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FIRST News API vs OpenSanctions

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

APIFIRST News APINEW—OpenSanctionsNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
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 OpenSanctions: common questions

Which is more reliable, FIRST News API or OpenSanctions?

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

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

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

Yes — both FIRST News API and OpenSanctions send CORS headers over HTTPS, so front-end code can fetch either directly with no backend proxy. That makes them easy to swap in a client-side app while you compare responses.

Are FIRST News API and OpenSanctions free for commercial use?

FIRST News API has unclear commercial terms, and OpenSanctions 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.