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FIRST News API vs OkSurf

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

APIFIRST News APINEW—OkSurfNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
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?

On our scheduled checks, OkSurf leads on measured uptime — FIRST News API at —% versus OkSurf 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 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.