Lever Postings API vs Indeed for AI agents
Lever Postings API is Lever's REST API for a company's published job postings, designed to help that company build a job site. 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.
The short answer
- Lever Postings API: Reading a known company's live openings, with direct apply links, from its own Lever account.
- 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.
Side by side
| Lever Postings API | Indeed | |
|---|---|---|
| Searches | One company's Lever postings per call (by site name); employer-direct; global and EU endpoints. | Jobs from Indeed and Indeed PLUS job boards (aggregated), shown through Indeed's own plugin UI. |
| Returns | JSON (or iframe/HTML) postings with id, text, categories, country, workplaceType, description, descriptionPlain, lists, salaryRange (optional), hostedUrl and applyUrl. | 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. |
| Before the first call | Nothing to read postings: no key, only the company’s board name. Sending applications needs the company’s key. | Indeed partner status and a partner app ID arranged through an Indeed representative (plugin); an Indeed account sign-in inside Claude (MCP). |
| Free | No key needed, and its pages state no price | – |
| Acting on a result | applyUrl is Lever's hosted application form for the employer's job. | MCP results include application URLs; the docs do not say whether they point to Indeed or to the employer. |
| Limits on keeping or showing results | Not stated on its pages | 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. |
| AI in its terms | Not stated on its pages | 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. |
| Coverage | Wherever the employer hires (EU-hosted accounts use api.eu.lever.co). | – |
| MCP server | No official server listed | Official Indeed MCP server, beta, available only as a Claude connector: https://docs.indeed.com/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 Lever Postings API and Openpath vs Indeed.
Questions people ask
What do I need before I can use Lever Postings API?
Nothing to read postings: no key, only the company’s board name. Sending applications needs the company’s key.
Is Lever Postings API free?
No key needed, and its pages state no price.
Sources
Every line about another company comes from its own pages. Prices and terms change, so check the source before you rely on one.
Lever Postings API, read on October 15, 2026:
- github.com/lever/postings-api: “This API is designed to help you create a job site.”
- github.com/lever/postings-api: “A URL which points to Lever's hosted application form to apply to the job posting.”
- github.com/lever/postings-api: “To use the POST API, you need an API key.”
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.”