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Pokémon TCG vs Scryfall

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

APIPokémon TCGDYING32ScryfallHEALTHY71
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d17.6%96.1%
Uptime · 30d15.0%98.3%
P50 · ms797470
P95 · ms44192767
Authnonenone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverified (Pokémon IP)Card data free to use; MTG content © Wizards of the Coast (see docs)
Free tierFree; no key ~1,000 req/day & 30/min, free key ~20,000 req/day (documented)Free, no API key required
Rate limitWithout key: ~30 req/min, 1,000 req/day (documented)~10 requests/second; docs ask for 50-100 ms between requests
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Pokémon TCG vs Scryfall: common questions

Which is more reliable, Pokémon TCG or Scryfall?

On our scheduled checks, Scryfall leads on measured uptime — Pokémon TCG at 17.6% 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, Pokémon TCG or Scryfall?

Scryfall has the lower median latency in our checks — Pokémon TCG responds in 797 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 Pokémon TCG and Scryfall need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Pokémon TCG 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 Pokémon TCG and Scryfall from the browser?

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

Are Pokémon TCG and Scryfall free for commercial use?

Pokémon TCG 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.