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FIRST News API vs Mediastack

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

APIFIRST News APINEW—MediastackNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree tier — key may be required
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

FIRST News API vs Mediastack: common questions

Which is more reliable, FIRST News API or Mediastack?

On our scheduled checks, Mediastack leads on measured uptime — FIRST News API at —% versus Mediastack at —% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do FIRST News API and Mediastack need an API key?

FIRST News API needs no key, while Mediastack 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 Mediastack from the browser?

Only FIRST News API is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Mediastack needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are FIRST News API and Mediastack free for commercial use?

FIRST News API has unclear commercial terms, and Mediastack 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.