7Timer! vs Hong Kong Observatory
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
7Timer! vs Hong Kong Observatory: common questions
Which is more reliable, 7Timer! or Hong Kong Observatory?
Both are neck-and-neck — 7Timer! and Hong Kong Observatory each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.
Which is faster, 7Timer! or Hong Kong Observatory?
7Timer! has the lower median latency in our checks — 7Timer! responds in 600 ms versus Hong Kong Observatory at 1415 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.
Do 7Timer! and Hong Kong Observatory need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — 7Timer! is callable with no signup, and Hong Kong Observatory is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call 7Timer! and Hong Kong Observatory from the browser?
Only Hong Kong Observatory is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. 7Timer! needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are 7Timer! and Hong Kong Observatory free for commercial use?
7Timer! has unclear commercial terms, and Hong Kong Observatory has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.