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BuyWhere vs Photon API

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

APIBuyWhereHEALTHY86Photon APIHEALTHY91
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d99.02%99.02%
Uptime · 30d100%98.3%
P50 · ms440710
P95 · ms19011598
AuthapiKeynone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree tier — key may be requiredFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

BuyWhere vs Photon API: common questions

Which is more reliable, BuyWhere or Photon API?

Both are neck-and-neck — BuyWhere and Photon API each measure 99.02% 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, BuyWhere or Photon API?

BuyWhere has the lower median latency in our checks — BuyWhere responds in 440 ms versus Photon API at 710 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 BuyWhere and Photon API need an API key?

Photon API needs no key, while BuyWhere requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Photon API first.

Can I call BuyWhere and Photon API from the browser?

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

Are BuyWhere and Photon API free for commercial use?

BuyWhere has unclear commercial terms, and Photon 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.