FIRST News API vs HOL Registry Broker
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
FIRST News API vs HOL Registry Broker: common questions
Which is more reliable, FIRST News API or HOL Registry Broker?
On our scheduled checks, FIRST News API leads on measured uptime — FIRST News API at 100% versus HOL Registry Broker at 99.02% 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, FIRST News API or HOL Registry Broker?
HOL Registry Broker has the lower median latency in our checks — FIRST News API responds in 780 ms versus HOL Registry Broker at 386 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 FIRST News API and HOL Registry Broker need an API key?
FIRST News API needs no key, while HOL Registry Broker requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for FIRST News API first.
Can I call FIRST News API and HOL Registry Broker from the browser?
Only FIRST News API is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. HOL Registry Broker needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are FIRST News API and HOL Registry Broker free for commercial use?
FIRST News API has unclear commercial terms, and HOL Registry Broker 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.