# GovCon API vs samgovapi.io: which federal data API should I use? GovCon API is cheaper ($19 and $39 a month against $49 to $499), has far deeper history (12.27 million contracts and 758,552 notices from FY2025) and more datasets, such as forecasts, protests and attachments. samgovapi.io has a permanent free plan, keyless MCP search, public lookup pages and entity filters by expiry and certification. Pick GovCon API for history.Checked on 2026-11-15.Source: [govconapi.com data page](https://govconapi.com/data) | GovCon API price | $19 and $39 a month | | --- | --- | | samgovapi.io price | Free, then from $49 a month | | GovCon API history | FY2025 onward | | samgovapi.io award history | From 1 Oct 2026 | ## The answer in detail Limits are shaped differently. GovCon API counts requests: 1,000 an hour, 50 a minute burst, up to 1,000 results each. This site counts credits: 1 per lookup, 1 per 100 search rows, with 20 to 180 requests a minute by plan and no daily cap.Free access differs too. GovCon API offers a 14-day trial at 50 requests a day, after which the key stops. The free plan here does not expire, and the keyless MCP tools work without any account.Coverage overlaps on entities (904,090 there, 881,370 here, both monthly), exclusions (165,208 there, 169,191 here) and CALC rates (355,054 against 355,886). GovCon API also serves wage determinations, procurement forecasts and bid protests, which this site does not. ## How the options compare | Option | Price | Access and limits | Coverage and history | Best for | Checked | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [GovCon API (govconapi.com)](https://govconapi.com/pricing) | Developer $19/mo, Pro $39/mo; 14-day trial | 1,000 requests an hour (50 a minute burst); trial 50 a day | 12,265,150 contracts and 758,552 opportunities from FY2025; 904,090 entities, monthly | Developers who want the lowest entry price and FY2025+ history | 2026-11-15 | | [samgovapi.io](https://samgovapi.io/pricing) | Free (100 credits a month, no card); Developer $49/mo, Pro $149/mo, Scale $499/mo | 20 to 180 requests a minute by plan, no daily cap; REST, MCP and keyless MCP search | 881,370 entities (1 Nov 2026 extract), 74,420 notices, 169,191 exclusions, 114,954 awards since 1 Oct 2026 | Developers and AI agents who want entities, bids and exclusions joined in one API | 2026-11-15 | ## Where samgovapi.io is the weaker choice - GovCon API is cheaper: $19 a month for its Developer plan and $39 for Pro, against $49 and $149 here. - Award history is short: 114,954 prime awards with action dates from 1 Oct 2026 to 10 Nov 2026 (fiscal year 2027 so far). USAspending goes back to FY2001 and GovCon API serves 12.27 million contracts from FY2025. - No procurement forecasts, bid protests, wage determinations or attachment search here. ## Dataset by dataset | Dataset | GovCon API (15 Nov 2026) | samgovapi.io (15 Nov 2026) | | --- | --- | --- | | Entities | 904,090, monthly | 881,370, monthly extract | | Opportunities | 758,552 from FY2025 | 74,420, current file | | Contracts / awards | 12,265,150 from FY2025 | 114,954 from 1 Oct 2026 | | Subawards | 276,028 from FY2025 | 461 | | Exclusions | 165,208 | 169,191 | | CALC labor rates | 355,054 | 355,886 | | Forecasts, protests, wage determinations | Yes | No | | Free access | 14-day trial | Permanent free plan, keyless MCP | ## Try it The same entity search on both is one call; here it costs 1 credit per 100 rows. ``` curl "https://samgovapi.io/api/v1/entities?naics=541512&state=VA&status=active&limit=100" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $SAMGOVAPI_API_KEY" ``` ## Questions Do both have an MCP server?Yes. GovCon API's MCP tools count against the key's limits; here search and fetch also work with no key.Can a government buyer pay for either with a purchase card?Yes: both take cards, and a year of either stays under the $15,000 micro-purchase threshold. ## Related - [GovCon API alternative](https://samgovapi.io/compare/govconapi-alternative) - [API docs](https://samgovapi.io/docs) - [Pricing](https://samgovapi.io/pricing) - [Answers](https://samgovapi.io/answers)Updated 2026-11-15. Sources checked 2026-11-15.Independent. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by GSA, SAM.gov or any U.S. government agency. Registering in SAM.gov is free at sam.gov.

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