Is Data.gov free to use?

Yes, Data.gov is listed as a free public API. Visit the official documentation for current rate limits and usage policies.

Does Data.gov require authentication?

Yes, Data.gov requires API Key authentication. Check the documentation for setup instructions.

Data.gov — Free Public API

Overview

api.data.gov is an API gateway for US government data services — each API (College Scorecard, NREL, etc.) needs its own key.

⚠️ Status (verified 2026-08): a guessed path returned HTTP 404 (the gateway serves a portal page) — there’s no universal endpoint; pick a specific dataset API and register for its key.

What it provides

curl "https://api.data.gov/{specific-api}/v1/..." \
  -H "X-Api-Key: YOUR_KEY"

Notes

Gateway host: register once at api.data.gov, then get per-API keys.
Example APIs: College Scorecard, NREL, FEC (many are listed on this site).

FAQ

Is Data.gov free? Yes — free government data (keys per API).

Why 404? The gateway has no universal endpoint (verified) — use a specific API.

What’s the auth style? Per-API keys (often X-Api-Key).

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