# nflverse

> Community open-source NFL data project: play-by-play since 1999, rosters, schedules and player stats distributed as downloadable files with R and Python loader packages. Data mostly CC-BY 4.0.

Canonical page: https://sportdex.net/providers/nflverse/  
Last checked: 2026-11-03  
SportDex Score: 67/100 (rank 5; popularity 48, community 72, transparency 90, developer experience 69)

## Facts
- Type: Free / open data
- Website: https://github.com/nflverse
- Documentation: https://pypi.org/project/nflreadpy/
- Pricing page: unknown
- Sports: American football
- Data types: Fixtures, Historical data, Play-by-play, Player stats, Results, Team stats
- Protocols: CSV download, SDK only
- Delivery: CSV download, SDK only
- Live / in-play: not disclosed
- Free tier: yes
- Cheapest public paid plan: not public
- Key competitions: NFL
- Commercial use: Allowed
- Redistribution: Allowed
- Authentication: none
- SDKs: r, python

## Plans
| Plan | Price | Requests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open data | Free | — | CC-BY 4.0 data (FTN data CC-BY-SA 4.0); MIT-licensed code |

## Who it is for

Best for: Analysts and modellers who want free NFL play-by-play since 1999 and stats via R and Python packages.

Not ideal for: Live apps needing real-time feeds or a hosted REST API; data is distributed as files through loader packages.

Use cases: NFL modelling; Play-by-play research; Fantasy analysis

Limitations:
- File and package access, no hosted REST API
- FTN data is CC-BY-SA 4.0 (share-alike)
- Attribution required
- NFL only

## Quick answers

**What is nflverse best for?** Analysts and modellers who want free NFL play-by-play since 1999 and stats via R and Python packages. Not ideal for: Live apps needing real-time feeds or a hosted REST API; data is distributed as files through loader packages.

**How much does nflverse cost?** nflverse does not publish prices on the pages we checked.

**Does nflverse have a free tier?** Yes. nflverse lists a free plan called "Open data".

**What does nflverse cover?** nflverse is a free / open data. Its sports: American football; data: Fixtures, Historical data, Play-by-play, Player stats, Results, Team stats.

**Does nflverse have a WebSocket or streaming API?** No streaming is listed. nflverse delivers data by CSV download, SDK only, so you poll for updates.

**Can I use nflverse data commercially or for betting?** According to the public terms of nflverse — commercial use: allowed; redistribution: allowed; storing data: allowed.

**What do developers say about nflverse?** Open-source NFL data (play-by-play, rosters, schedules, player stats) distributed as files with R and Python loaders, under CC-BY. Widely used by fantasy dashboards, dynasty tools, waiver-wire content and sportsdataverse packages; chosen as a free primary source or schedule fallback. Not a live REST API, so real-time needs require other providers.

**What are the alternatives to nflverse?** Close alternatives in the SportDex catalog: CollegeFootballData.com, Sportradar, CollegeBasketballData.com, Retrosheet, EuroLeague API.

## What developers say

Open-source NFL data (play-by-play, rosters, schedules, player stats) distributed as files with R and Python loaders, under CC-BY. Widely used by fantasy dashboards, dynasty tools, waiver-wire content and sportsdataverse packages; chosen as a free primary source or schedule fallback. Not a live REST API, so real-time needs require other providers.

Praised for: Free open data with deep play-by-play history; R and Python packages and many dependent projects; Handy fallback when ESPN endpoints fail

## Method
Facts were read from the provider's own pages on 2026-11-03. Empty fields mean the provider does not say, not that a feature is missing. Method: https://sportdex.net/methodology/