TCGApi vs Universalis

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%96.1%
Uptime · 30d100%95.0%
P50 · ms66215
P95 · ms2431304
AuthapiKeynone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified; crowdsourced data
Free tierFree tier — API key may be required for productionFree, no API key required
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

TCGApi vs Universalis: common questions

Which is more reliable, TCGApi or Universalis?

On our scheduled checks, TCGApi leads on measured uptime — TCGApi at 100% versus Universalis 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, TCGApi or Universalis?

TCGApi has the lower median latency in our checks — TCGApi responds in 66 ms versus Universalis at 215 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 TCGApi and Universalis need an API key?

Universalis needs no key, while TCGApi requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Universalis first.

Can I call TCGApi and Universalis from the browser?

Yes — both TCGApi 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 TCGApi and Universalis free for commercial use?

TCGApi 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.