TCG API vs Scryfall
Scryfall is the gold standard for Magic: The Gathering card data. It is free, open, and beloved by the MTG community. TCG API takes a different approach — covering 89+ trading card games with a focus on real-time pricing data from TCGPlayer. Here is how they compare.
Feature Comparison
Key Differences
Game coverage. Scryfall is laser-focused on Magic: The Gathering and does it extraordinarily well. If MTG is all you need, Scryfall's depth is hard to beat. TCG API covers every game on TCGPlayer — Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Lorcana, One Piece, Flesh and Blood, and dozens more — making it the right choice when your project spans multiple games.
Pricing vs card data. Scryfall is a card data API — names, sets, oracle text, rulings, legality, and high-quality images. TCG API is a pricing API — market prices, low/mid/high prices, foil pricing, price changes, and historical price data. They solve different problems.
Access model. Scryfall is completely free with no authentication required. TCG API requires an API key and has tiered pricing, but offers a free tier with 100 requests/day to get started.
When to Choose Each
Choose TCG API when...
- ✓ You need pricing data for any TCG, not just Magic
- ✓ You are building a price tracker, collection value tool, or marketplace
- ✓ You need price history and trend data
- ✓ Your project covers multiple trading card games
Choose Scryfall when...
- ✓ You only need Magic: The Gathering data
- ✓ You need card images, oracle text, and rulings
- ✓ You want a completely free API with no auth
- ✓ You are building an MTG deck builder or card database
Try TCG API
Get real-time pricing data for any trading card game with a single API call:
curl https://api.tcgapi.dev/v1/games/pokemon/cards?q=charizard \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"Ready to try TCG API?
Get started with 100 free requests per day. No credit card required.