Scryfall vs Universalis
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Scryfall vs Universalis: common questions
Which is more reliable, Scryfall or Universalis?
On our scheduled checks, Universalis leads on measured uptime — Scryfall at 92.1% versus Universalis at 98.3% 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, Scryfall or Universalis?
Universalis has the lower median latency in our checks — Scryfall responds in 205 ms versus Universalis at 149 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 Scryfall and Universalis need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — Scryfall is callable with no signup, and Universalis is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call Scryfall and Universalis from the browser?
Yes — both Scryfall and Universalis 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 Universalis free for commercial use?
Scryfall has unclear commercial terms, and Universalis 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.