Tool Comparison
EIA Open Data vs USAspending
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, API
Best if
- You want calendar and sheets / excel add-ins.
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, API
Best if
- You want videos and other.
Pick EIA Open Data if
EIA Open Data
Free · Web · API
- You want calendar and sheets / excel add-ins.
Pick USAspending if
USAspending
Free · Web · API
- You want videos and other.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
EIA Open Data and USAspending cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, APIs & data feeds, data visualizations, and official sources), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. EIA Open Data includes calendar and sheets / excel add-ins, and USAspending includes videos and other.
What readers say
EIA Open Data
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USAspending
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Key differences at a glance
- Global coverage
- EIA Open Data
- Asset coverage
- EIA Open DataAdds commodities
- Free plan
- Both
What EIA Open Data does best
- Energy data across electricity, petroleum, natural gas, coal, renewables, nuclear, consumption, prices, reserves, and international markets.
- API v2 with hierarchical dataset discovery, facets, date filters, pagination, and JSON or XML responses.
- API v2 reads EIA's public databases directly and receives continuous, dataset-specific updates.
- Hourly electricity operating data alongside daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual statistical series where available.
- Bulk-file downloads, browser data tools, widgets, and a Microsoft Excel add-in.
What USAspending does best
- Search federal awards, recipients, agencies, accounts, contracts, grants, loans, direct payments, insurance, and other assistance records.
- Advanced Search filters such as award type, date, place of performance, NAICS, PSC, Assistance Listing, agency, recipient, and disaster-emergency funding codes.
- Explore spending through Spending Explorer, agency profiles, and federal-account profiles before opening awards and recipients.
- The public REST API V2 with JSON responses for award and account workflows; current endpoint docs say authorization is not required.
- Download award archives, filtered awards, account data, search results, award profiles, and database files.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free | Free |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | No |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Integrations | Microsoft Excel Add-In | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Analysts, Quants/Developers +2 more | — |
Categories covered | 5 | 5 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | Latency: End of Day and Granularity: EOD |
| Try it | Visit EIA Open Data | Visit USAspending |
Standout features
The best features of EIA Open Data and USAspending.ShowHide
Standout features
What EIA Open Data does best
- Energy data across electricity, petroleum, natural gas, coal, renewables, nuclear, consumption, prices, reserves, and international markets.
- API v2 with hierarchical dataset discovery, facets, date filters, pagination, and JSON or XML responses.
- API v2 reads EIA's public databases directly and receives continuous, dataset-specific updates.
- Hourly electricity operating data alongside daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual statistical series where available.
- Bulk-file downloads, browser data tools, widgets, and a Microsoft Excel add-in.
What USAspending does best
- Search federal awards, recipients, agencies, accounts, contracts, grants, loans, direct payments, insurance, and other assistance records.
- Advanced Search filters such as award type, date, place of performance, NAICS, PSC, Assistance Listing, agency, recipient, and disaster-emergency funding codes.
- Explore spending through Spending Explorer, agency profiles, and federal-account profiles before opening awards and recipients.
- The public REST API V2 with JSON responses for award and account workflows; current endpoint docs say authorization is not required.
- Download award archives, filtered awards, account data, search results, award profiles, and database files.
All details
Every attribute we track for EIA Open Data and USAspending.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | CommoditiesOther | Other |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | AnalystsQuants/DevelopersInstitutional InvestorsStudents/Researchers | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North America |
Coverage details | Countries: US | Countries: US |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Not specified | End of Day |
Data granularity | Not specified | EOD |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | REST |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeyDocs | Auth: None |
Integrations | Microsoft Excel Add-In | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVExcelJSONXML | CSVJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Vendor & support | U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)Country: USSupport: Email and Phone | U.S. Department of the Treasury - Bureau of the Fiscal ServiceCountry: USSupport: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 5/5Reliability 5/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Free public access” | Free |
Free alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between EIA Open Data and USAspending?
EIA Open Data leans toward APIs & data feeds, data visualizations, and calendar, while USAspending puts more weight on APIs & data feeds, data visualizations, and videos. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do EIA Open Data and USAspending cost?
Good news: both EIA Open Data and USAspending have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Do EIA Open Data and USAspending have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose EIA Open Data or USAspending?
It depends on what you're after. Pick EIA Open Data if calendar and sheets / excel add-ins matter to you; go with USAspending if you'd rather have videos and other. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do EIA Open Data and USAspending cover?
Both cover other. EIA Open Data also handles commodities.
Which covers international markets: EIA Open Data or USAspending?
EIA Open Data has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. USAspending is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from EIA Open Data and USAspending?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.