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FIRST News API vs OkSurf

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

APIFIRST News APIHEALTHY85OkSurfHEALTHY91
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms780624
P95 · ms15951870
Authnonenone
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

FIRST News API vs OkSurf: common questions

Which is more reliable, FIRST News API or OkSurf?

Both are neck-and-neck — FIRST News API and OkSurf each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.

Which is faster, FIRST News API or OkSurf?

OkSurf has the lower median latency in our checks — FIRST News API responds in 780 ms versus OkSurf at 624 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 OkSurf need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — FIRST News API is callable with no signup, and OkSurf is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call FIRST News API and OkSurf from the browser?

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

Are FIRST News API and OkSurf free for commercial use?

FIRST News API has unclear commercial terms, and OkSurf 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.