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Scryfall vs TCGdex

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

APIScryfallNEW—TCGdexNEW—
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 — limits not published
Rate limit~10 requests/second; docs ask for 50-100 ms between requestsUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Scryfall vs TCGdex: common questions

Which is more reliable, Scryfall or TCGdex?

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

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

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

Scryfall 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.