Indeed vs TheirStack for AI agents
Indeed’s developer docs list no self-serve job search API: third parties get a JavaScript plugin for approved partners, and a beta MCP server that works only as a Claude connector. TheirStack is a job postings data API (with company and technographic data) aimed at sales and market intelligence as well as job search.
The short answer
- Indeed: Job seekers using Claude who want Indeed's own listings and their Indeed resume in one place; not an open data API for developers.
- TheirStack: Bulk, filterable job-posting data for market research and sales signals, with history back to 2021.
Side by side
| Indeed | TheirStack | |
|---|---|---|
| Searches | Jobs from Indeed and Indeed PLUS job boards (aggregated), shown through Indeed's own plugin UI. | Aggregated postings from career pages, job boards and ATS platforms across about 363k websites in 195 countries, since 2021. |
| Returns | The plugin renders Indeed's own job search UI on your page (no raw data documented). The MCP Job Search tool returns titles, companies, locations, salaries and application URLs. | JSON jobs with title, description, url, final_url, source_url, company and company_object, location fields, min/max salary (plus annual USD) and salary_string. |
| Before the first call | Indeed partner status and a partner app ID arranged through an Indeed representative (plugin); an Indeed account sign-in inside Claude (MCP). | A TheirStack account and API key (Bearer token); each search must include at least one date or company filter. |
| Free | – | 200 API credits and 50 company credits every month, free (1 credit per job returned); free tier rate limit 4/second, 10/minute, 50/hour, 400/day. |
| Paid | – | From $49 per month for 1,500 API credits (1 credit per job). |
| Acting on a result | MCP results include application URLs; the docs do not say whether they point to Indeed or to the employer. | url, plus final_url with the original career-page URL when available (filterable with final_url_exists). |
| Limits on keeping or showing results | Plugin rules: HTTPS pages only, explanatory headers, 16px margins, no leading users to click jobs for monetization; Indeed caps each publisher's click revenue. No caching or storage clause found. | Not stated on its pages |
| AI in its terms | Indeed's Terms of Service define Agentic AI and prohibit bots automating Indeed Apply outside Indeed's official vendors; the MCP server is beta and subject to Indeed's Terms of Service. | Not stated on its pages |
| Coverage | – | 195 countries. |
| MCP server | Official Indeed MCP server, beta, available only as a Claude connector: https://docs.indeed.com/mcp/ | Official TheirStack MCP server (search_jobs tool), OAuth or API key; uses the same API credits: https://theirstack.com/en/docs/mcp |
Where Openpath fits
If the agent needs a job to apply for in Austin, Texas, or a remote one, Openpath returns the listings themselves, free and with no key. See Openpath vs Indeed and Openpath vs TheirStack.
Questions people ask
What do I need before I can use TheirStack?
A TheirStack account and API key (Bearer token); each search must include at least one date or company filter.
Is TheirStack free?
200 API credits and 50 company credits every month, free (1 credit per job returned); free tier rate limit 4/second, 10/minute, 50/hour, 400/day.
Sources
Every line about another company comes from its own pages. Prices and terms change, so check the source before you rely on one.
Indeed, read on October 15, 2026:
- docs.indeed.com/publisher-js-plugin: “To use the plugin, you must be an Indeed partner.”
- docs.indeed.com/publisher-js-plugin: “Integrate Indeed features into your job board or publisher site by making only front-end changes.”
- docs.indeed.com/publisher-js-plugin: “Indeed assigns each publisher a cap on how much revenue they can receive from clicks on jobs”
- docs.indeed.com/mcp: “is available only for Claude Connector”
- docs.indeed.com/mcp: “titles, companies, locations, salaries, and application URLs”
- docs.indeed.com/mcp: “Sign in with your Indeed account for first-time use”
- docs.indeed.com/mcp: “offered in beta and subject to Indeed's Terms of Service”
- indeed.com/legal: “Use of any automation, scripting, or bots to automate the Indeed Apply process outside of Indeed's official vendors”
- indeed.com/legal: “Agentic AI: An algorithm which can perform tasks in accordance with a person's instructions.”
TheirStack, read on October 15, 2026:
- theirstack.com/en/job-posting-api: “253M of jobs across 195 countries since 2021”
- theirstack.com/en/job-posting-api: “career pages, job boards, and ATS platforms”
- theirstack.com/en/docs/pricing/plans: “Start exploring with 50 company credits and 200 API credits every month - completely free, forever.”
- theirstack.com/en/docs/api-reference/rate-limit: “4/second, 10/minute, 50/hour, 400/day”
- theirstack.com/en/pricing: “1,500 API credits — $49 per month”
- theirstack.com/en/docs/api-reference/jobs/search_jobs_v1: “1 API credit for each job returned in the response”
- theirstack.com/en/job-posting-mcp: “Your AI assistant calls the search_jobs tool to find jobs by title, location, salary”