Find the best sports odds API for your betting app, odds comparison tool, or analytics platform. Compare pregame odds, live odds, and closing lines from 40+ sportsbooks.
A sports odds API is a developer tool that provides programmatic access to betting odds from multiple sportsbooks. Instead of manually visiting different betting sites or scraping data (which violates terms of service), odds APIs deliver clean, structured betting data through REST APIs or WebSocket connections.
Sports odds APIs aggregate data from major sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, Pinnacle, Bet365, and many others. They provide real-time updates on betting lines including moneylines, spreads, totals, player props, futures, and same-game parlays across all major sports.
Building a sports betting application, odds comparison site, or analytics tool requires reliable, real-time odds data. Sports odds APIs solve several critical problems:
See side-by-side comparisons of pricing, features, sportsbook coverage, and free tiers.
Browse API Directory →The sports odds API market has several established providers, each with different strengths. Here are the leading options:
Best For: Developers seeking a free tier and comprehensive documentation
Coverage: 40+ sportsbooks, 30+ sports, pregame & live odds
Free Tier: 500 requests/month
Pricing: From $50/month for 10,000 requests
Highlights: Excellent documentation, RESTful API, generous free tier, historical odds available, strong community support
Best For: Low-latency live odds via WebSocket
Coverage: 40+ US sportsbooks, all major sports, player props, SGP odds
Free Tier: 7-day free trial
Pricing: From $29/month
Highlights: WebSocket support for sub-second updates, player props, SGP odds, bet deeplinks, closing lines, active Discord support
Best For: Advanced features including arbitrage detection
Coverage: 50+ sportsbooks, pregame & live odds, player props
Free Tier: 14-day free trial
Pricing: Contact for pricing
Highlights: Arbitrage opportunities, positive EV bets, comprehensive market coverage, proven track record
Best For: International sportsbooks and esports
Coverage: 100+ international bookmakers, extensive esports coverage
Free Tier: Trial available
Pricing: Enterprise pricing
Highlights: Massive global coverage, ideal for international markets, comprehensive esports data
Different sports odds APIs provide various types of betting markets. Understanding what's available helps you choose the right provider:
Pregame odds (also called "futures odds" when far in advance) are betting lines available before an event starts. This is the most common data type and is offered by virtually all odds APIs.
Live odds update in real-time as games progress, with lines changing based on score, time remaining, and in-game events. This requires low-latency infrastructure and is typically more expensive than pregame data.
Learn more about live sports odds APIs →
Closing odds are the final lines offered by sportsbooks just before an event begins. They're considered the most efficient market price and are essential for strategy evaluation.
Explore historical odds data APIs →
Player proposition bets focus on individual player performance (points scored, yards gained, strikeouts, etc.).
Find player props API providers →
SGP odds allow multiple bets from the same game to be combined into a parlay with calculated odds.
Long-term bets on season outcomes (championship winners, MVP, win totals, playoff seeding).
Sports odds APIs power a wide variety of betting and sports analytics applications:
Build platforms like JediBets that show which sportsbook offers the best lines for each game. Display moneylines, spreads, and totals from 10-40+ sportsbooks side-by-side.
Required features: Pregame odds, multiple sportsbooks, regular updates
Identify arbitrage opportunities (guaranteed profit by betting all outcomes) or positive expected value bets (where your edge exceeds the vig).
Required features: Real-time odds, wide sportsbook coverage, low latency
Create apps that display in-game betting opportunities with real-time odds updates as the game progresses.
Required features: Live odds via WebSocket, sub-second latency, reliable uptime
Build tools that analyze line movements, track closing line value, backtest betting strategies, and identify market inefficiencies.
Required features: Historical odds, closing lines, comprehensive coverage
Automated bots that alert communities to line movements, best odds, arbitrage opportunities, or positive EV bets in real-time.
Required features: API with webhooks or frequent polling, affordable pricing
Machine learning models that predict game outcomes and compare predictions to market odds to identify value bets.
Required features: Historical odds, stats integration, closing lines
iOS/Android applications that aggregate odds from multiple sportsbooks, allow bet tracking, and provide betting recommendations.
Required features: Full API access, bet deeplinks, reliable uptime
Integrate real-time betting odds into fantasy sports platforms to show player prop odds alongside fantasy projections.
Required features: Player props API, stats integration
Selecting the best sports odds API for your needs requires evaluating several key factors:
Identify which sports and leagues your application needs:
Some APIs specialize in US markets, while others like BetConstruct focus on international bookmakers. Check the API directory for specific sport coverage.
More sportsbooks = more comprehensive odds comparison:
APIs typically cover 5-50+ sportsbooks. More isn't always better—focus on the books your users actually use.
How quickly do you need odds updates?
Lower latency typically costs more. Match your needs to your budget.
Sports odds API pricing varies dramatically:
Start with a free tier to validate your concept before committing to paid plans.
Consider the technical implementation:
Do you need past odds data?
Not all APIs include historical data—some charge extra. See our historical odds API guide.
Advanced features that differentiate providers:
Join our Discord community of 500+ developers to get personalized recommendations.
Join Discord Community →Integrating a sports odds API into your application typically follows these steps:
Start with a free tier or trial from providers like The-Odds-API, SportsGamesOdds, or OddsJam. Create an account and obtain your API key.
Read the API documentation to understand:
Most sports odds APIs use RESTful endpoints. Here's a basic example using JavaScript:
// Example: Fetching NFL odds from a sports odds API
const API_KEY = 'your_api_key_here';
const SPORT = 'americanfootball_nfl';
const API_URL = `https://api.example.com/v4/sports/${SPORT}/odds`;
fetch(`${API_URL}?apiKey=${API_KEY}®ions=us&markets=h2h,spreads,totals`)
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
console.log('Current NFL odds:', data);
// Process and display odds data
})
.catch(error => console.error('Error fetching odds:', error));Sports odds APIs return structured JSON with odds data. Typical response structure:
{
"id": "game123",
"sport_key": "americanfootball_nfl",
"commence_time": "2025-01-26T18:00:00Z",
"home_team": "Kansas City Chiefs",
"away_team": "Buffalo Bills",
"bookmakers": [
{
"key": "draftkings",
"title": "DraftKings",
"markets": [
{
"key": "h2h",
"outcomes": [
{"name": "Kansas City Chiefs", "price": -120},
{"name": "Buffalo Bills", "price": +100}
]
}
]
}
]
}To minimize API calls and stay within rate limits:
Implement proper error handling:
A sports odds API is a programming interface that provides real-time and historical betting odds from multiple sportsbooks. It allows developers to integrate live betting lines, pregame odds, and closing lines into betting applications, odds comparison tools, and sports analytics platforms without scraping data or violating sportsbook terms of service.
The best sports odds API depends on your specific needs. For comprehensive sportsbook coverage and a generous free tier, The-Odds-API is popular among developers. For low-latency live odds via WebSocket, SportsGamesOdds and OddsJam excel. For player props and SGP odds, look for providers with direct sportsbook partnerships. Compare all providers →
Sports odds API pricing ranges from free tiers (100-500 requests/month) to enterprise plans ($1000+/month). Basic paid plans start around $20-50/month for pregame odds with 10,000-50,000 requests. Live odds, player props, and high request volumes typically cost $200-500/month. Many providers offer free trials to test features before committing. Explore free options →
Most sports odds APIs cover major American sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAAF, NCAAB) and popular international sports like Soccer, Tennis, MMA, Cricket, Rugby, Golf, and Esports. Coverage varies by provider—some focus on US sportsbooks and markets, while others specialize in international bookmakers and leagues. Check each provider's sport list in our comparison directory.
Yes, several sports odds APIs provide live (in-play) odds that update in real-time as games progress. Providers like SportsGamesOdds, OddsJam, and others offer WebSocket connections for sub-second updates or fast polling endpoints. Live odds are typically more expensive than pregame data due to infrastructure requirements. Learn more about live odds APIs →
Some sports odds APIs include player proposition bets (player props), but this is typically a premium feature requiring paid plans. Player props include markets like points scored, rebounds, assists, passing yards, touchdowns, home runs, and strikeouts across NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and Soccer. Check our player props API guide for providers offering this data.
Yes, several providers offer permanent free tiers with 100-500 API requests per month. The-Odds-API provides 500 free requests monthly, while others offer time-limited free trials (7-30 days) with full feature access. Free tiers are excellent for development, testing, prototyping, and small-scale projects. See all free options →
REST APIs require you to repeatedly request data (polling), which can have 5-60 second delays between updates. WebSocket APIs maintain a persistent connection where the server pushes odds changes to you instantly (often under 1 second). WebSockets are essential for live betting, arbitrage detection, and other time-sensitive applications, but typically cost more than REST-only access.
Yes, sports odds APIs are designed for commercial use including betting apps, odds comparison sites, and analytics platforms. However, check each provider's terms of service regarding redistribution, reselling data, and attribution requirements. Most providers allow commercial use but prohibit directly reselling raw data to competitors.
Sports odds APIs typically cover 5-50+ sportsbooks depending on the provider and pricing tier. Common US sportsbooks include DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, PointsBet, Barstool, and Pinnacle. International coverage includes Bet365, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Betfair, and regional books. Sharp bettors often prioritize APIs covering Pinnacle and Circa Sports for accurate closing line values.
Explore our comprehensive directory of sports odds API providers, compare features and pricing, and find the perfect fit for your betting application or analytics platform.