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Scryfall vs CheapShark

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

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

Scryfall vs CheapShark: common questions

Which is more reliable, Scryfall or CheapShark?

On our scheduled checks, CheapShark leads on measured uptime — Scryfall at —% versus CheapShark 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 Scryfall and CheapShark need an API key?

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

Can I call Scryfall and CheapShark from the browser?

Yes — both Scryfall and CheapShark 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 Scryfall and CheapShark free for commercial use?

Scryfall has unclear commercial terms, and CheapShark 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.