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IGDB.com vs Scryfall

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

APIIGDB.comNEW—ScryfallNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthapiKeynone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedCard data free to use; MTG content © Wizards of the Coast (see docs)
Free tierFree tier — API key requiredFree, 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

IGDB.com vs Scryfall: common questions

Which is more reliable, IGDB.com or Scryfall?

On our scheduled checks, Scryfall leads on measured uptime — IGDB.com 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 IGDB.com and Scryfall need an API key?

Scryfall needs no key, while IGDB.com requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Scryfall first.

Can I call IGDB.com and Scryfall from the browser?

Only Scryfall is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. IGDB.com needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are IGDB.com and Scryfall free for commercial use?

IGDB.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.