specification: API Commons Plans
specificationVersion: '0.1'
schema: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/interface-research/main/schema/api-commons.yml#/$defs/Plans
provider: Pokémon TCG API
providerId: pokemon-tcg
created: '2026-07-11'
modified: '2026-07-11'
reconciled: false
tags:
- Pokemon
- Trading Cards
- TCG
- Gaming
- Free
- Plans
description: >-
  The Pokémon TCG API is completely free - there is no paid tier. Access
  differs only by rate limit. Anonymous requests (no API key) are limited to
  1,000 requests/day with a maximum of 30 requests/minute. Signing up for a
  free API key at the Pokémon TCG Developer Portal (dev.pokemontcg.io) and
  sending it in the X-Api-Key header raises the default limit to 20,000
  requests/day, and higher limits can be arranged by contacting the
  maintainer via Discord or email. The project is a community effort by
  Andrew Backes, sustained by voluntary Patreon and Ko-fi donations rather
  than by charging for access.
notes: >-
  There is no billing relationship, no credit card, and no commercial tier.
  The 20,000/day keyed limit is described as a default that can be raised on
  request. Donations via Patreon or Ko-fi help fund server performance but do
  not purchase a formal SLA or higher limits.
sources:
- https://pokemontcg.io
- https://docs.pokemontcg.io/getting-started/authentication
- https://docs.pokemontcg.io/getting-started/rate-limits
- https://dev.pokemontcg.io
plans:
- id: pokemon-tcg-anonymous
  name: Anonymous (No API Key)
  type: free
  description: >-
    Use the full API without signing up. All endpoints (cards, sets, types,
    subtypes, supertypes, rarities) are available, with drastically reduced
    rate limits.
  entries:
  - label: Daily Requests
    name: anonymous_daily_requests
    type: usage
    metric: requests
    limit: 1000
    timeFrame: day
    geo: global
    unit: 1
    price: free
    userMultiplied: false
  - label: Per-Minute Requests
    name: anonymous_minute_requests
    type: usage
    metric: requests
    limit: 30
    timeFrame: minute
    geo: global
    unit: 1
    price: free
    userMultiplied: false
  elements:
  - name: Card Search and Retrieval
  - name: Set Search and Retrieval
  - name: Types, Subtypes, Supertypes, Rarities
  - name: TCGplayer and Cardmarket Prices
  - name: Hi-Res Card Images
- id: pokemon-tcg-free-api-key
  name: Free API Key
  type: free
  description: >-
    Sign up at the Pokémon TCG Developer Portal (dev.pokemontcg.io) for a
    free API key, sent in the X-Api-Key header. Same endpoints as anonymous
    access, with a much higher default rate limit.
  entries:
  - label: Daily Requests
    name: keyed_daily_requests
    type: usage
    metric: requests
    limit: 20000
    timeFrame: day
    geo: global
    unit: 1
    price: free
    userMultiplied: false
  elements:
  - name: Everything in Anonymous
  - name: 20x Higher Daily Limit
  - name: Key Regeneration at Any Time
- id: pokemon-tcg-elevated
  name: Elevated Limits (By Request)
  type: free
  description: >-
    Developers who need more than the default 20,000 requests/day can contact
    the maintainer via Discord or email to discuss a higher limit. No charge
    is published; supporting the project via Patreon or Ko-fi is encouraged.
  entries:
  - label: Daily Requests
    name: elevated_daily_requests
    type: usage
    metric: requests
    limit: -1
    timeFrame: day
    geo: global
    unit: 1
    price: free (negotiated with maintainer; donations encouraged)
    userMultiplied: false
  elements:
  - name: Custom Rate Limits
  - name: Direct Contact with Maintainer
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com