FFL Bridge vs FFL API: Which FFL Dealer Locator is Right for You?
Both FFL Bridge and FFL API provide FFL dealer locator services for firearms e-commerce. They help online gun stores let customers select an FFL dealer at checkout for their firearms transfer. Here's how they compare on pricing, features, and platform support.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | FFL Bridge | FFL API |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free (then $29/mo) | $99/mo |
| API Requests | 1,000/day (Starter) | 6,000/day (Starter) |
| Free Tier | Yes — 100 calls/day | No (14-day trial only) |
| Per-Site Fee | No | Yes ("Per Site" pricing) |
| Interactive Map Widget | Yes | Yes |
| Checkout Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Transfer Fee Display | Yes | Unknown |
| Platforms | WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Shopify, Custom | WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, Volusion, Magento, VTEX |
| Dashboard & Analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Domain Restrictions | Yes (optional) | Unknown |
| ATF Data Updates | Monthly | Unknown |
| API Response Time | <100ms | Unknown |
| White-label | Pro plan | Unknown |
✓Where FFL Bridge Wins
Free Tier
FFL Bridge offers a genuine free tier with 100 API calls per day — no credit card required. FFL API only offers a 14-day trial, then you're paying $99/month minimum.
Lower Starting Price
Start at $29/month on FFL Bridge vs $99/month on FFL API. For small shops just getting started with online sales, that's a 70% savings.
No Per-Site Fee
FFL API charges a "per site" fee on top of their monthly plans. FFL Bridge lets you use your API key across all your domains with no extra cost.
Transfer Fee Display
FFL Bridge shows transfer fees when dealers have provided them, helping customers compare costs before choosing a dealer.
Modern API & Fast Response
Built on modern infrastructure with sub-100ms response times. RESTful API with comprehensive documentation and TypeScript SDKs.
Transparent Pricing
All pricing is public and straightforward. No hidden fees, no "contact sales" for basic plans, no surprise per-site charges.
ℹWhere FFL API Has More
More Platform Integrations
FFL API supports Volusion, Magento, and VTEX in addition to the standard WooCommerce, Shopify, and BigCommerce. If you're on one of those less common platforms, FFL API has a ready-made plugin.
Longer Track Record
FFL API has been in the market longer and has an established customer base. If you value a longer track record and stability, that's worth considering.
Higher API Limits on Starter
FFL API's Starter plan includes 6,000 calls/day vs FFL Bridge's 1,000/day. If you need high volume from day one, their starter tier is more generous — though at a higher price.
Individual Dealer SEO Pages
FFL API generates individual SEO landing pages for each FFL dealer, which can help with organic search traffic for dealer names.
Pricing Comparison
FFL Bridge Pricing
- ✓ Basic API access
- ✓ ZIP code search
- ✓ Community support
- ✓ Everything in Free
- ✓ Map widget
- ✓ Email support
- ✓ Dashboard analytics
- ✓ Everything in Starter
- ✓ White-label widget
- ✓ Priority support
- ✓ Webhooks
- ✓ Everything in Pro
- ✓ Dedicated support
- ✓ Custom integrations
- ✓ SLA guarantee
FFL API Pricing
- ✓ Per-site fee
- ✓ Map widget
- ✓ Checkout plugins
- ✓ Everything in Starter
- ✓ More API calls
- ✓ Volume discounts
- ✓ Dedicated support
* FFL API pricing as publicly listed. Additional per-site fees may apply.
The Bottom Line
Choose FFL Bridge if you want a modern, affordable FFL dealer locator with a free tier, no per-site fees, and transparent pricing. It's ideal for small to mid-size firearms retailers who want to integrate FFL selection at checkout without a large upfront cost.
Consider FFL API if you need support for niche platforms like Volusion, Magento, or VTEX, or if you need very high API volumes on day one and prefer a more established provider.
Ready to Get Started?
Try FFL Bridge free with 100 API calls per day. No credit card required. Upgrade when you're ready.