Cartes.io vs PostalCodes
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Cartes.io vs PostalCodes: common questions
Which is more reliable, Cartes.io or PostalCodes?
On our scheduled checks, Cartes.io leads on measured uptime — Cartes.io at 95.5% versus PostalCodes at 80.9% 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, Cartes.io or PostalCodes?
Cartes.io has the lower median latency in our checks — Cartes.io responds in 426 ms versus PostalCodes at 968 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 Cartes.io and PostalCodes need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — Cartes.io is callable with no signup, and PostalCodes is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call Cartes.io and PostalCodes from the browser?
Only Cartes.io is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. PostalCodes needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are Cartes.io and PostalCodes free for commercial use?
Cartes.io has unclear commercial terms, and PostalCodes 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.