DownStatus vs VATlayer
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
DownStatus vs VATlayer: common questions
Which is more reliable, DownStatus or VATlayer?
On our scheduled checks, VATlayer leads on measured uptime — DownStatus at 60.8% versus VATlayer at 100% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.
Which is faster, DownStatus or VATlayer?
VATlayer has the lower median latency in our checks — DownStatus responds in 589 ms versus VATlayer at 473 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 DownStatus and VATlayer need an API key?
DownStatus needs no key, while VATlayer requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for DownStatus first.
Can I call DownStatus and VATlayer from the browser?
Neither sends browser-friendly CORS headers reliably, so call DownStatus and VATlayer from a server or proxy rather than client-side. The CORS and HTTPS rows above show exactly what we detected for each.
Are DownStatus and VATlayer free for commercial use?
DownStatus has unclear commercial terms, and VATlayer 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.