Crossref Metadata Search vs Quran Cloud

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms
P95 · ms
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useyesunclear
Data licenseOpen Crossref metadata (much is CC0)Unverified
Free tierFree, no key (public pool)Free — limits not published
Rate limit5 requests/second, 1 concurrent (public pool, per X-Rate-Limit headers)12 req/window · 11 remaining · resets 1
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Crossref Metadata Search vs Quran Cloud: common questions

Which is more reliable, Crossref Metadata Search or Quran Cloud?

On our scheduled checks, Quran Cloud leads on measured uptime — Crossref Metadata Search at —% versus Quran Cloud 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 Crossref Metadata Search and Quran Cloud need an API key?

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

Can I call Crossref Metadata Search and Quran Cloud from the browser?

Yes — both Crossref Metadata Search and Quran Cloud 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 Quran Cloud free for commercial use?

Crossref Metadata Search allows commercial use on its free tier, and Quran Cloud 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.