Documentation checked 2026-10-19. These capabilities have not been independently tested here.
What does Trace research?
Trace collects public company signals: technology fingerprints, hiring, integrations, partnerships and subprocessor pages. It structures them into company, technology and relationship records.
Product capability. MCP availability is not established by this source.
Product and signal collection. Checked 2026-10-19.
Can it enrich Salesforce or HubSpot directly?
The product page marks native CRM enrichment as coming soon. Do not assume a company-data lookup also writes to your CRM.
Product capability. MCP availability is not established by this source.
Product and signal collection. Checked 2026-10-19.
Does a technology change prove buying intent?
Trace describes changes in detected technology, partnerships and hiring. Treat these as research inputs. A detected change does not independently prove budget, a purchase decision or an active sales opportunity.
Evaluation guidance from this directory.
Does Trace have an official MCP server?
Yes. Its technical documentation specifies https://mcp.tracedata.ai/mcp with Streamable HTTP and OAuth 2.1, PKCE and dynamic client registration.
MCP connection and access. Checked 2026-10-19.
Can I connect anonymously or paste an API key?
MCP requires a Trace user signed in through OAuth and a verified email. The MCP overview does not offer anonymous access or an API-key field.
MCP connection and access. Checked 2026-10-19.
Is MCP restricted to a paid plan?
The MCP overview says all plans can use the full tool set. A verified account, accepted terms and sufficient credits are required.
MCP connection and access. Checked 2026-10-19.
What happens when an MCP request exceeds my balance?
The documented response is credit_exhausted rather than company data. Company-returning tools meter net-new companies, with a 30-day free re-access window.
MCP connection and access. Checked 2026-10-19.
Why do the public pages show two MCP addresses?
The marketing access page shows https://api.tracedata.ai/mcp-server/. The technical MCP overview instead specifies https://mcp.tracedata.ai/mcp. This directory uses the technical reference. We have not established whether the marketing address redirects or remains supported.
Evaluation guidance from this directory.
Which tool starts company research?
company_profile accepts up to five names or domains and returns summaries. Use company_detail for full technology, jobs or partner sections.
MCP tool reference. Checked 2026-10-19.
Can I find companies using a combination of tools?
find_companies accepts compound filters. It requires a positive bounding condition; a pure exclusion query is rejected.
MCP tool reference. Checked 2026-10-19.
How should I interpret a technology match?
company_uses_technology returns a resolved match and evidence. Check which technology or vendor it matched before using the result.
MCP tool reference. Checked 2026-10-19.
Can an agent create a target list?
Yes. Lists support static domains and dynamic criteria. A dynamic definition retains the selection rule instead of freezing today's results.
MCP tool reference. Checked 2026-10-19.
Are all list-reading operations free of writes?
No. lists_read can seed a default list; lists_members can recompute stored membership.
MCP tool reference. Checked 2026-10-19.
Can the MCP delete lists or change permissions?
Yes. lists_admin includes destructive and permission actions, with role requirements. Inspect client approvals before enabling it.
MCP tool reference. Checked 2026-10-19.
Does flagging an error overwrite company data?
flag_company_data submits a review flag. It does not directly alter the company record.
MCP tool reference. Checked 2026-10-19.
What if a lookalike seed company is unknown?
The documented self-mode error directs users to the UI or authenticated API. The MCP cannot trace a new domain.
MCP tool reference. Checked 2026-10-19.
How does REST authentication differ?
The REST quickstart uses X-API-Key against https://api.tracedata.ai/v1. Keep the key on the server. This differs from the MCP OAuth connection.
Product capability. MCP availability is not established by this source.
REST API quickstart. Checked 2026-10-19.
Why are some response fields missing?
The quickstart says fields without data are omitted. Missing fields are not confirmation that a company lacks a technology or business attribute.
Product capability. MCP availability is not established by this source.
REST API quickstart. Checked 2026-10-19.
How do I request richer REST company data?
Use the include parameter for technologies and firmographics. The documented technology response includes first_seen and last_seen fields.
Product capability. MCP availability is not established by this source.
REST API quickstart. Checked 2026-10-19.
Is Trace a contact database?
No. Its FAQ says it focuses on company intelligence and does not collect or sell personal or contact data.
Product capability. MCP availability is not established by this source.
Company data and coverage FAQ. Checked 2026-10-19.
Where does the company evidence come from?
The FAQ names public integration directories, marketplaces, co-marketing pages and job postings, combined with technology detection. Coverage varies by company.
Product capability. MCP availability is not established by this source.
Company data and coverage FAQ. Checked 2026-10-19.
Can saved lists notify another system?
The FAQ describes email and signed-webhook notifications for saved-list changes. These are product capabilities; verify the exact setup and delivery behavior for your account.
Product capability. MCP availability is not established by this source.
Company data and coverage FAQ. Checked 2026-10-19.
Can I export the whole dataset?
The FAQ places full-dataset export and OEM arrangements under Enterprise discussions. Self-serve export covers the companies and lists you have unlocked.
Product capability. MCP availability is not established by this source.
Company data and coverage FAQ. Checked 2026-10-19.
What is available on the free plan?
The pricing page lists 100 monthly credits and web, API and MCP access, without a required card. Confirm current terms before registering.
Product capability. MCP availability is not established by this source.
Pricing and credits. Checked 2026-10-19.
What costs a credit?
The pricing page lists one credit per net-new company returned through API, MCP or CSV export, three for a change alert, and free app browsing. Previously revealed companies can be accessed again free for 30 days.
Product capability. MCP availability is not established by this source.
Pricing and credits. Checked 2026-10-19.
Do unused credits carry forward?
The pricing page says unused credits do not roll over. Annual billing grants the year's credits upfront and refreshes them at renewal.
Product capability. MCP availability is not established by this source.
Pricing and credits. Checked 2026-10-19.
Do the pricing page and FAQ agree about app browsing?
No. Pricing describes app browsing as free; the FAQ also contains wording charging for opened profiles. Check the account counter and ask Trace to confirm before estimating usage. This guide preserves the discrepancy rather than guessing which wording applies.
Evaluation guidance from this directory.
Workflow: qualify accounts by technology fit
Choose a small set of accounts your team knows. Compare returned domains, matched technologies and detection dates with your own evidence. Record misses and false positives separately. Only expand the list after you understand where the data is dependable.
Evaluation guidance from this directory.
Workflow: research a partner opportunity
Check the named companies and relationship evidence before treating a partnership as a co-sell path. Have a person confirm the commercial relationship and current partner program. An integration listing alone does not establish a shared pipeline opportunity.
Evaluation guidance from this directory.
What has this directory tested?
We reviewed seven official pages. We have not signed in, spent credits, run vendor tools, created lists or tested webhook delivery. Tool descriptions reflect documentation, not execution results.
Evaluation guidance from this directory.
Keep researching
Directory record and documentation · Company website · Page data