BriefTape vs Marketstack

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d99.02%100%
Uptime · 30d98.3%100%
P50 · ms1021470
P95 · ms44094068
AuthapiKeyapiKey
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree tier — API key requiredFree tier — key may be required
Rate limit10000 req/window · 9381 remaining · resets 1783555200Unpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

BriefTape vs Marketstack: common questions

Which is more reliable, BriefTape or Marketstack?

On our scheduled checks, Marketstack leads on measured uptime — BriefTape at 99.02% versus Marketstack at 100% 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, BriefTape or Marketstack?

Marketstack has the lower median latency in our checks — BriefTape responds in 1021 ms versus Marketstack at 470 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 BriefTape and Marketstack need an API key?

Both ask you to authenticate — BriefTape uses an API key and Marketstack uses an API key. Each key is free to obtain; the Auth and Card-required rows above spell out the signup terms.

Can I call BriefTape and Marketstack from the browser?

Only BriefTape is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Marketstack needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are BriefTape and Marketstack free for commercial use?

BriefTape has unclear commercial terms, and Marketstack 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.