AviationWeather vs NDBC Buoy Data API

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms
P95 · ms
Authnonenone
CORSnono
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useyesunclear
Data licensePublic domain (U.S. Government / NOAA)Unverified
Free tierFree, no keyFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublished (NWS requests reasonable use)Unpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

AviationWeather vs NDBC Buoy Data API: common questions

Which is more reliable, AviationWeather or NDBC Buoy Data API?

On our scheduled checks, NDBC Buoy Data API leads on measured uptime — AviationWeather at —% versus NDBC Buoy Data API 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 AviationWeather and NDBC Buoy Data API need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — AviationWeather is callable with no signup, and NDBC Buoy Data API is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call AviationWeather and NDBC Buoy Data API from the browser?

Neither sends browser-friendly CORS headers reliably, so call AviationWeather and NDBC Buoy Data API from a server or proxy rather than client-side. The CORS and HTTPS rows above show exactly what we detected for each.

Are AviationWeather and NDBC Buoy Data API free for commercial use?

AviationWeather allows commercial use on its free tier, and NDBC Buoy Data API 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.