FEC vs ONS
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
FEC vs ONS: common questions
Which is more reliable, FEC or ONS?
On our scheduled checks, ONS leads on measured uptime — FEC at 99.02% versus ONS 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, FEC or ONS?
ONS has the lower median latency in our checks — FEC responds in 1602 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 FEC and ONS need an API key?
ONS needs no key, while FEC requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for ONS first.
Can I call FEC and ONS from the browser?
Yes — both FEC 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 FEC and ONS free for commercial use?
FEC 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.