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Data.gov vs ONS

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

APIData.govHEALTHY79ONSHEALTHY90
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms931732
P95 · ms20351819
Authnonenone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Data.gov vs ONS: common questions

Which is more reliable, Data.gov or ONS?

Both are neck-and-neck — Data.gov and ONS 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, Data.gov or ONS?

ONS has the lower median latency in our checks — Data.gov responds in 931 ms versus ONS at 732 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 Data.gov and ONS need an API key?

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

Can I call Data.gov and ONS from the browser?

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

Are Data.gov and ONS free for commercial use?

Data.gov has unclear commercial terms, and ONS 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.