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Cross Universe vs xkcd

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

APICross UniverseNEW—xkcdNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearno
Data licenseUnverified (fan project)CC BY-NC 2.5
Free tierFree — no keyFree, no API key
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Cross Universe vs xkcd: common questions

Which is more reliable, Cross Universe or xkcd?

On our scheduled checks, xkcd leads on measured uptime — Cross Universe at —% versus xkcd 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 Cross Universe and xkcd need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Cross Universe is callable with no signup, and xkcd is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Cross Universe and xkcd from the browser?

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

Are Cross Universe and xkcd free for commercial use?

Cross Universe has unclear commercial terms, and xkcd 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.