AP2
AI Protocols · Free + paid
Google Cloud's open-source Agent Payments Protocol for AI agent transactions
At a glance
- Made by
- Korean
- UI in Korean
- Open source
- Apache-2.0
- GitHub
- 3,226 stars · Apache-2.0
What is AP2?
AP2 (Agent Payments Protocol) is an open protocol that addresses authorization, authenticity, and accountability when AI agents transact on behalf of users, and it can be used as an extension of A2A and MCP. Using Mandates (Intent Mandate and Cart Mandate), cryptographically signed digital contracts that verifiably prove user instructions, it creates a non-repudiable audit trail from intent to cart to payment. It covers both real-time purchases with a human present and delegated tasks with no human present, and it is payment-method agnostic, from credit and debit cards to stablecoins and real-time bank transfers. Google said it is working with more than 60 organizations including Adyen, American Express, Mastercard, and PayPal.
- Proving user instructions with cryptographically signed Mandates (based on verifiable credentials)
- Audit trail from intent to cart to payment through Intent Mandates and Cart Mandates
- Supports both real-time purchases with a person involved and delegated tasks with no person present
- Works with any payment method, including cards, stablecoins, and real-time bank transfers
- Can be used as an extension of the A2A and MCP protocols
- A2A x402 extension for agent-based cryptocurrency payments
- Python SDK and sample scenarios in Python, Go, and Android
Who uses AP2 and for what
- The agent buys automatically when the item you want becomes available under your conditions
- A merchant agent offers custom bundle discounts
- The agent handles flight and hotel bookings at the same time within your budget
Pricing
Open source (free, standard/specification)
Released free as open standards/protocols, implementations distributed as open source
Estimate based on AI knowledge - please verify on the official site
AI tools similar to AP2 (alternatives)
AP2 vs. alternatives at a glance
| AI | Pricing | Combos on the map | Connected tools | Free | Cheapest monthly | Korean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP2 | Free + paid | 0 | 4 | — | — | Yes |
| A2A | Free + paid | 0 | 4 | — | — | Yes |
| ACP | Free + paid | 0 | 4 | — | — | No |
| AGENTS.md | Free | 0 | 4 | — | — | No |
| ANP | Free + paid | 0 | 4 | — | — | No |
0 of these 5 tools have a free plan.
Combo and connection counts are based on the relationships recorded on AI Galaxy Map (2026-10-26); they are not a quality ranking.
AP2 on AI Galaxy Map
- One of 9 AI tools in the AI Protocols field.
- Connected to 4 other tools — #1 in its field.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use AP2 for free?
Open source (free, standard/specification). Prices can change, so check the official site before paying.
What AI can I use instead of AP2?
Tools that do the same job, such as A2A, ACP, AGENTS.md, ANP, are connected to it on the map.
Can I use AP2 in Korean?
UI in Korean
Sources (official pages)
- https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/ai-machine-learning/announcing-agents-to-payments-ap2-protocol?hl=en
- https://github.com/google-agentic-commerce/AP2
Checked on the official pages on 2026-10-14. Prices and features can change, so check the official site again before paying.