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FIRST News API vs OpenCorporates

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

APIFIRST News APINEW—OpenCorporatesNEW—
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 — API key required
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

FIRST News API vs OpenCorporates: common questions

Which is more reliable, FIRST News API or OpenCorporates?

On our scheduled checks, OpenCorporates leads on measured uptime — FIRST News API at —% versus OpenCorporates 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 OpenCorporates need an API key?

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

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

Are FIRST News API and OpenCorporates free for commercial use?

FIRST News API has unclear commercial terms, and OpenCorporates 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.