Archive.org vs Wikipedia REST

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms
P95 · ms
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearyes
Data licenseUnverified (rights vary per item)CC BY-SA 4.0
Free tierFree — limits not publishedUnlimited within etiquette
Rate limitUnpublished200/sec global courtesy cap
In directory since2026-07-052026-05-09
operationalpartialdownno data

Archive.org vs Wikipedia REST: common questions

Which is more reliable, Archive.org or Wikipedia REST?

On our scheduled checks, Wikipedia REST leads on measured uptime — Archive.org at —% versus Wikipedia REST at —% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do Archive.org and Wikipedia REST need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Archive.org is callable with no signup, and Wikipedia REST is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Archive.org and Wikipedia REST from the browser?

Yes — both Archive.org and Wikipedia REST 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 Archive.org and Wikipedia REST free for commercial use?

Archive.org has unclear commercial terms, and Wikipedia REST allows commercial use on its free tier. 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.