AI Agent Marketplaces Compared: Where to Buy Safe AI Tools
Compare the top AI agent marketplaces in 2026. Security, pricing, selection, and trust — which marketplace is safest for your business?
EasyClaw Team
EasyClaw Team
AI Agent Marketplaces Compared: Where to Buy Safe AI Tools
The Stakes Are High
12% of AI agents on open registries contain malware (Koi Security, Feb 2026). Where you buy your agents matters as much as which agents you buy. This guide compares the major marketplaces on the criteria that actually matter.
The AI Agent Marketplace Landscape in 2026
The AI agent market has exploded. In 2024, there were a handful of places to find agents. In 2026, there are dozens of marketplaces, registries, and platforms — each with different approaches to curation, security, and pricing.
For buyers, this abundance creates a new problem: how do you know which marketplace to trust?
We've analyzed the major categories of AI agent marketplaces to help you make an informed choice.
Types of AI Agent Marketplaces
1. Open Registries (Unverified)
How they work: Anyone can upload an agent. No review process. Users download at their own risk.
Examples: GitHub repositories, npm packages, Hugging Face models (when used as agent components), various community forums.
Pros:
- Largest selection
- Free or open-source options
- Latest experimental tools
Cons:
- No security verification
- No quality control
- No support or refund guarantees
- High risk of malware and data theft
| Factor | Rating | |--------|--------| | Selection | Large | | Security | None | | Quality control | None | | Support | Community only | | Pricing | Free (with hidden costs) |
Buyer Beware
Open registries are the wild west of AI agents. The Koi Security report found malware in 12% of agents tested from open sources. For personal experimentation in sandboxes, they may be fine. For business use? The risk is not worth the savings.
2. Platform-Specific Stores
How they work: Large tech companies offer agent stores within their ecosystems — Microsoft Copilot Store, Salesforce AppExchange, Google Workspace Marketplace, Slack App Directory.
Pros:
- Tight integration with the parent platform
- Some level of review process
- Enterprise support options
- Compliance certifications
Cons:
- Locked into one ecosystem
- Often subscription-based (per-seat, per-month)
- Limited to agents that work within their platform
- Review process focuses on functionality, not deep security
| Factor | Rating | |--------|--------| | Selection | Limited (platform-specific) | | Security | Moderate (basic review) | | Quality control | Moderate | | Support | Platform-dependent | | Pricing | Subscription ($10-50/user/month) |
3. Enterprise Agent Platforms
How they work: Companies like UiPath, Automation Anywhere, and ServiceNow offer enterprise-grade agent platforms with full governance, compliance, and support.
Pros:
- Enterprise security and compliance (SOC 2, HIPAA)
- Full support and SLAs
- Governance and audit trails
- Custom development options
Cons:
- Expensive ($200-1,000+/month)
- Long implementation timelines (weeks to months)
- Requires dedicated IT resources
- Overkill for small and mid-size businesses
| Factor | Rating | |--------|--------| | Selection | Limited (enterprise-focused) | | Security | High | | Quality control | High | | Support | Full enterprise support | | Pricing | Enterprise ($200-1,000+/mo) |
4. Curated, Verified Marketplaces
How they work: Every agent undergoes a thorough review process — security audit, developer verification, quality testing — before being listed. Think of it as the "App Store" model for AI agents.
Pros:
- Security-verified agents
- Developer identity confirmation
- Quality standards enforced
- Clear pricing (often one-time)
- Support and refund guarantees
Cons:
- Smaller selection than open registries
- New agents take longer to list (due to review process)
- May not have the bleeding-edge experimental tools
| Factor | Rating | |--------|--------| | Selection | Growing (50+ verified agents) | | Security | High (full audit) | | Quality control | High | | Support | Included | | Pricing | One-time ($19-$79) |
EasyClaw falls into this category. Every agent listed has passed security audits, developer verification, and quality testing.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Factor | Open Registry | Platform Store | Enterprise | Curated Marketplace | |--------|--------------|----------------|------------|-------------------| | Security audit | No | Basic | Full | Full | | Developer verified | No | Partial | Yes | Yes | | Malware risk | High (12%) | Low | Very low | Very low | | Pricing model | Free | Subscription | Enterprise | One-time | | Avg monthly cost | $0 | $20-50/user | $200-1,000 | $0 (one-time buy) | | Support | Community | Platform | Enterprise SLA | Included | | Setup time | Variable | Minutes | Weeks | Minutes | | Refund guarantee | No | Varies | Contract | Yes | | Best for | Experimentation | Enterprise ecosystems | Large orgs | SMBs and teams |
What to Look For in a Marketplace
Regardless of which type you choose, here are the non-negotiable criteria:
1. Security Verification
Does the marketplace actually audit agents for malware, data exfiltration, and vulnerabilities? Or do they just check that the agent runs?
Ask: Is there a documented security review process? Can I see audit reports?
2. Developer Accountability
Can you identify who built the agent? Is there a real person or company behind it?
Ask: Are developers verified? Is there a way to contact them?
3. Transparent Pricing
Are there hidden costs? Per-seat fees? Usage-based charges that balloon?
Ask: What's the total cost of ownership over 12 months?
4. Data Handling Clarity
Where does your data go? Is it processed locally or in the cloud? Is it retained?
Ask: Is there a clear privacy policy? Can I run the agent without sending data to third parties?
5. Exit Strategy
What happens if the marketplace shuts down or the agent is discontinued?
Ask: Can I continue using purchased agents? Is the code accessible?
The Real Cost of "Free" Agents
Free agents from open registries seem attractive. But consider the full picture:
| Cost Factor | Free Agent | Verified Agent ($19-$79) | |------------|-----------|-------------------------| | Purchase price | $0 | $19-$79 | | Security risk (avg breach cost) | $4.88M x 12% chance | Negligible | | Setup and debugging time | 4-8 hours ($200-400) | 30 minutes ($0) | | Maintenance time | 2 hrs/month ($1,200/yr) | Included in updates | | Support when broken | None (figure it out) | Included | | Expected annual cost | $1,400+ (just time) + risk | $19-$79 (one-time) |
"We banned our team from using unverified agents after a security audit found three agents with data exfiltration capabilities. The "free" agents almost cost us millions.
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Marketplace Trends in 2026
Consolidation Is Coming
The marketplace landscape will consolidate. Expect 3-5 dominant platforms by 2027, similar to how app stores consolidated around Apple and Google.
Verification Becomes Standard
As regulations like the EU AI Act take effect, security verification will shift from "nice to have" to legal requirement. Marketplaces that already verify will be ahead.
One-Time Pricing Gains Ground
The subscription fatigue affecting SaaS is pushing buyers toward one-time purchase models. Marketplaces offering perpetual licenses see higher conversion rates.
Specialization
General-purpose marketplaces will compete with vertical-specific platforms — agent stores for healthcare, legal, finance, and other regulated industries.
Our Recommendation
For small and mid-size businesses: Use a curated, verified marketplace. The security verification and one-time pricing model offers the best balance of safety, value, and convenience. EasyClaw is built specifically for this use case.
For enterprise: Platform-specific stores or enterprise platforms may be necessary for compliance and integration requirements. But consider supplementing with curated marketplace agents for non-core workflows.
For personal experimentation: Open registries are fine if you use proper sandboxing. Never run unverified agents with access to real data or accounts.
Getting Started Safely
The most important thing is to start with agents you can trust. Browse verified AI agents at EasyClaw.store/agents — every agent is security-audited, developer-verified, and backed by refund guarantees.
Last updated: February 21, 2026