← Blog · Published 2026-07-21 · Updated 2026-07-22 · Verified 2026-07-22
Where to list your API in 2026 — and what each marketplace takes
Sourced 2026 take-rate comparison: RapidAPI 25%, Zyla 20%, APILayer ~15%, AWS Marketplace SaaS 3%, MCP hubs ~20%, and Ozma 10% (providers keep 90%).
- economics
- rapidapi
- zyla
- apilayer
- aws-marketplace
- postman
- mcp
- marketplace
If you sell an HTTP API in 2026, marketplace take rates are often one of the largest line items in your unit economics — sometimes larger than payment processing. Ozma's standard take is 10% (providers keep 90%). Monetizing hubs commonly keep 15–25% of subscription/marketplace revenue; AWS Marketplace SaaS listing fees are much lower (about 3% public / 1.5–3% private) but are a different enterprise procurement channel, not a drop-in RapidAPI analogue.
What “take rate” means here
A marketplace take rate (or platform commission / revenue share) is the share of buyer spend the platform keeps for distribution, billing, and operations. It is usually separate from payment-processor fees (PayPal, Stripe, etc.) deducted at payout.
- Revenue-share hubs (RapidAPI, Zyla, APILayer, many MCP marketplaces) typically take a fixed % of marketplace-billed revenue.
- Cloud marketplaces (AWS Marketplace) charge a listing fee that varies by product type and offer (SaaS vs AMI/server, public vs private).
- Discovery directories (Postman Public API Network) help people find APIs but do not run provider payouts for your API usage — you bill yourself.
How we built this table
Figures below are from each platform's public docs or help center as of 2026-07-22. We link primary sources at the bottom of this page. Always verify current terms before switching — marketplace fees change (RapidAPI updated its public marketplace fee to 25% effective November 15, 2025).
Take-rate landscape (mid-2026)
| Marketplace | Typical take / fee | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| RapidAPI (Nokia) | 25% marketplace fee | Largest public API hub; unified consumer billing; PayPal payout fees extra |
| Zyla API Hub | 20% revenue share (provider keeps 80%) | Direct RapidAPI-style hub; free to upload |
| APILayer | ~15% commission | Curated catalog; provider sets subscription pricing |
| AWS Marketplace | SaaS public 3%; SaaS private ~1.5–3% by TCV; AMI/server often 20% | Enterprise procurement on the buyer’s AWS bill — heavyweight listing |
| Postman Public API Network | Free listing (no API monetization) | Discovery & collections — you bill and pay out yourself |
| Agent marketplaces (e.g. MCPize) | ~20% platform fee (keep ~80%) | MCP/tool hosting + marketplace billing |
| Ozma | 10% take (providers keep 90%) | Usage billing via Stripe Connect; agent MCP/CLI/gateway distribution |
Worked example: $10,000 / month marketplace revenue
Same list price to the buyer. Platform take only (ignores payment processor and payout fees, which vary by country and rail):
| Platform | Platform take | Provider keeps (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| RapidAPI | 25% | $7,500 |
| Zyla / many MCP hubs | 20% | $8,000 |
| APILayer | 15% | $8,500 |
| AWS Marketplace SaaS (public) | 3% | $9,700 |
| Ozma (standard) | 10% | $9,000 |
AWS looks cheapest on fee % — and it is, for SaaS — but the channel, buyer motion, and listing effort differ sharply from developer API hubs. Compare apples to apples: RapidAPI/Zyla/APILayer/Ozma compete for similar provider distribution; AWS is often an additive enterprise motion.
How to choose where to list
- Already on RapidAPI / Zyla / APILayer? You already accept a 15–25% distribution tax. Ozma's 10% take is a lower standard platform cut with usage metering and Stripe Connect payouts.
- Need enterprise procurement? AWS Marketplace can be worth the SaaS listing fee even when Ozma or a hub is your primary developer channel.
- Only need discovery? Postman (and OpenAPI directories) help with findability but leave billing to you. Ozma adds metering + Connect on top of agent-facing distribution.
- Selling MCP tools? Agent-native hubs often keep ~20%. Ozma is built for agent buyers (MCP, CLI, one gateway key) at a 10% standard take.
What Ozma does not claim
We do not promise guaranteed traffic, exclusive launch deals, or that every provider keeps 100%. Founding-provider 0% take is an Ozma-granted program flag — not a cold-email promise. Standard economics: providers keep 90%. Stripe's own processing / Connect fees still apply on money movement. See how the 90% keep works.
Ready to list? Start provider onboarding · Ozma vs RapidAPI · Why agents need a marketplace.
FAQ
- What is a marketplace take rate?
- The share of buyer spend the platform keeps for distribution and billing. It is usually separate from payment-processor or payout fees.
- Does Postman pay API providers?
- The Postman Public API Network helps with discovery and collections. It does not run marketplace monetization or provider payouts for your API usage — you bill yourself.
- Is AWS Marketplace cheaper than Ozma?
- AWS SaaS public listing fees (~3%) are lower than Ozma’s 10% take, but AWS is an enterprise procurement channel with different listing effort and buyer motion. Many indie API providers still need a developer/agent hub alongside AWS.
- Why did RapidAPI change from ~20% to 25%?
- Rapid’s public docs state the marketplace fee on API Hub payments is 25%, with an update called out effective November 15, 2025. Always confirm current docs before modeling unit economics.
- Can Ozma promise founding 0% take in outreach?
- No. Founding 0% is an Ozma-granted organization flag. Standard listings are 90/10.
Sources
Primary public pages. Always re-check a platform's current terms before switching. Verified dates are when Ozma last confirmed the figure.
- RapidAPI — Payouts and Finance (25% marketplace fee) · verified 2026-07-22 — Also mirrored in RapidAPI Zendesk payout FAQ
- Zyla — cost of uploading / 80% provider share · verified 2026-07-22
- APILayer — marketplace overview (~15% commission) · verified 2026-07-22 — Primary public figure; confirm partner terms if listing
- AWS Marketplace — listing fees for sellers · verified 2026-07-22 — SaaS public 3%; private offers tiered; AMI/server often 20%
- Postman — Public API Network overview · verified 2026-07-22
- MCPize — monetization / platform fee · verified 2026-07-22 — Default ~80% developer share (20% platform)
- Ozma billing — take rate · verified 2026-07-22 — Product SOT: docs/BILLING.md