shipapis
StarSubmit an APISubmit API

Covid Tracking Project vs FoodData Central

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

APICovid Tracking ProjectHEALTHY98FoodData CentralHEALTHY76
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%98.0%
Uptime · 30d100%96.7%
P50 · ms2371726
P95 · ms6123453
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useyesunclear
Data licenseCC BY 4.0Unverified
Free tierFree — no key required (archived dataset)Free tier — API key may be required for production
Rate limitUnpublished10 req/window · 9 remaining
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Covid Tracking Project vs FoodData Central: common questions

Which is more reliable, Covid Tracking Project or FoodData Central?

On our scheduled checks, Covid Tracking Project leads on measured uptime — Covid Tracking Project at 100% versus FoodData Central 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, Covid Tracking Project or FoodData Central?

Covid Tracking Project has the lower median latency in our checks — Covid Tracking Project responds in 237 ms versus FoodData Central at 1726 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 Covid Tracking Project and FoodData Central need an API key?

Covid Tracking Project needs no key, while FoodData Central requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Covid Tracking Project first.

Can I call Covid Tracking Project and FoodData Central from the browser?

Yes — both Covid Tracking Project and FoodData Central send CORS headers over HTTPS, so front-end code can fetch either directly with no backend proxy. That makes them easy to swap in a client-side app while you compare responses.

Are Covid Tracking Project and FoodData Central free for commercial use?

Covid Tracking Project allows commercial use on its free tier, and FoodData Central 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.