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Crossref Metadata Search vs Free Dictionary

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

APICrossref Metadata SearchHEALTHY90Free DictionaryHEALTHY96
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d97.1%95.1%
Uptime · 30d95.0%91.7%
P50 · ms52258
P95 · ms2683853
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useyesunclear
Data licenseOpen Crossref metadata (much is CC0)Content under source licenses (CC BY-SA 4.0 seen on entries)
Free tierFree, no key (public pool)Free — limits not published
Rate limit5 requests/second, 1 concurrent (public pool, per X-Rate-Limit headers)450 req/window · 417 remaining · resets 1783512354
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Crossref Metadata Search vs Free Dictionary: common questions

Which is more reliable, Crossref Metadata Search or Free Dictionary?

On our scheduled checks, Crossref Metadata Search leads on measured uptime — Crossref Metadata Search at 97.1% versus Free Dictionary at 95.1% 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, Crossref Metadata Search or Free Dictionary?

Free Dictionary has the lower median latency in our checks — Crossref Metadata Search responds in 522 ms versus Free Dictionary at 58 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 Crossref Metadata Search and Free Dictionary need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Crossref Metadata Search is callable with no signup, and Free Dictionary is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Crossref Metadata Search and Free Dictionary from the browser?

Yes — both Crossref Metadata Search and Free Dictionary 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 Crossref Metadata Search and Free Dictionary free for commercial use?

Crossref Metadata Search allows commercial use on its free tier, and Free Dictionary 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.