FIRST News API vs Universities List
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
FIRST News API vs Universities List: common questions
Which is more reliable, FIRST News API or Universities List?
Both are neck-and-neck — FIRST News API and Universities List 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 Universities List?
Universities List has the lower median latency in our checks — FIRST News API responds in 780 ms versus Universities List at 510 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 Universities List need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — FIRST News API is callable with no signup, and Universities List is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call FIRST News API and Universities List from the browser?
Only FIRST News API is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Universities List needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are FIRST News API and Universities List free for commercial use?
FIRST News API has unclear commercial terms, and Universities List 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.