Cataas vs iNaturalist
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Cataas vs iNaturalist: common questions
Which is more reliable, Cataas or iNaturalist?
On our scheduled checks, Cataas leads on measured uptime — Cataas at 100% versus iNaturalist at 25.5% 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, Cataas or iNaturalist?
Cataas has the lower median latency in our checks — Cataas responds in 601 ms versus iNaturalist at 1140 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 Cataas and iNaturalist need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — Cataas is callable with no signup, and iNaturalist is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call Cataas and iNaturalist from the browser?
Only Cataas is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. iNaturalist needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are Cataas and iNaturalist free for commercial use?
Cataas has unclear commercial terms, and iNaturalist 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.