# Can I search SAM.gov data without an API key? Yes. SAM.gov's website searches without a key, USAspending's API needs no key for awards, and this site's MCP search and fetch tools need no key: they find companies by name, UEI or CAGE, NAICS codes and open notices, and return each as markdown with its data date. Every lookup page also has a .md version. The official SAM.gov API always needs a key, even the 10-a-day public one.Checked on 2026-11-15.Official source: [USAspending API](https://api.usaspending.gov/docs/endpoints) | Keyless MCP tools | search, fetch | | --- | --- | | Markdown pages | Append .md to a lookup URL | | USAspending | Keyless | | SAM.gov API | Always needs a key | ## The answer in detail The official SAM.gov API always needs a key, even the 10-a-day public one. That makes quick checks from scripts and AI assistants awkward, which is what the keyless tools here are for.Keyless tools have per-client rate limits and return single records or short result lists, not bulk lists. The free plan (100 credits a month, no card) adds filters, pagination and the rest of the API.Append .md to any lookup URL, such as /entity/UAVDK5WWYDZ5.md or /naics/541512.md, to get the same record as markdown with its sources. ## How the options compare | Option | Price | Access and limits | Coverage and history | Best for | Checked | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [SAM.gov APIs (official)](https://open.gsa.gov/api/entity-api/) | Free | 10 requests a day with no SAM.gov role, 1,000 with a role or a non-federal system account; keys expire every 90 days | The live, authoritative record: entities, opportunities, exclusions, contract awards, hierarchy, subawards | Anyone who needs the official record itself, at low volume | 2026-11-12 | | [USAspending API (official)](https://api.usaspending.gov/docs/endpoints) | Free, no key | No key and no published daily cap | Prime awards and subawards back to FY2001; no SAM.gov registration status or expiry | Award and spending history | 2026-11-12 | | [sam-gov-mcp (open source, PyPI)](https://pypi.org/project/sam-gov-mcp/) | Free | Hosted edition: no key, 6 tools; local edition: 20 tools on your own SAM.gov key, so SAM.gov's daily limits apply | Wraps the official SAM.gov REST APIs live (version 1.0.18, released 27 Oct 2026) | Agents that need a few live SAM.gov calls a day | 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 - Keyless search returns short result lists; filters by set-aside, deadline or expiry need a key. ## Try it Search, then fetch one result, with no key. ``` # No key needed: the hosted MCP server's search tool curl -s https://samgovapi.io/api/mcp -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"search","arguments":{"query":"541330 SDVOSB"}}}' # No key needed: the hosted MCP server's fetch tool curl -s https://samgovapi.io/api/mcp -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"fetch","arguments":{"id":"naics:541330"}}}' ``` ## Questions Is keyless search rate-limited?Yes, per client, to keep it free for everyone.Does the keyless search include awards?Company pages show their latest loaded awards; award search needs a key. ## Related - [MCP server](https://samgovapi.io/mcp) - [UEI lookup](https://samgovapi.io/uei-lookup) - [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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HTML version: https://samgovapi.io/answers/search-sam-gov-data-without-api-key . Markdown: https://samgovapi.io/answers/search-sam-gov-data-without-api-key.md

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.

Get a free API key: https://samgovapi.io/sign-up?ref=ai-claudebot