Question 1

How does pricing work on the cross-platform version?

Accepted Answer

It's credit-based. Every operation (ZIP lookup, geocoding, distance, routing, demographics) costs a set number of credits. Free includes a small monthly allotment and is also pay-as-you-go — buy non-expiring credit packs as you need them, no subscription; Pro and Enterprise add larger monthly allotments. The calculator on the Plans page shows exactly what a job costs, and you can add prepaid top-up credits any time.

Question 2

Is there a pay-as-you-go option?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the Free plan is pay-as-you-go. Start free with a small monthly credit allotment, then buy non-expiring credit packs and spend them only as you use them — no subscription and no card required. Need a steady, larger monthly allotment instead? Pro and Enterprise are the subscription plans.

Question 3

Where does the cross-platform version run?

Accepted Answer

In Excel, Google Sheets and LibreOffice Calc through the add-in, and in any application via the REST API — on Windows or Mac, with nothing to install beyond the add-in. You sign in by pasting your API key.

Question 4

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Choose a plan on the Plans page (start free) to get your API key. Then install the CDXZipStream add-in for your app — from Microsoft AppSource for Excel, or the Google Workspace Marketplace for Google Sheets — and paste your API key into the add-in pane to connect it to your account. (Prefer the REST API? Send your key with each request — no install needed.) Your monthly credits renew automatically; manage your plan, key, and usage from your account.

Question 5

What are credits, and what happens if I run out?

Accepted Answer

Credits are the single billing unit — provider-backed features (geocoding, routing) cost a few credits each, most local lookups cost one per item, and radius, closest and ZIP-list searches are priced by the rows they return (1 credit per 25 rows). If you run out, requests pause until your monthly allotment renews, you upgrade, or you buy a top-up pack. No surprise overage charges.

Question 6

Where are the API docs?

Accepted Answer

The developer page links all of them: an interactive Swagger UI at api.cdxzipstream.com/docs where you can paste your key and run real calls from the browser, a readable ReDoc reference at api.cdxzipstream.com/redoc, and the OpenAPI 3.1 spec at api.cdxzipstream.com/openapi.json. The reference is generated from the running service, so it never drifts from the API you are calling.

Question 7

How do I authenticate against the API?

Accepted Answer

Send your cdx_live_ key in the X-API-Key header on every /v1 request. It is the same key the add-ins and the Claude connector use, and it draws on the same account credit pool. Copy it from Account, then API Keys.

Question 8

Can I import the API into Postman or generate a client?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Import https://api.cdxzipstream.com/openapi.json into Postman, Insomnia, Bruno or Hoppscotch and the full collection builds itself with example requests. The same spec works with openapi-generator for typed clients in most languages.

Question 9

How do I tell what a call cost?

Accepted Answer

Every metered response carries X-Credits-Charged and X-Credits-Remaining headers, so you can track spend inline — useful for the list operations, whose cost depends on how many rows come back. GET /v1/pricing returns the live rate card and GET /v1/account returns your balance, and both are free to call. Running out returns HTTP 402, and the refused call is neither performed nor charged.

Question 10

Can I use CDXZipStream inside Claude?

Accepted Answer

Yes. CDXZipStream is available as an MCP (Model Context Protocol) connector for Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant. Once connected, you can ask Claude in plain language for ZIP lookups, distance & radius, Census/ACS demographics, geocoding, routing, and USPS address verification — and it calls CDXZipStream directly, no spreadsheet or copy-paste needed. It works in claude.ai (web), Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and the Claude API.

Question 11

How do I connect CDXZipStream to Claude?

Accepted Answer

It uses the same account and API key as everything else. In claude.ai (web), add a custom connector with the URL https://mcp.cdxzipstream.com/mcp, then paste your cdx_live_ key once on the CDXZipStream sign-in page (OAuth). In Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and the Claude API, you pass the key directly as a Bearer token. Step-by-step instructions for each are on the Use in Claude page.

Question 12

Do I need a Claude Team or Enterprise plan to use it?

Accepted Answer

No. This is a private custom connector that works on any Claude account, including Free, Pro, and Max. A Team or Enterprise org is only required to publish a public listing in Claude's connector directory — that's a separate, optional step and isn't needed to use CDXZipStream in Claude.

Question 13

How is usage in Claude billed?

Accepted Answer

Exactly like every other surface — each tool call draws credits from the same account pool, at the same rates (most local lookups one credit per item; radius, closest and list searches 1 credit per 25 rows returned; provider-backed features like geocoding and routing cost a few). Checking pricing or your balance from Claude is free. Revoking your key on the CDXZipStream side immediately disconnects Claude.

Question 14

What ZIP and postal code data is included?

Accepted Answer

Comprehensive U.S. ZIP Code data — city, county, state, latitude/longitude, and more — for lookups, lists, distance, and radius analysis. ZIP and postal code coverage spans the United States and Canada, with additional international postal data for Mexico, India, and Western European countries.

Question 15

What demographic data is available?

Accepted Answer

U.S. demographics from the 2020 and 2010 Census and the American Community Survey (ACS), reportable by ZIP code, city, county, or state: population, median age (overall and by sex), households and housing units, median home value, per-capita and household income, poverty rate, unemployment rate, education, race and ethnicity, and more. Demographic coverage is U.S.-only.

Question 16

Where does the data come from?

Accepted Answer

Public data collections — primarily the U.S. Census Bureau (the Decennial Census and the American Community Survey) for demographics, and public U.S. ZIP and Canadian/international postal datasets for location data. Address standardization follows USPS formatting. We continuously refresh these collections so your results stay current.

Question 17

What geographic tools are available, and where do they work?

Accepted Answer

Geocoding (address ↔ coordinates), reverse geocoding, straight-line distance and radius, driving distance/time and route optimization, address standardization/verification, census tract lookup, and in-sheet maps. Geocoding, routing, and address verification work worldwide where supported; ZIP/postal and demographic coverage is as described above.

Question 18

What can I do with Canadian data?

Accepted Answer

Canadian postal data lets you calculate distances between postal codes, find postal codes within a radius, identify the closest postal codes to a target location, and build postal code lists by city or province. Best of all, it works across the border — mix U.S. ZIP codes and Canadian postal codes in the same workflow to measure cross-border distances and drive times, run radius and closest-location analysis over a combined North American list, and plan routes that span both countries. It's included on every plan — Free included — at no extra cost.

Frequently asked questions

Cross-platform version — Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc & API

REST API & developers

Use in Claude — the MCP connector (Anthropic)

Data & coverage

New to CDXZipStream?