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CheapShark vs Scryfall

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

APICheapSharkNEW—ScryfallNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedCard data free to use; MTG content © Wizards of the Coast (see docs)
Free tierFree — no keyFree, no API key required
Rate limitUnpublished~10 requests/second; docs ask for 50-100 ms between requests
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

CheapShark vs Scryfall: common questions

Which is more reliable, CheapShark or Scryfall?

On our scheduled checks, Scryfall leads on measured uptime — CheapShark at —% versus Scryfall at —% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do CheapShark and Scryfall need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — CheapShark is callable with no signup, and Scryfall is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call CheapShark and Scryfall from the browser?

Yes — both CheapShark and Scryfall send CORS headers over HTTPS, so front-end code can fetch either directly with no backend proxy. That makes them easy to swap in a client-side app while you compare responses.

Are CheapShark and Scryfall free for commercial use?

CheapShark has unclear commercial terms, and Scryfall has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.