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CarAPI vs OpenSky Network

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

APICarAPINEW—OpenSky NetworkNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthapiKeynone
CORSnono
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearno
Data licenseUnverifiedNon-commercial/research use per OpenSky terms
Free tierFree tier — API key may be required for productionFree for non-commercial/research use; anonymous requests are rate-limited and time-coarsened
Rate limitUnpublishedAnonymous access throttled; registered/OAuth users get higher limits
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

CarAPI vs OpenSky Network: common questions

Which is more reliable, CarAPI or OpenSky Network?

On our scheduled checks, OpenSky Network leads on measured uptime — CarAPI at —% versus OpenSky Network 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 CarAPI and OpenSky Network need an API key?

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

Can I call CarAPI and OpenSky Network from the browser?

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

Are CarAPI and OpenSky Network free for commercial use?

CarAPI has unclear commercial terms, and OpenSky Network is personal/non-commercial only. 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.