GovInfo

Free plan APIWeb

What GovInfo is

GovInfo is a free public service for finding official publications from all three branches of the U.S. Federal Government. Its website lets readers browse by A to Z, category, date, committee or author, and search using publication metadata. GovInfo’s web and API access cover content and metadata organized in self-describing packages. Selected collections are also available as machine-readable files, including XML, through the Bulk Data Repository; some include schemas, stylesheets and user guides. GPO applies digital signatures and a visible authenticity seal to PDFs, which readers can check in Adobe Acrobat or Reader. The preservation repository keeps at least two copies in separate geographic locations and uses weekly backups, a standby recovery system, virus scanning and file fixity checks. GPO says the repository received ISO 16363:2012 certification on December 28, 2018. The site adapts to mobile screens without requiring a separate app or mobile URL. It also offers a public preview of a GovInfo MCP server for bringing current GovInfo information into large language model workflows. GovInfo includes case law search, statute and regulation search, legal commentary, opinions from more than 100 U.S. courts, and research alerts. Full text is available only for publications stored on GovInfo.

Who it suits

GovInfo suits readers looking for official U.S. federal publications, including people browsing legal materials and court opinions. Its API and selected bulk data collections also serve developers who need programmatic access to content or metadata.

What it does well

Free access to official publications from all three federal branches.
Browse by A to Z, category, date, committee and author.
PDFs include digital signatures and a visible authenticity seal.
API and selected machine-readable bulk collections are available.
Responsive web access works on mobile without a separate app.

What to know first

Full text covers only publications stored on GovInfo.
GPO generally does not revise submitted publications to apply accessibility standards.

Limits

The free public access plan costs nothing. Full text is limited to publications stored on GovInfo; the service does not show records for documents it does not store.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Free public access	Public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government	Free

As govinfo.gov lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open https://www.govinfo.gov/ in a web browser.
Browse by A to Z, category, date, committee or author, or search the site.
Use the API for programmatic access to content and metadata.
Explore the Bulk Data Repository for selected machine-readable collections.

Verdict

Choose GovInfo for free access to official federal publications, legal search and programmatic access to content and metadata. Readers seeking full text for documents outside its collection will need another source.

Questions

Is GovInfo free?

Yes. The Free public access plan costs nothing, with public access to official publications from all three federal branches.

Can I use GovInfo on a phone?

Yes. Its responsive website works on mobile devices without a separate app or mobile URL.

Does GovInfo provide an API?

Yes. The API provides programmatic access to GovInfo content and metadata in self-describing packages.

Can I search legal materials on GovInfo?

Yes. It offers case law search, statute and regulation search, legal commentary and research alerts, including opinions from more than 100 U.S. courts.

Can I verify a GovInfo PDF?

GPO applies digital signatures and a visible seal of authenticity to PDFs. Readers can verify their integrity and source in Adobe Acrobat or Reader.

Facts from GovInfo's own pages

Availability limit: GovInfo provides full text only for publications stored on GovInfo; it does not show records for documents that are not stored there. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026
Browsing: Users can browse publications by A to Z, category, date, committee, and author. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026
Bulk data: Select collections are available in machine-readable formats such as XML through the Bulk Data Repository, with schemas, stylesheets, and user guides for some collections. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026
Content submission limit: GPO generally does not alter submitted final publications to apply accessibility standards, though it makes efforts to make GovInfo webpages accessible to assistive technology. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026
Developer API: The API provides programmatic access to GovInfo content and metadata stored in self-describing packages. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026
Developer integrations: GPO offers a GovInfo MCP server public preview for integrating current GovInfo information into large language model workflows. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026
Digital preservation: The preservation repository maintains at least two archival copies in separate geographic locations, weekly backups, a standby disaster recovery instance, virus scanning, and file fixity checks. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026
Founded: 2016 · govinfo.gov, 28 Sept 2026
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States · govinfo.gov, 28 Sept 2026
Mobile access: GovInfo uses responsive web design and says no app or separate mobile URL is needed to use it on mobile devices. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026
PDF authentication: GPO applies digital signatures and a visible seal of authenticity to PDF documents so users can verify their integrity and source in Adobe Acrobat or Reader. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026
Purpose: GovInfo provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026
Repository certification: GPO states that GovInfo achieved ISO 16363:2012 certification on December 28, 2018. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026
Search and preservation: GovInfo combines an advanced metadata-powered search experience, a content management system, and a standards-compliant preservation repository. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026
Support: Users can report technical issues through askGPO, and the site provides help pages, tutorials, and handouts. · govinfo.gov, 8 Oct 2026

Where GovInfo stands on Freedom251

Legal Research Software#11 of 31