The complete MCC reference
Every four-digit merchant category code with its category, description and usage notes. Browse it free, filter it by category or keyword, or pull it into your own tables.
GET /api/v1/mcc-codes?search=…200
Resolve any merchant or card-statement descriptor to its MCC, with aliases, regions and a cited source. Query it over REST, or hand it to your AI assistant through MCP.
100 requests/month free · no card required · looking for the best card?
A cURL request to GET /api/v1/lookup with merchant=STARBUCKS returns MCC 5814, Fast Food Restaurants, as the primary mapping with aliases and regions.
Counts from GET /api/stats
01Capabilities
Codes, merchants, descriptors and regions, with a source on every mapping. The same data sits behind the REST API, the hosted MCP server and the website.
Every four-digit merchant category code with its category, description and usage notes. Browse it free, filter it by category or keyword, or pull it into your own tables.
Pass a brand name or the raw card-statement descriptor. Aliases resolve to the canonical merchant, with primary and secondary MCCs.
GET /api/v1/lookup · statement descriptor in, merchant out
The same brand can code differently from one country to the next. Merchants carry the regions they operate in, from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to London and New York.
?region=sg · filter merchants per market (Starter+)
Point Claude, Cursor or any MCP client at the hosted server and ask in plain language. No SDK and no glue code: your API key is the only setup.
youWhich card should I use at Starbucks in Singapore?
↳ find_merchant_mcc → 5814 Fast Food Restaurants
aiStarbucks codes as MCC 5814, so use a card that rewards dining or fast food.
POST /api/v1/mcp · streamable HTTP
Categorize a whole statement in one call, or license the full merchant-to-MCC dataset for your own warehouse.
Every mapping says where it came from, with a confidence score to match. Anyone can report the MCC they saw; moderators review each report.
02Quickstart
Plain REST over HTTPS with a single header. JSON in, JSON out: no SDK to install and nothing to keep in sync.
# Which MCC does a card-statement descriptor code as?
curl "https://www.mccexplorer.com/api/v1/lookup?merchant=AMZN%20MKTP" \
-H "x-api-key: $MCC_API_KEY"
# Categorize a batch (Pro+, up to 100 merchants per call)
curl -X POST "https://www.mccexplorer.com/api/v1/lookup/bulk" \
-H "x-api-key: $MCC_API_KEY" \
-H "content-type: application/json" \
-d '{ "merchants": ["STARBUCKS 1234", "GRAB* RIDE", "NETFLIX.COM"] }'03Built for
Map card spend to ledger accounts and policy rules by MCC instead of brittle merchant-name regexes.
Know the MCC before the tap, then recommend the card that earns the most on it across Southeast Asia.
Enrich authorizations with category context and flag high-risk codes such as gambling or quasi-cash.
Give your agent ground truth on merchants and codes through MCP instead of letting it guess.
04Pricing
One quota covers the REST API and the MCP server. Upgrade, downgrade or cancel from your dashboard.
Try the API and MCP server
$0forever
No card required
Full merchant data for individuals
$4.99/ month
or $49/year, save $11
For apps categorizing transactions
$29/ month
or $290/year, save $58
High volume and redistribution
$149/ month
or $1,490/year, save $298
Pay as you go, from $5
One-time credit packs, 1 credit = 1 request. No subscription and credits never expire.
A Merchant Category Code (MCC) is a four-digit number used by credit card companies to classify businesses by the type of goods or services they provide. MCCs are used for transaction categorization, rewards programs, and expense tracking.
Sign up for a free account to get your API key. Then make HTTP requests to our REST API endpoints to retrieve MCC codes, look up merchants, and categorize transactions. See our documentation for full details and code examples.
Yes. The free plan includes 100 requests per month (API and MCP server), all 1,000+ MCC codes with categories and descriptions, and basic merchant lookup. Paid plans start at $4.99/month for full merchant data, with Pro and Business plans for higher volume, bulk lookup and dataset export.
Our API includes over 1,000 MCC codes with categories and descriptions, 12,000+ merchants with their MCCs and regional availability across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Japan, India, Australia, Europe, the UK and North America, merchant aliases, confidence scores, and community vote data. Paid plans (from $4.99/month) include full merchant lookup and region filtering.
Every merchant mapping shows where it comes from: verified from real transactions, reported by the community and reviewed by a moderator, curated by our team, or estimated from the merchant's business type. Confidence scores reflect that source, and anyone can report the MCC they saw on their statement to correct or confirm a mapping.
$ export MCC_API_KEY=mcc_…
100 free requests every month across the API and MCP server. No card required.