TCG API vs Pokemon TCG API
PokemonTCG.io is the go-to free API for Pokemon card data — images, attacks, abilities, and set details. TCG API focuses on what PokemonTCG.io does not: real-time market pricing data, and coverage across every trading card game, not just Pokemon. Here is how they compare.
Feature Comparison
Key Differences
Different data, different purpose. PokemonTCG.io is a card encyclopedia — it gives you everything about a Pokemon card: attacks, HP, weaknesses, retreat costs, abilities, and high-resolution images. TCG API is a pricing engine — it gives you what that card is worth on the market right now, what it was worth last week, and whether the price is trending up or down.
Pokemon-only vs every game. PokemonTCG.io covers Pokemon exclusively and does it with remarkable depth. TCG API covers every trading card game on TCGPlayer — Pokemon included, plus Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Lorcana, One Piece, Flesh and Blood, and 85+ more.
They work great together. Many developers use both APIs in tandem: PokemonTCG.io for card details, images, and gameplay data, and TCG API for real-time pricing, price history, and price trend tracking. The two APIs complement each other well for Pokemon-focused projects.
When to Choose Each
Choose TCG API when...
- ✓ You need real-time market pricing data
- ✓ You are building a price tracker or portfolio value calculator
- ✓ You need price history and trend data for investment decisions
- ✓ Your project covers multiple trading card games, not just Pokemon
- ✓ You want Normal and Foil pricing broken out separately
Choose PokemonTCG.io when...
- ✓ You need detailed Pokemon card gameplay data (attacks, abilities, HP)
- ✓ You need high-resolution card images
- ✓ You are building a deck builder or Pokedex-style card browser
- ✓ You want official SDKs in your language of choice
- ✓ You need a completely free API with generous rate limits
Pro tip: Use both together
For Pokemon projects that need both card data and pricing, pair PokemonTCG.io for card details and images with TCG API for market prices, price history, and trend tracking. Match cards between the two APIs using set codes and card numbers.
Try TCG API
Get real-time Pokemon card pricing with a single API call:
curl https://api.tcgapi.dev/v1/games/pokemon/cards?q=pikachu \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
// Response includes pricing data:
// "market_price": 12.50,
// "low_price": 8.00,
// "mid_price": 11.25,
// "price_change_24h": 0.75,
// "price_change_7d": -1.20Ready to add pricing data to your Pokemon project?
Get started with 100 free requests per day. No credit card required.