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Data Dragon API vs NPPES

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

APIData Dragon APINEW—NPPESNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearyes
Data licenseUnverifiedU.S. Government (public NPI data)
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — no key required
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Data Dragon API vs NPPES: common questions

Which is more reliable, Data Dragon API or NPPES?

On our scheduled checks, NPPES leads on measured uptime — Data Dragon API at —% versus NPPES 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 Data Dragon API and NPPES need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Data Dragon API is callable with no signup, and NPPES is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Data Dragon API and NPPES from the browser?

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

Are Data Dragon API and NPPES free for commercial use?

Data Dragon API has unclear commercial terms, and NPPES allows commercial use on its free tier. 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.