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Data.gov vs ONS

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

APIData.govNEW—ONSNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
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?

On our scheduled checks, ONS leads on measured uptime — Data.gov at —% versus ONS 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.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.