Ducks Unlimited vs Nominatim (OSM)

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d99.02%100%
Uptime · 30d98.3%100%
P50 · ms832332
P95 · ms2202990
AuthnoneuserAgent
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearno
Data licenseUnverifiedODbL (OpenStreetMap)
Free tierFree — limits not published1 req/sec, identified UA required
Rate limitUnpublished1/sec hard — per application
In directory since2026-07-052026-05-02
operationalpartialdownno data

Ducks Unlimited vs Nominatim (OSM): common questions

Which is more reliable, Ducks Unlimited or Nominatim (OSM)?

On our scheduled checks, Nominatim (OSM) leads on measured uptime — Ducks Unlimited at 99.02% versus Nominatim (OSM) 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, Ducks Unlimited or Nominatim (OSM)?

Nominatim (OSM) has the lower median latency in our checks — Ducks Unlimited responds in 832 ms versus Nominatim (OSM) at 332 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 Ducks Unlimited and Nominatim (OSM) need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Ducks Unlimited is callable with no signup, and Nominatim (OSM) is keyless with a required User-Agent header. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Ducks Unlimited and Nominatim (OSM) from the browser?

Yes — both Ducks Unlimited and Nominatim (OSM) 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 Ducks Unlimited and Nominatim (OSM) free for commercial use?

Ducks Unlimited has unclear commercial terms, and Nominatim (OSM) is personal/non-commercial only. 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.