# The USPS address API and bulk list cleaning

By Rotomal team · Updated 2026-11-07 · Part of [Ship-To Clean](https://rotomal.com/b2b-address-cleanup/)

**Short answer:** Not for cleaning a customer database. USPS's API terms say its APIs and data may only be used to facilitate USPS shipping or mailing transactions and may not be used to create a list of names or addresses; its older Address Information API guide also said the address API cannot be used to source or derive addresses to add to your database. To clean or verify a whole list, use a commercial address provider such as Smarty or Melissa under its own terms.

## What USPS allows

- Use that facilitates USPS shipping or mailing transactions, for example checking an address when you create a USPS label.
- Not creating a list of names or addresses, and not building a database from the data for third parties. Other uses need a separate USPS licence.
- From USPS's API terms and conditions, updated 22 January 2026. The older Address Information API guide (version 6.1, 7 October 2024) also barred sourcing or deriving addresses to add to your database.

## Licensed alternatives

- Smarty: 42-day free trial with 1,000 lookups, Professional plans from $552 a year. Its terms bar bureau use, so an agency cleaning your list should work in an account in your name or under Smarty's written authorisation.
- Melissa: credits from $40 for 10,000, with each US address costing 3 credits, and a free allowance of up to 1,000 credits a month after a one-time $4.97 verification fee.
- Loqate: no price published on the pages we checked; it runs a reseller program for partners.

## If you want it done for you

Ship-To Clean deduplicates and standardises your list and verifies US addresses in a Smarty account in your company's name, so the work stays inside the provider's terms. Fixed price per file from $39, quoted before you pay.

## FAQ

### Is checking addresses at checkout allowed with the USPS API?

Validating an address you are about to ship to with USPS fits the shipping and mailing use USPS describes. Cleaning a stored list, or shipping with another carrier, is the case to check carefully against the terms.

## Sources

- USPS: API terms and conditions (updated 22 January 2026) https://developers.usps.com/terms-and-conditions
- USPS: Address Information API guide, version 6.1 (older Web Tools API) https://www.usps.com/business/web-tools-apis/address-information-api.htm
- Smarty: US address verification pricing https://www.smarty.com/pricing/us-address-verification
- Melissa: Pricing and credit costs https://www.melissa.com/pricing

[Ship-To Clean](https://rotomal.com/b2b-address-cleanup/) does this for you. Request it free, no card: https://rotomal.com/b2b-address-cleanup/request/
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Rotomal · https://rotomal.com/b2b-address-cleanup/usps-api-bulk-address-validation/ · hello@rotomal.com