Administrative Divisions DB vs Cartes.io

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%99.02%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms39612
P95 · ms11141160
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverified (see repo)Unverified (open-source project; user-generated maps)
Free tierFree, no API key required (static JSON via CDN)Free, no API key for public read
Rate limitNone (static files served over CDN)60 req/window · 59 remaining
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Administrative Divisions DB vs Cartes.io: common questions

Which is more reliable, Administrative Divisions DB or Cartes.io?

On our scheduled checks, Administrative Divisions DB leads on measured uptime — Administrative Divisions DB at 100% versus Cartes.io at 99.02% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Which is faster, Administrative Divisions DB or Cartes.io?

Administrative Divisions DB has the lower median latency in our checks — Administrative Divisions DB responds in 39 ms versus Cartes.io at 612 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 Administrative Divisions DB and Cartes.io need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Administrative Divisions DB is callable with no signup, and Cartes.io is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Administrative Divisions DB and Cartes.io from the browser?

Yes — both Administrative Divisions DB and Cartes.io send CORS headers over HTTPS, so front-end code can fetch either directly with no backend proxy. That makes them easy to swap in a client-side app while you compare responses.

Are Administrative Divisions DB and Cartes.io free for commercial use?

Administrative Divisions DB has unclear commercial terms, and Cartes.io 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.