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CoinGecko vs CoinDesk BPI

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

APICoinGeckoDEGRADED—CoinDesk BPIDEAD0
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthapiKeynone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearno
Data licenseProprietary — attribution requiredProprietary
Free tier10k calls/mo demo key, no cardWas: unlimited
Rate limit~30/min, tightens under load—
In directory since2026-05-022026-05-02
operationalpartialdownno data

CoinGecko vs CoinDesk BPI: common questions

Which is more reliable, CoinGecko or CoinDesk BPI?

On our scheduled checks, CoinDesk BPI leads on measured uptime — CoinGecko at —% versus CoinDesk BPI 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 CoinGecko and CoinDesk BPI need an API key?

CoinDesk BPI needs no key, while CoinGecko requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for CoinDesk BPI first.

Can I call CoinGecko and CoinDesk BPI from the browser?

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

Are CoinGecko and CoinDesk BPI free for commercial use?

CoinGecko has unclear commercial terms, and CoinDesk BPI 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.