name: StackAdapt API Rate Limits
description: StackAdapt enforces rate limits across all API offerings to maintain platform stability and ensure fair access for all users. Exceeding rate limits returns HTTP 429 Too Many Requests.
url: https://docs.stackadapt.com/
generated: '2026-08-13'
method: searched
source: >-
  https://www.stackadapt.com/legal-document-centre/api-terms-and-conditions and live probes of
  https://api.stackadapt.com/graphql and https://mcp.stackadapt.com/ on 2026-08-13
limit_count: 0
status_on_exhaustion: 429
response_headers: []
headers_note: >-
  NO rate-limit response headers were observed on any anonymous request. No X-RateLimit-*, no
  RateLimit-* (RFC 9331 draft), and no Retry-After. An agent therefore has no runtime signal at
  all — it cannot see remaining quota, cannot see a reset time, and on a 429 is not told how long
  to wait. Backoff must be chosen client-side.
published_thresholds: none
thresholds_note: >-
  limit_count is 0 because StackAdapt publishes no numeric threshold on any public page. The only
  public statement of the limit is qualitative, in the API Terms and Conditions: clients must not
  "use an unreasonable amount of bandwidth, create an unreasonable number of entities, objects,
  or records." Any per-account figures live behind docs.stackadapt.com, which serves
  "User-agent: * / Disallow: /", and behind account management. This is a measured zero, not an
  unchecked field.
apis:
  - name: REST API
    description: Read-only reporting API for fetching campaign performance data across dimensions and metrics.
    authentication: X-AUTHORIZATION header with API_KEY
    rate_limit:
      error_code: 429
      notes: Rate limits enforced; specific numeric thresholds not publicly disclosed. Contact StackAdapt for details.
    deprecation_notice: REST API write operations are officially deprecated. Migrate write integrations to the GraphQL API.

  - name: GraphQL API
    description: Full read/write API for creating and managing programmatic advertising campaigns, ad groups, creatives, segments, and reporting.
    authentication: Authorization header with Bearer token (separate API key from REST)
    rate_limit:
      error_code: 429
      notes: Rate limits enforced to maintain platform stability. Specific thresholds available in authenticated documentation at docs.stackadapt.com/graphql/rate-limits.
    sdk:
      name: "@stackadapt/pa-typescript-sdk"
      url: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stackadapt/pa-typescript-sdk
      language: TypeScript

  - name: Pixel API
    description: Server-to-server conversion tracking and audience generation without website pixel installation.
    authentication: Universal pixel ID in request parameters
    rate_limit:
      error_code: 429
      notes: Rate limits enforced; thresholds not publicly disclosed.

  - name: Data Taxonomy API
    description: Secure data sharing and audience synchronization with third-party platforms.
    authentication: Authorization header with Bearer token
    rate_limit:
      error_code: 429
      notes: Rate limits enforced; thresholds not publicly disclosed.

  - name: MCP Server
    description: Model Context Protocol portal enabling AI agents (Claude, ChatGPT) to interact with the StackAdapt platform via the GQL API.
    authentication: Bearer token
    rate_limit:
      notes: Subject to underlying GraphQL API rate limits.

general_notes:
  - "All StackAdapt APIs return HTTP 429 when rate limits are exceeded"
  - "Specific rate limit thresholds are documented in the authenticated developer portal at docs.stackadapt.com"
  - "API Terms prohibit using an unreasonable amount of bandwidth or creating an unreasonable number of entities"
  - "StackAdapt may revoke API access with 30 days notice for any reason"
  - "Contact StackAdapt support for rate limit details specific to your account tier"