Magic: The Gathering vs TCGdex

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d98.0%98.0%
Uptime · 30d96.7%100%
P50 · ms394161
P95 · ms35562128
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — limits not published
Rate limit1000 req/window · 999 remainingUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Magic: The Gathering vs TCGdex: common questions

Which is more reliable, Magic: The Gathering or TCGdex?

Both are neck-and-neck — Magic: The Gathering and TCGdex each measure 98.0% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.

Which is faster, Magic: The Gathering or TCGdex?

TCGdex has the lower median latency in our checks — Magic: The Gathering responds in 394 ms versus TCGdex at 161 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 Magic: The Gathering and TCGdex need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Magic: The Gathering is callable with no signup, and TCGdex is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Magic: The Gathering and TCGdex from the browser?

Yes — both Magic: The Gathering and TCGdex 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 Magic: The Gathering and TCGdex free for commercial use?

Magic: The Gathering has unclear commercial terms, and TCGdex 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.