AMZTarget

What is Amazon SP-API (Selling Partner API)?

Definition

Amazon's official API that lets approved apps work with a seller account: orders, listings, prices, inventory, and reports.

SP-API, the Selling Partner API, is Amazon's official interface for software that works with seller and vendor accounts. Through it, an approved app can read orders, manage listings and prices, check inventory, download reports, and more, without anyone logging in to Seller Central by hand.

SP-API replaced Amazon Marketplace Web Service (MWS), the older API. Amazon shut MWS down in 2024, so current seller tools use SP-API.

How access works

A seller never shares a password with an SP-API app. Instead:

  1. The app developer registers with Amazon and gets the app approved for specific data roles, such as pricing or inventory.
  2. The seller starts the authorization from the app and confirms it on Amazon's own page.
  3. Amazon gives the app a token limited to the approved roles.
  4. The seller can revoke access at any time in Seller Central under Manage Your Apps.

Amazon also sets rate limits for each part of the API, so tools spread their requests over time.

When a tool really needs SP-API

Anything that changes your account needs it: updating prices, creating listings, managing inventory or shipments. Reading private data needs it too, such as orders, fees, and reports.

Tracking public information doesn't. Keyword rank, the Buy Box owner, sellers, prices, and listing content are visible on Amazon's public pages. A monitoring tool can follow them for any ASIN, including competitors', without account access.

SP-API in AMZTarget

AMZTarget uses SP-API only where it's required: Repricer, which sends price changes for your SKUs. You connect through the official Amazon authorization flow and can disconnect at any time. Rank tracking, listing monitoring, Reverse ASIN, and alerts work without SP-API and without Seller Central access.

FAQ

Do I need SP-API to track keyword rank?

No. Rank is checked on public Amazon search results, so no account connection is needed.

Is it safe to authorize an SP-API app?

Authorization happens on Amazon's site, the app gets only the approved roles, and you can revoke it in Seller Central whenever you want.

Is MWS still available?

No. Amazon retired MWS in 2024. Tools that still mention MWS need to move to SP-API.