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CarVector vs OpenSky Network

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

APICarVectorNEW—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 — key may be requiredFree 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

CarVector vs OpenSky Network: common questions

Which is more reliable, CarVector or OpenSky Network?

On our scheduled checks, OpenSky Network leads on measured uptime — CarVector 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 CarVector and OpenSky Network need an API key?

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

Can I call CarVector and OpenSky Network from the browser?

Neither sends browser-friendly CORS headers reliably, so call CarVector 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 CarVector and OpenSky Network free for commercial use?

CarVector 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.