# SockOdds vs The Odds API
URL: https://sockodds.com/compare/the-odds-api/

> SockOdds vs The Odds API (2026): Australian bookmaker coverage, pricing, sharp books, deeplinks and developer tooling. An honest, fact-based comparison.

SockOdds and The Odds API both serve sports odds over REST, but they are built for different markets. SockOdds is the Australian extension of the SportsGameOdds schema: 21 Australian bookmakers with bet-slip deeplinks, AFL, NRL and cricket, in an `oddID` grammar thousands of developers already parse.

**Choose The Odds API if** you want the cheapest entry credits or futures/outrights. **Choose SockOdds if** you need Australian bookmakers, Australian codes, or you already build on SportsGameOdds and want the same shape for the AU market.

## SockOdds vs The Odds API at a glance

| Feature | SockOdds | The Odds API |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Australian bookmakers | 21 with bet-slip deeplinks: Sportsbet, Unibet, TAB, PlayUp, TABtouch, BetRight… | An AU region with the major Australian brands; no AU bet-slip links |
| Australian codes | AFL, AFLW, NRL, NRLW, State of Origin, rugby union internationals, IPL | Varies — not the focus |
| Bookmakers | 25 | 40+ brands (own count) |
| Sharp books / exchanges | Pinnacle, Betfair Exchange, ProphetX; Kalshi and Polymarket | Pinnacle (EU only, scraped, may lag) |
| Free tier | 10 req/min, AFL + NRL, 3 books, no card, never expires | 500 credits/mo, no card |
| Pricing model | Per request rate and scope; one event with every market and book is one object | Per credit: markets × regions per call, $0–$249/mo |
| Schema | SportsGameOdds v2 — drop-in for SGO clients and SDKs | Proprietary |
| Streaming | Polling every ~2 min; streaming endpoint reserved (501) | REST only |
| Settlement | Status flags, results where sourced, scoringSupported per market | Scores only |
| Update speed | ~2 minutes | — |
| Player props | 188 markets in the same event object | Varies |
| Deeplinks | Event and bet-slip links from the books' own ids | — |
| Historical data | Finished events retained from 2026-09; no open/close snapshots | — |
| SDKs + MCP | The five SGO SDKs and MCP server, base URL pointed here | — |

Figures for The Odds API are as verified against its public pages by SportsGameOdds in June 2026 ([source](https://sportsgameodds.com/compare/the-odds-api)); "—" means we make no claim. Verify against the provider before relying on any of them.

## Why developers choose SockOdds over The Odds API for Australia

- **The books your users hold accounts with.** Sportsbet, TAB, Ladbrokes, Neds, PointsBet, Unibet and bet365, with `links.betslip` strategies so an odds comparison ends on the bet.
- **The codes Australia watches.** AFL and NRL are first-class, with 1,418 AFL player-prop odds priced right now.
- **No new schema.** If you have ever parsed a SportsGameOdds event, you have parsed an SockOdds event.
- **Honest flags.** `available`, `info.stale` and `notice` say exactly what the feed knows and what your plan withheld.

## Where The Odds API still leads

The Odds API is the right choice when you want the cheapest entry credits or futures/outrights. SockOdds does not stream, does not snapshot opening and closing prices yet, and covers the world's leagues only as far as Australian books price them.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is SockOdds cheaper than The Odds API?

SockOdds has a free tier that never expires and a $69/month plan with every league; The Odds API: Per credit: markets × regions per call, $0–$249/mo. Which is cheaper depends on how many books and markets you pull — SockOdds never multiplies the bill by either.

### Does The Odds API cover Australian bookmakers?

An AU region with the major Australian brands; no AU bet-slip links.

### Can I use SockOdds and The Odds API together?

Yes. Many products use a US-focused feed for US books and SockOdds for the Australian market; the SportsGameOdds grammar makes the join on eventID and oddID straightforward.

### Does SockOdds have a free tier?

Yes — 10 requests a minute on AFL and NRL from 3 bookmakers, no card.

## Compare other odds API providers

[vs OpticOdds](https://sockodds.com/compare/opticodds/) · [vs SportsDataIO](https://sockodds.com/compare/sportsdataio/) · [vs Unabated](https://sockodds.com/compare/unabated/) · [vs TheRundown](https://sockodds.com/compare/therundown/) · [vs Sportradar](https://sockodds.com/compare/sportradar/)

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