# Which sports odds API should I use?

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Canonical: https://novigapi.com/answers/sports-odds-api
Updated: 2026-11-15

Pick by job. For line shopping across sportsbooks, The Odds API ($30 up), ParlayAPI ($5 up) or TheRundown ($49 up); for +EV fields, SharpAPI ($229 Pro); for long history, The Odds API (from June 2020). For one exchange in depth, Novig's book and trades, novigapi.com from $0 (all checked 15 Nov 2026). (Source: [The Odds API: plans](https://the-odds-api.com/#get-access))

Every sports odds API makes the same trade: breadth (how many books), freshness (how many seconds behind), depth (how much per market) and history (how far back). None leads on all four, so start from the one your project cannot do without.

## How the options compare

Best fit by job, checked 15 Nov 2026

| Job | Good fit | Why | Entry price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Line shopping, many US books | The Odds API, ParlayAPI, TheRundown | 23+ US books in one call | $30, $5, $49 a month |
| +EV and no-vig fields | SharpAPI, Unabated | Fair lines computed for you | $229 Pro; $799 Concierge |
| Multi-season backtests | The Odds API, TheRundown | Snapshots from June 2020; up to unlimited history | $30; $649 to $2,499 for long history |
| Push updates | TheRundown Ultra, ParlayAPI Business | WebSocket included | $399; $40 |
| AI agents | TheRundown, Odds-API.io, novigapi.com | MCP servers | $0 tiers or keyless tools |
| Exchange depth (Novig) | novigapi.com, Novig official API | Full book, trades, volume | $0 to start; official API needs an account |


## Where novigapi.com falls short

> novigapi.com is the right pick for one row of this table only. For any job involving many sportsbooks, choose a multi-book feed.

## Try it

```bash
curl -s "https://novigapi.com/api/v1/markets?league=NFL&status=open&limit=5" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $NOVIGAPI_KEY"
```

Read the [endpoint reference](https://novigapi.com/docs/endpoints), compare [plans and credits](https://novigapi.com/pricing), or send a request from the [playground](https://novigapi.com/playground).

## Questions

### What is the most popular sports odds API?

Among self-serve feeds, The Odds API was named most often in 40 AI answers (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Google AI Mode) we sampled on 15 Nov 2026: in 19 of them. It lists 23 US sportsbooks plus fantasy sites and exchanges.

### Do I need a paid plan to start?

No. Every provider in the table except Odds-API.io, OpticOdds and OddsJam listed a free tier on 15 Nov 2026.

## Sources

- [The Odds API: plans](https://the-odds-api.com/#get-access)
- [ParlayAPI: pricing](https://parlay-api.com/pricing)
- [TheRundown: API pricing](https://therundown.io/pricing/api)
- [SharpAPI: pricing](https://sharpapi.io/pricing)
- [Unabated: Odds API overview](https://unabated.com/odds-api)
- [Odds-API.io: pricing](https://odds-api.io/pricing)
- [The Odds API: bookmaker list](https://the-odds-api.com/sports-odds-data/bookmaker-apis.html)
- [novigapi.com endpoint reference](https://novigapi.com/docs/endpoints)

---

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