PPlatformAppStores

AppDirect

General SaaS

AppDirect, Inc. · General SaaS app marketplaces

Best for: SaaS ISVs wanting to sell through telco and reseller cloud marketplaces with managed billing and provisioning.

Overview

AppDirect provides the underlying commerce and billing infrastructure that other companies use to run their own branded app marketplaces, commonly used by telecom carriers and managed service providers. ISVs integrate once via AppDirect APIs to be distributed across many reseller storefronts.

How to build & ship

  1. 1Register an integration/API client in the AppDirect Developer portal and choose OAuth grant types and scopes
  2. 2Wire up SSO so marketplace users can sign in to your product (OpenID Connect / SAML)
  3. 3Implement handlers for subscription lifecycle event notifications (order, change, cancel, notice) so provisioning stays in sync
  4. 4Use the Sync, Billing/Metered Usage, and GraphQL catalog APIs to manage users, companies, editions, and pricing
  5. 5Onboard the product edition and pricing in a sandbox marketplace, then test API calls and event flows
  6. 6Submit the listing to the marketplace/channel operator for validation before going live

Key APIs & SDKs

AppDirect Marketplace REST API
Subscription/Order event notifications (webhooks)
OpenID Connect / SAML SSO
Sync REST API
Metered Usage REST API
GraphQL catalog API

Integration types

Connector
Workflow action

Authentication & security

  • Primary auth: OAuth 2.0
  • Also supports: API key
  • Security review: Required
  • Vendor onboarding review covers billing integration, SSO, and provisioning API compliance.
  • The channel/marketplace operator validates the integration (SSO plus subscription event handling) against AppDirect's ISV checklist before publishing; timelines are B2B and negotiated rather than fixed.
  • Rate limits vary per reseller storefront integration.
Auth docs Store policies

Monetization

Revenue share
Usage-based
Listing fee
Onboarding
Negotiated per vendor agreement
Commission
Revenue share negotiated per reseller channel
Merchant of Record
AppDirect or reseller partner acts as MoR depending on channel

Pros & cons for builders

Pros

  • Distribution through many white-label reseller/telco marketplaces from a single integration
  • Built-in billing, provisioning, and subscription-lifecycle plumbing
  • Enterprise/channel reach that is hard to reach directly
  • Standards-based SSO and event model

Cons

  • Heavier, more enterprise-oriented integration than a lightweight connector
  • Onboarding and approvals depend on channel operators, not a self-serve public directory
  • Sparser public developer docs than consumer-facing app stores

Frequently asked questions

How do I get my app approved on AppDirect?

The channel/marketplace operator validates the integration (SSO plus subscription event handling) against AppDirect's ISV checklist before publishing; timelines are B2B and negotiated rather than fixed.

What authentication does AppDirect use?

AppDirect apps primarily authenticate with OAuth 2.0, also supporting API key.

How is AppDirect monetized?

AppDirect supports Revenue share, Usage-based, Listing fee. Typical commission: Revenue share negotiated per reseller channel. Onboarding fee: Negotiated per vendor agreement.

Is a security review required to list on AppDirect?

Yes, AppDirect requires a formal security or listing review before apps go live. Vendor onboarding review covers billing integration, SSO, and provisioning API compliance.