Data USA vs ONS
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Data USA vs ONS: common questions
Which is more reliable, Data USA or ONS?
Both are neck-and-neck — Data USA 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 USA or ONS?
Data USA has the lower median latency in our checks — Data USA responds in 433 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 USA and ONS need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — Data USA 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 USA and ONS from the browser?
Yes — both Data USA and ONS 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 Data USA and ONS free for commercial use?
Data USA 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.