Cisco Spark vs Lobsters
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Cisco Spark vs Lobsters: common questions
Which is more reliable, Cisco Spark or Lobsters?
On our scheduled checks, Lobsters leads on measured uptime — Cisco Spark at 99.44% versus Lobsters at 100% 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, Cisco Spark or Lobsters?
Lobsters has the lower median latency in our checks — Cisco Spark responds in 1331 ms versus Lobsters at 114 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 Cisco Spark and Lobsters need an API key?
Lobsters needs no key, while Cisco Spark requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Lobsters first.
Can I call Cisco Spark and Lobsters from the browser?
Only Cisco Spark is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Lobsters needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are Cisco Spark and Lobsters free for commercial use?
Cisco Spark has unclear commercial terms, and Lobsters 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.