Data.gov
Data.gov is the U.S. government's central open-data catalog, operated by GSA's Technology Transformation Services under a statutory mandate from the OPEN Government Data Act. It aggregates 543,000+ datasets from 312+ federal, state, local, tribal, and university organizations and offers free public and API access.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersSalem, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Data.gov does
Data.gov is the United States government's central open-data website, operated by the General Services Administration's Technology Transformation Services (TTS) under policy oversight from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS). It functions as a metadata catalog that harvests and aggregates dataset descriptions from federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies as well as universities and non-profits, providing a single searchable interface to 543,239+ datasets contributed by 312+ organizations. The platform is mandated by statute under the OPEN Government Data Act (2019), which requires federal agencies to create and maintain comprehensive metadata inventories harvested into a central GSA-operated catalog.
The platform is built around an automated harvest architecture that supports the DCAT-US 1.1 (JSON) standard for federal civilian agencies — with DCAT-US 3.0 in development — alongside ISO 19115 (XML) for geospatial metadata and legacy CSDGM. Harvest sources are configured with daily, weekly, or monthly schedules. The product surface includes the main data.gov portal, the catalog.data.gov search interface, the harvest.data.gov management portal for agencies, the resources.data.gov enablement hub, the strategy.data.gov policy surface, the metrics.data.gov analytics dashboard, and the api.data.gov key-management and rate-limiting service backing the public Catalog API v4 at api.gsa.gov. Geospatial datasets are federated to GeoPlatform.gov via an integration with the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC).
Data.gov operates as a non-commercial public service: federal data is offered free of charge and without restriction under 17 U.S.C. § 105 (no domestic copyright protection for government works). There is no revenue model, no pricing tiers, and no investor or parent-company structure beyond the federal government. Distribution is purely self-service — web catalog, public RESTful API, and direct downloads — with audience segments spanning the general public, researchers, developers and application builders, federal/state/local/tribal agencies (as publishers), and policymakers. The platform is FISMA-certified and Section 508-accessibility-tested.
Data.gov firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Data.gov
- Legal name
- Data.gov (U.S. General Services Administration)
- Website
- https://data.gov
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Data.gov is the U.S. government's central open-data catalog, operated by GSA's Technology Transformation Services under a statutory mandate from the OPEN Government Data Act. It aggregates 543,000+ datasets from 312+ federal, state, local, tribal, and university organizations and offers free public and API access.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Data.gov industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Open Data Platform
- NAICS
- Administration of Economic Programs (926)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Data Catalog & Metadata Management (HDAEADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Metadata, Catalog & Semantic Layer for Data Platforms (HDAEABAJ), Data Sharing & Data Marketplace Governance (HDAEADAK), National Archives, Records & Information Governance (BPAIAAAG)
Keywords
Where Data.gov is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salem
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Data.gov business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Public Access (No Revenue): Data.gov is a free government service providing open data to the public. Federal data is offered without restriction under 17 U.S.C. § 105 (no domestic copyright protection for government works). No commercial revenue is generated.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free public access to all datasets |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Data.gov product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Data.gov is the U.S. government's central open data catalog that aggregates metadata from federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies. It provides a searchable public interface (catalog.data.gov) for discovering 543,000+ datasets, a RESTful API for programmatic access, and a harvest source management platform (harvest.data.gov) that lets agencies publish and maintain their data inventories. All federal data is offered free of charge under 17 U.S.C. § 105, with the platform operating as a public service under a statutory mandate.
Product overview
Data.gov is the United States government's central open data platform, operating as a metadata catalog that aggregates and displays dataset information from federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies. The platform comprises several interconnected products: the main Data.gov portal serving as the public-facing entry point, Catalog.Data.gov providing dataset search and discovery functionality with 543,239+ datasets, Harvest.Data.gov enabling agencies to manage their metadata harvest sources, and Resources.Data.gov offering guidance and tools for data management. The Data.gov Catalog API (v4) provides programmatic access to the catalog metadata. Additional components include Metrics.Data.gov for usage analytics, Strategy.Data.gov for policy documentation, and Geospatial Data Services for location-based data discovery with GeoPlatform.gov integration. Federal agencies are required under the OPEN Government Data Act to maintain metadata inventories harvested into the central catalog.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- catalog.data.gov: The next-generation Data Catalog for Data.gov
- harvest.data.gov
- resources.data.gov
- strategy.data.gov
- api.data.gov
Products and services
- Data.gov Main Portal The U.S. government's central open data website serving as the public-facing entry point and metadata catalog for federal, state, local, and tribal government datasets, with mission to inform public decisions, drive innovation, and strengthen open government.
- Catalog.Data.gov The next-generation dataset search and listing interface of Data.gov, allowing users to search, filter, and browse 543,239+ datasets available from federal, state, local, and tribal governments, with support for filtering by organization, keyword, geography, and spatial data.
- Harvest.Data.gov The harvest source management platform for federal, state, local, and tribal agencies to submit and manage their metadata sources for inclusion in the Data.gov catalog, with configuration of harvest sources, schedules, and monitoring of harvest job status.
- Data.gov Catalog API A public JSON API (v4) that provides programmatic access to Data.gov catalog metadata, enabling developers to search datasets, filter by organization or topic, retrieve keywords, search locations, get organizations, and access harvest record details, with a free DEMO_KEY available for initial exploration.
- Resources.Data.gov A resource hub providing data management guidance, data tools, case studies, skills development materials, and implementation guidance for agencies publishing open data on Data.gov.
- Metrics.Data.gov Analytics dashboard showing breakdowns of dataset type, age, and distribution across the Data.gov catalog, as well as top dataset page views, file downloads, and external link clicks by agency.
- Strategy.Data.gov Strategic planning documentation for Data.gov, including 2020 and 2021 Action Plans and progress reports outlining the roadmap for open government data initiatives.
- Geospatial Data Services Geospatial dataset discovery through Data.gov with integration to GeoPlatform.gov for visualization and analysis of location-based government data assets.
Quantifiable outcome
- 543,000+ datasets discoverable through single catalog
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Data.gov
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Data.gov technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature4 records
Data.gov partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.
- General Services Administration (GSA)coreData.gov is operated by GSA's Technology Transformation Services (TTS). GSA provides the infrastructure, management, and governance for the platform as part of its federal technology modernization efforts.
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB)coreOMB partnered with GSA to launch Data.gov following the Presidential Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government. OMB provides policy guidance and oversight for open government data initiatives.
- Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)coreFGDC coordinates with Data.gov on geospatial data standards (ISO 19115) and maintains GeoPlatform.gov which sources geospatial metadata from Data.gov.
- Office of Government Information Services (OGIS)supportingNARA's OGIS participates in the Federal Enterprise Data Resources content maintenance alongside OMB and GSA.
- U.S. Census BureaucoreMajor federal data publisher contributing 293,635+ datasets, including geographic and demographic data. One of the largest contributors to the catalog.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreMajor federal data publisher contributing 83,525+ datasets including environmental, climate, and weather data.
- Department of the InteriorcoreFederal agency with 12 harvest sources publishing land management, natural resources, and geospatial data through bureaus including USGS, NPS, BLM, and others.
- State of WashingtonmajorState government partner publishing 1,950+ datasets through Washington Open Data portal (data.wa.gov), harvested weekly.
- State of MarylandmajorState government partner publishing 2,451 datasets through Maryland Open Data portal, harvested weekly.
- State of CaliforniamajorState government partner publishing datasets through California Open Data portal.
- Cook County of IllinoissupportingCounty government partner publishing 625 datasets through Cook County Open Data catalog, harvested weekly.
- City of New YorkmajorCity government partner publishing datasets including Motor Vehicle Collisions data and other municipal data.
- City of Los AngelessupportingCity government partner publishing datasets including Crime Data and other municipal information.
- City of ChicagosupportingCity government partner publishing datasets through Chicago Open Data portal.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Data.gov competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CKAN (Open Knowledge Foundation): Open-source data management system that powers many government and organizational data catalogs worldwide. Directly comparable to Data.gov as the underlying technology pattern for harvesting, cataloging, and exposing dataset metadata via API.
- Socrata (Tyler Technologies): Commercial open data and performance analytics platform acquired by Tyler Technologies. Powers many U.S. municipal/county/state open data portals that publish metadata harvested by Data.gov, making it a key ecosystem peer.
- OpenDataSoft: Data marketplace and open data platform vendor for cities, states, and enterprises. Directly comparable as a private-sector alternative offering cataloging, APIs, and visualization for open government data.
Emerging players
- Junar: Open data platform historically used by several U.S. municipalities (e.g., Miami-Dade, Knoxville) to expose civic datasets. Comparable as a niche provider in the same open government data catalog category.
- ArcGIS Open Data (Esri): Esri's open data hub for publishing geospatial and tabular government datasets. Comparable as a competitor/adjoining layer for geospatial open data discovery, alongside Data.gov's GeoPlatform integration.
- DKAN (Acquia): Open-source Drupal-based open data management system originally forked from CKAN. Used by several U.S. state/county portals publishing metadata harvested into Data.gov.
Regional players
- data.gov.uk: The United Kingdom's central open data portal, operated under the UK Government. Closest international analog to Data.gov in mandate, function, and metadata catalog structure.
- Open Data Portal — European Union (data.europa.eu): The EU's central open data portal aggregating metadata from EU institutions and member states. Comparable in role to Data.gov as the official pan-government data catalog for a sovereign jurisdiction.
- Open Government Portal (Canada): Government of Canada's open data portal offering federal and open municipal datasets with a similar discovery and metadata model to Data.gov.
Others
- Statista (Open Data / Government Statistics): Commercial data aggregation and statistics platform that incorporates and surfaces many government datasets. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct catalog peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Data.gov social profiles
Digital presenceData.gov compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Data.gov financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Data.gov leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Data.gov funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Data.gov M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Data.gov
What does Data.gov do?
Data.gov is the U.S. government's central open data catalog that aggregates metadata from federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies. It provides a searchable public interface (catalog.data.gov) for discovering 543,000+ datasets, a RESTful API for programmatic access, and a harvest source management platform (harvest.data.gov) that lets agencies publish and maintain their data inventories. All federal data is offered free of charge under 17 U.S.C. § 105, with the platform operating as a public service under a statutory mandate.
Is Data.gov a public or private company?
Data.gov is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Data.gov founded?
Data.gov was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Data.gov based?
Data.gov is headquartered in Salem, United States, in the North America region.
How does Data.gov make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Access (No Revenue).
Who are Data.gov's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CKAN (Open Knowledge Foundation), Socrata (Tyler Technologies) and OpenDataSoft. Emerging players are Junar, ArcGIS Open Data (Esri) and DKAN (Acquia). Regional players are data.gov.uk, Open Data Portal — European Union (data.europa.eu) and Open Government Portal (Canada). Statista (Open Data / Government Statistics) is listed as an others.
Does Data.gov have an API?
Yes. The Data.gov Catalog API provides access to metadata about datasets published by federal, state, local, and tribal governments. The API allows developers to search for datasets, filter by organization or topic, and retrieve detailed information about individual records. The current API (v4) is RESTful, uses query string parameters, and requires authentication via api.data.gov API keys. Base URL: https://api.gsa.gov/technology/datagov/v4/. Rate limits: 1,000 requests/hour for personal API keys, 30 requests/IP/hour for DEMO_KEY. Key endpoints include /search for dataset search, /api/keywords for keyword retrieval, /api/locations/search for location autocomplete, /api/organizations for organization listing, and /harvest_record/{record_id} for harvest record details. Authentication requires X-Api-Key header. A DEMO_KEY is available for initial exploration without signup. Developer documentation is at resources.data.gov/catalog-api.
What industry is Data.gov in?
Data.gov's product category is Government Open Data Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEADAC, Data Catalog & Metadata Management, with a secondary code of HDAEABAJ, Metadata, Catalog & Semantic Layer for Data Platforms. Its NAICS code is 926 and its SIC code is 7374.