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Covid Tracking Project vs openFDA API

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

APICovid Tracking ProjectNEW—openFDA APINEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useyesunclear
Data licenseCC BY 4.0Unverified
Free tierFree — no key required (archived dataset)Free — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Covid Tracking Project vs openFDA API: common questions

Which is more reliable, Covid Tracking Project or openFDA API?

On our scheduled checks, openFDA API leads on measured uptime — Covid Tracking Project at —% versus openFDA API 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 Covid Tracking Project and openFDA API need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Covid Tracking Project is callable with no signup, and openFDA API is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Covid Tracking Project and openFDA API from the browser?

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

Are Covid Tracking Project and openFDA API free for commercial use?

Covid Tracking Project allows commercial use on its free tier, and openFDA API 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.