CheapShark API vs Florida Man

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d99.02%98.0%
Uptime · 30d98.3%96.7%
P50 · ms804255
P95 · ms2483897
Authnonenone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearyes
Data licenseUnverifiedMIT (repository license)
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — static JSON on GitHub Pages, no key
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished (served via GitHub Pages)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

CheapShark API vs Florida Man: common questions

Which is more reliable, CheapShark API or Florida Man?

On our scheduled checks, CheapShark API leads on measured uptime — CheapShark API at 99.02% versus Florida Man at 98.0% 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, CheapShark API or Florida Man?

Florida Man has the lower median latency in our checks — CheapShark API responds in 804 ms versus Florida Man at 255 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 CheapShark API and Florida Man need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — CheapShark API is callable with no signup, and Florida Man is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call CheapShark API and Florida Man from the browser?

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

Are CheapShark API and Florida Man free for commercial use?

CheapShark API has unclear commercial terms, and Florida Man allows commercial use on its free tier. 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.