1688 Search By Image

Find visually similar 1688 supplier products from an image URL. Call the 1688 Search By Image API via REST or MCP from 10 credits per call.

CostRecent 10 credits / call

Try online

POST · https://api.nexscope.ai/alibaba1688/imageSearchMCP · nexscope_1688_search_by_image

Choose an integration method

1688 Sourcing

What this API does

Find visually similar 1688 supplier products from an image URL. The request accepts imageUrl, imageBase64, imageId, page, pageSize. Its documented result includes imageId, totalPage, sourceType, products, offerId, asin, imageUrl, title.

1688 Search By Image API use cases

Find products matching a sourcing brief

To find products matching a sourcing brief, a marketplace analyst submits imageUrl and imageBase64 to 1688 Search By Image. The returned imageId, totalPage, sourceType help identify products matching the requested search criteria.

Compare a product search shortlist

A marketplace analyst uses 1688 Search By Image with imageUrl and imageBase64 to compare a product search shortlist. The returned imageId, totalPage, sourceType help compare candidates before requesting individual product details.

Collect candidates for a market review

For this workflow, a marketplace analyst calls 1688 Search By Image with imageUrl and imageBase64 to collect candidates for a market review. The result helps choose products for a supplier or competitor review.

1688 Search By Image API FAQ

What does the 1688 Search By Image API return?

Find visually similar 1688 supplier products from an image URL. The documented output includes imageId, totalPage, sourceType, products, offerId, asin, imageUrl, title. It corresponds to the supplied imageUrl, imageBase64, imageId, page, pageSize. Optional fields can be absent; a missing value should not be interpreted as a measured zero. Example values illustrate the response shape, rather than live account results.

How many credits does the 1688 Search By Image API cost?

The current documented cost is Recent 10 credits / call. This is the same cost shown at the top of this page. If a range or estimate is displayed, the final charge depends on the request. Review your available credits and the pricing page before calling the API, and check API usage records for the actual charge.

How do I call the 1688 Search By Image API from my app or an MCP client?

Send a POST request to https://api.nexscope.ai/alibaba1688/imageSearch with your API key as a Bearer token and the JSON inputs shown in API integration. In a compatible MCP client such as Claude or Cursor, connect Nexscope and call nexscope_1688_search_by_image. Use the MCP arguments shown in the MCP guide, or switch Online test to MCP to review its request before adding it to your app.

View plans and credits Connect this API with MCP

Try this API

Endpoint

https://api.nexscope.ai/alibaba1688/imageSearch

MCP method

nexscope_1688_search_by_image

Step 1 of 3 · Authenticate

Authentication

All run endpoints require a user API key. Send it as a bearer token in the Authorization header.

Authorization: Bearer nk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Missing or invalid API keys return an authentication error. Manage keys from .

Step 2 of 3 · Send a request

POSThttps://api.nexscope.ai/alibaba1688/imageSearch

Run an API

Send a JSON request body using the parameters described below.

Example request

Replace YOUR_API_KEY, then run this command in your terminal.

curl -X POST 'https://api.nexscope.ai/alibaba1688/imageSearch' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "filter": "1688Selection,totalEpScoreLv1,qrr0",
  "imageUrl": "https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719mRAn2VrL._AC_SL1500_.jpg",
  "page": 1,
  "pageSize": 20,
  "sort": "{\"price\":\"desc\"}"
}'

Step 3 of 3 · Inspect the result

Check the response

Read code for the request status and data for the result. Open the parameter and response reference for the full field definitions.

HTTP status codes

Code	Description
200	HTTP request completed. Check JSON code; only 0 indicates business success or acceptance.
400	Request JSON or required API parameters are invalid.
401	API key is missing, invalid, or cannot be matched to a user.
5xx	API execution or upstream service failed.

View parameters & response Try online

All categories/ 1688 Sourcing

POSThttps://api.nexscope.ai/alibaba1688/imageSearch

Run this API

Send a JSON request to execute this API and receive the documented response payload.

Open tester

Endpoint

Method	`POST`
Path	`https://api.nexscope.ai/alibaba1688/imageSearch`
Auth	`Bearer API key`
Content-Type	`application/json`

Request parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
`imageUrl`	`string`	optional	Image URL, maximum length 1000; only supports png/jpg/jpeg; choose one of `imageBase64`, `imageId`
`imageBase64`	`string`	optional	Pure Base64 encoding, does not contain `data:image/jpeg;base64,` prefix; only supports png/jpg/jpeg; choose one of `imageUrl` and `imageId`
`imageId`	`string`	optional	1688 picture ID; it is recommended to carry `page>1` when paging, which can speed up the response; choose one of three `imageUrl` and `imageBase64`
`page`	`integer`	optional	Page number, starting from 1 Example: 1
`pageSize`	`integer`	optional	The number of products per page cannot exceed 50 Example: 20
`priceStart`	`string`	optional	Price filter starting value (RMB), such as `10`
`priceEnd`	`string`	optional	Price filter end value (RMB), such as `100`
`filter`	`string`	optional	Filter conditions, multiple conditions separated by commas; see the table below for valid values
`sort`	`string`	optional	JSON format `{sort field: sorting method}`; valid fields are `price`, `monthSold`, `rePurchaseRate` Example: { "monthSold": "desc" }
`keyword`	`string`	optional	Keywords to further search in the results
`productCollectionId`	`string`	optional	Pallet ID, single choice; see the table below for valid values

Code example

{
  "filter": "1688Selection,totalEpScoreLv1,qrr0",
  "imageUrl": "https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719mRAn2VrL._AC_SL1500_.jpg",
  "page": 1,
  "pageSize": 20,
  "sort": "{\"price\":\"desc\"}"
}

Response example

Platform response envelope. code 0 indicates success or acceptance; data contains the business result.

{
  "code": 0,
  "cost": "-1",
  "data": {},
  "msg": null,
  "time": "2026-01-01 00:00:00",
  "traceId": null,
  "ts": "0"
}

Response fields

Response field reference (34 fields)

Name	Type	Required	Description
`imageId`	`string`	optional	The image ID after uploading; returning it during paging query can speed up the process
`total`	`integer`	optional	Quantity of products on this page
`totalPage`	`integer`	optional	Total pages
`sourceType`	`string`	optional	Source type, fixed to `1688`
`type`	`string`	optional	Rendering style, fixed to `productWorkbenches`
`columns`	`array`	optional	Render column definition
`costToken`	`integer`	optional	Consume token
`products`	`array`	optional	Product list, see table below
`offerId`	`string`	optional	Product ID
`asin`	`string`	optional	Item number, same as `offerId`
`imageUrl`	`string`	optional	Product pictures
`title`	`string`	optional	Product title
`price`	`number`	optional	Wholesale price (yuan)
`consignPrice`	`number`	optional	Price for one piece (yuan)
`salesQuantity`	`integer`	optional	Number of pieces sold per month
`estimatedSalesAmount`	`number`	optional	Estimated sales
`asinUrl`	`string`	optional	Product link
`isOnePsale`	`string`	optional	Whether to ship on behalf of one piece (yes/no)
`isJxhy`	`string`	optional	Whether to select supply sources (yes/no)
`sellerIdentities`	`string`	optional	Merchant identity (super factory/powerful merchant/integrity member)
`offerIdentities`	`string`	optional	Product label (carefully selected)
`repurchaseRate`	`string`	optional	Repurchase rate
`tradeScore`	`string`	optional	Product Transaction Rating
`compositeServiceScore`	`string`	optional	Comprehensive service experience points
`sendGoodsAddressText`	`string`	optional	Place of shipment
`deliveryTime`	`string`	optional	Shipping time (24/48 hours)
`quantityBegin`	`integer`	optional	Minimum batch size
`hasPromotion`	`string`	optional	Is there a marketing campaign (yes/no)
`promotionType`	`string`	optional	marketing type
`isPatentProduct`	`string`	optional	Is it a patented product (yes/no)
`isSelect`	`string`	optional	Cross-Border Select Pallet Identification
`currency`	`string`	optional	Currency, fixed to `¥`
`sourceType`	`string`	optional	Source type, fixed to `1688`
`dataType`	`string`	optional	Data type, fixed to `monthlyData`

Responses

Code	Description
200	HTTP request completed. Check JSON code; only 0 indicates business success or acceptance.
400	Request JSON or required API parameters are invalid.
401	API key is missing, invalid, or cannot be matched to a user.
5xx	API execution or upstream service failed.

Data source, freshness, and limitations

Source, freshness, coverage, rate limits, and estimation notes are not specified in this API definition unless they appear in the request or response field documentation above. Do not assume official marketplace data or real-time freshness when it is not explicitly documented.

Step 1 of 2 · Connect your MCP client

MCP

V2 recommended

Connect remote agents through the standard MCP 2025-11-25 Streamable HTTP endpoint. Use OAuth 2.1 Authorization Code with PKCE, or an API key for compatibility.

POST https://api.nexscope.ai/mcp
MCP-Protocol-Version: 2025-11-25
Content-Type: application/json

Authentication

OAuth clients request the mcp:tools scope. The endpoint's 401 response advertises protected-resource metadata for authorization discovery.

Step 2 of 2 · Call the tool

Call a tool

{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": "tool-call-1",
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "nexscope_1688_search_by_image",
    "arguments": {
      "imageUrl": "https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61v6nYvQ7+L._AC_SL1500_.jpg",
      "page": 1,
      "pageSize": 20
    }
  }
}

Legacy MCP v1

Existing API-key clients can continue using the compatibility endpoint. New integrations should use MCP v2.

GET / POST /mcp/legacy

Online test

Execute the current API with your API key and JSON payload. Online tests use this site's configured API environment; the Endpoint and copyable examples use the public integration address.

10 credits / callAPI usage records

Try it

Send a real request with the same contract shown in the reference.

Endpoint

/alibaba1688/imageSearch

MCP method

nexscope_1688_search_by_image

API key*

JSON payload*

cURL

curl -X POST \
  https://api.nexscope.ai/alibaba1688/imageSearch \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer nk-..." \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{ "filter": "1688Selection,totalEpScoreLv1,qrr0", "imageUrl": "https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719mRAn2VrL._AC_SL1500_.jpg", "page": 1, "pageSize": 20, "sort": "{\"price\":\"desc\"}" }'

Response

No response yet. Run the request to see the response here.

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