Currents vs Free Dictionary API

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms586674
P95 · ms11652196
AuthapiKeynone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree tier — key may be requiredFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Currents vs Free Dictionary API: common questions

Which is more reliable, Currents or Free Dictionary API?

Both are neck-and-neck — Currents and Free Dictionary API each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.

Which is faster, Currents or Free Dictionary API?

Currents has the lower median latency in our checks — Currents responds in 586 ms versus Free Dictionary API at 674 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 Currents and Free Dictionary API need an API key?

Free Dictionary API needs no key, while Currents requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Free Dictionary API first.

Can I call Currents and Free Dictionary API from the browser?

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

Are Currents and Free Dictionary API free for commercial use?

Currents has unclear commercial terms, and Free Dictionary 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.