FIRST News API vs User Data Scraper

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms780436
P95 · ms15951285
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 User Data Scraper: common questions

Which is more reliable, FIRST News API or User Data Scraper?

Both are neck-and-neck — FIRST News API and User Data Scraper 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 User Data Scraper?

User Data Scraper has the lower median latency in our checks — FIRST News API responds in 780 ms versus User Data Scraper at 436 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 User Data Scraper need an API key?

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

Can I call FIRST News API and User Data Scraper from the browser?

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

Are FIRST News API and User Data Scraper free for commercial use?

FIRST News API has unclear commercial terms, and User Data Scraper 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.