool is capable of tracking and syncing inventory, orders and customer information across multiple platforms.

Known for its integration with QuickBooks’ accounting software, this eCommerce API handles inventory and order management with accounting precision. It syncs inventory levels across multiple sales channels in real-time without any error.

• Interesting Fact: TradeGecko was acquired by Intuit, the mother company of QuickBooks accounting software in 2020. Intuit then rebranded it as QuickBooks Commerce.
• Verdict: Great for companies looking for robust inventory management solutions across multiple channels.

NetSuite

NetSuite API is a comprehensive inventory management and automation solution for businesses. It enables automating inventory tracking and stock replenishment in real time.

NetSuite API supports integration with other core business functions like order management, helping to give a unified and holistic view of business operations.

• Interesting Fact: NetSuite serves over 40,000 organizations worldwide and it allows for both REST and SOAP protocols for eCommerce API integration.
• Verdict: NetSuite API stands out in stock and resource management areas due to its robust features.

Marketplace APIs

Amazon MWS (now Seller Partner)

Amazon Marketplace Web Service (MWS) API is a game changer for Amazon sellers looking to streamline operations and boost productivity. Sellers can automate their:

• Listings
• Orders
• Payments
• Reports

This reduces manual effort and gives time to ponder upon improving customer experience.

However, it is important to note that Amazon MWS has been retired as of March 31, 2024. All the sellers have been migrated to Selling Partner API (SP-API). SP-API provides similar functionality but with a better REST-based build.

• Interesting Fact: The Amazon MWS, now Selling Partner API (SP-API) supports over 1.4 million sellers globally.
• Verdict: SP-API is a powerful upgrade from Amazon MWS, offering enhanced features and real-time data access.

Ebay

eBay offers a wide variety of eCommerce APIs, to choose the one which suits you. It allows developers to seamlessly integrate with eBay marketplace. Businesses can tap into the vast customer base of eBay by opening a new sales channel.

Technically speaking, the cool thing about eBay’s API is its flexibility and robust build. eBay is offering both RESTful and Traditional APIs. The RESTful one supports HTML, XML and JSON. And it consumes lower bandwidth.

• Interesting Fact: eBay has over 182 million active buyers globally, providing a vast marketplace for sellers!
• Verdict: eBay’s suite of APIs is one of the best eCommerce APIs in the market due to its extensive format support and diverse integration capabilities.

Etsy

Etsy offers easy eCommerce API integrations. Businesses can easily manage their Etsy store right from their own site through Etsy API. They can update listings and sync orders, Etsy’s API streamlines all tasks for them.

• Interesting Fact: Etsy API handles over 240,000 requests daily with a cap of 10 requests per second.
• Verdict: Etsy’s API is a first choice for small businesses that are looking to integrate their Etsy shop with other platforms to achieve trust factor.

Marketing APIs

Mailchimp

Mailchimp API is a go-to solution for businesses looking to elevate their email marketing game through automated campaigns. Developers can integrate the Mailchimp Marketing API with an eCommerce website, giving programmatic access to Mailchimp’s data and functionality.

• Interesting Fact: Mailchimp sends more than 600 million emails daily and handles over 10,000 API requests per second.
• Verdict: Mailchimp API is perfect for businesses of all sizes looking to leverage automated email marketing without the complexity of custom-built solutions.

HubSpot

HubSpot’s eCommerce Bridge API connects platforms with HubSpot’s marketing and sales management tools directly. Businesses can then run personalized marketing campaigns and get insights about the results.

This API stands out for its automation of simple to complex CRM workflows. It also provides detailed reporting dashboards for analyzing customer behavior.

• Interesting Fact: HubSpot ECommerce Bridge API lets businesses update up to 300 data fields in real-time.
• Verdict: HubSpot ECommerce Bridge API is an ideal choice for businesses that rely on the HubSpot platform and like to integrate its CRM and Data Analytics.

Final Words

Building and running an online store can often become overwhelming. But selecting the best eCommerce API that integrates well with your online store can be even more challenging, and with hundreds of options available in the marketplace, picking the best eCommerce API that fulfills the needs of your eCommerce store can further add to your woes. A slight misjudgement can put all of your efforts taken to setup and run your online store in vain. Therefore, instead of picking an eCommerce API on your own, it is best to consult with a professional eCommerce web development company. Leverage their knowledge and expertise, and select the solution which seamlessly integrates with your eCommerce store.

FAQs

Q1. What is an eCommerce API?

eCommerce API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of protocols that allows different applications to integrate functionalities within an eCommerce platform.

Q2. Why do I need an eCommerce API?

You can save time and resources by integrating various, out-there, robust eCommerce solutions with your website, without having to build functionalities from the scratch.

Q3. How do I choose the best eCommerce API for my business?

When choosing the right or best eCommerce API for your business, go for the ones which are generally revered and align best with your business goals such as: improving payment processing, inventory management or customer engagement.

Q4. Can I integrate multiple eCommerce API into my platform?

Yes, you can integrate various eCommerce APIs to handle different business needs, such as inventory and payment processing. But you should tread carefully here because some API may mutually conflict. And that’s another place where an expert web developer or agency comes in handy.