name: USDA API Plans and Pricing
description: All USDA public APIs are provided as a free government service with no commercial pricing tiers. Access is governed by agency-specific terms of service and api.data.gov usage policies.
url: https://api.data.gov/docs/developer-manual/
created: '2026-06-13'
modified: '2026-06-13'
plans:
  - name: Free (No Key)
    description: Limited demo access available for the FoodData Central API using the DEMO_KEY without registration. Suitable for initial exploration and testing only.
    url: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/api-guide/
    rateLimits:
      - requests: 30
        period: hour
        scope: per IP address
      - requests: 50
        period: day
        scope: per IP address
    features:
      - FoodData Central API read access
      - JSON response format
    apis:
      - USDA FoodData Central API
  - name: Free Registered
    description: Standard free access tier available to all registered users across all USDA APIs. Registration requires providing a valid email address to receive an API key via api.data.gov or the agency-specific portal.
    url: https://api.data.gov/docs/api-key/
    cost: Free
    rateLimits:
      - requests: 1000
        period: hour
        scope: per IP address (FoodData Central)
      - records: 50000
        period: request
        scope: per query (NASS Quick Stats)
      - records: 100000
        period: request
        scope: per query (MyMarketNews registered users)
    features:
      - Access to all USDA public APIs
      - JSON, CSV, and XML response formats (where available)
      - API key-based authentication via api.data.gov
      - Email notification of API updates and new releases
      - Higher default rate limits than demo/unregistered access
    registration:
      - name: FoodData Central API Key
        url: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/api-key-signup/
      - name: NASS Quick Stats API Key
        url: https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/api
      - name: ERS ARMS API Key
        url: https://www.ers.usda.gov/developer/data-apis
      - name: MyMarketNews API Account
        url: https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/mymarketnews-api
    apis:
      - USDA FoodData Central API
      - USDA NASS Quick Stats API
      - USDA ERS ARMS Data API
      - USDA AMS MyMarketNews MARS API
      - USDA NASS CroplandCROS API
      - USDA FSIS MPI Directory API
  - name: Higher Rate Limits (On Request)
    description: Elevated rate limits available on request for applications requiring more than the standard thresholds. Contact the respective USDA agency to request increased limits.
    cost: Free
    contact:
      - name: FoodData Central Rate Limit Request
        url: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/contact/
      - name: api.data.gov Support
        url: https://api.data.gov/contact/
    features:
      - Custom rate limit thresholds above standard defaults
      - Agency review and approval required
      - No commercial cost
notes:
  - All USDA APIs are provided as free public government services under open data policies.
  - FoodData Central data is public domain under CC0 1.0 Universal licensing.
  - NASS data and reports are produced by the federal government and available for public use.
  - api.data.gov is the shared interagency API management platform used by most USDA APIs.