Chess.com vs Scryfall
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Chess.com vs Scryfall: common questions
Which is more reliable, Chess.com or Scryfall?
On our scheduled checks, Chess.com leads on measured uptime — Chess.com at 99.02% versus Scryfall at 96.1% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.
Which is faster, Chess.com or Scryfall?
Chess.com has the lower median latency in our checks — Chess.com responds in 168 ms versus Scryfall at 470 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.
Do Chess.com and Scryfall need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — Chess.com 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 Chess.com and Scryfall from the browser?
Yes — both Chess.com 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 Chess.com and Scryfall free for commercial use?
Chess.com 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.