# SAM.gov API vs samgovapi.io It depends on volume. The official SAM.gov API is free and authoritative but allows 10 requests a day without a SAM.gov role (1,000 with one), returns 10 entities per page and needs a new key every 90 days. SAM Gov API serves the same public data with per-minute limits, joins USAspending awards, and adds MCP; Free plan: 100 credits a month and 20 requests a minute, no card.Checked on 2026-11-12.Official source: [open.gsa.gov](https://open.gsa.gov/api/entity-api/) | SAM.gov API (official) | Free | | --- | --- | | SAM Gov API | Free $0, Developer $49/mo, Pro $149/mo, Scale $499/mo | ## Should you use the official SAM.gov API or samgovapi.io? It depends on volume. The official SAM.gov API is free and authoritative but allows 10 requests a day without a SAM.gov role (1,000 with one), returns 10 entities per page and needs a new key every 90 days. SAM Gov API serves the same public data with per-minute limits, joins USAspending awards, and adds MCP; Free plan: 100 credits a month and 20 requests a minute, no card. Paid: Developer $49/mo (10,000 credits), Pro $149/mo (50,000 credits), Scale $499/mo (250,000 credits). ## Side by side | Option | Price (checked 12 Nov 2026) | API access | Public pages | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | SAM.gov API (official) | Free | 10 requests a day without a role; 1,000 with a role or system account | SAM.gov search (single-page app) | Low-volume checks and anyone who needs the official record itself | | SAM Gov API | Free $0, Developer $49/mo, Pro $149/mo, Scale $499/mo | REST and MCP on every plan; 100 free credits a month | Free lookup tools plus NAICS, glossary and comparison reference pages | Developers, AI agents and small contractors who want the public data as an API | ## About SAM.gov API (official) The official SAM.gov APIs on api.sam.gov cover entity registrations, opportunities, exclusions, contract awards, extracts, the federal hierarchy and subawards. Entity search returns 10 records per page and only the first 10,000 are reachable; the Opportunities API needs postedFrom and postedTo dates within one year; keys and system account passwords must be rotated every 90 days, and system accounts only accept calls from allowlisted IP addresses. ## Limits compared | | SAM.gov API | SAM Gov API | | --- | --- | --- | | Daily cap | 10 (no role), 1,000 (role) | None; per-minute and monthly | | Entity page size | 10 | Up to 100 | | Key expiry | 90 days | Until you revoke it | | Awards joined | Separate Contract Awards API | Joined by UEI | | MCP | No | Yes | ## How we compared Prices, limits and page counts are as published by each vendor or measured from their public sitemaps on 2026-11-12. We do not use private quotes. Where a number is reported by a third party, it says so. Corrections: support@samgovapi.io. ## Questions Is samgovapi.io official?No. It is independent and built on SAM.gov and USAspending public data. Registering in SAM.gov is free at sam.gov. ## Related - [Comparisons](https://samgovapi.io/compare) - [Pricing](https://samgovapi.io/pricing) - [SAM.gov API](https://samgovapi.io/sam-gov-api)Updated 2026-11-12. Sources checked 2026-11-12.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/compare/sam-gov-api-vs-samgovapi . Markdown: https://samgovapi.io/compare/sam-gov-api-vs-samgovapi.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.

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