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FoodData Central vs SportScore

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

APIFoodData CentralHEALTHY76SportScoreHEALTHY71
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d98.0%87.3%
Uptime · 30d96.7%86.7%
P50 · ms1726288
P95 · ms34532112
AuthapiKeynone
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree tier — API key may be required for productionFree — no key (attribution tier)
Rate limit10 req/window · 9 remainingRetry-After: 5s
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

FoodData Central vs SportScore: common questions

Which is more reliable, FoodData Central or SportScore?

On our scheduled checks, FoodData Central leads on measured uptime — FoodData Central at 98.0% versus SportScore at 87.3% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Which is faster, FoodData Central or SportScore?

SportScore has the lower median latency in our checks — FoodData Central responds in 1726 ms versus SportScore at 288 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 FoodData Central and SportScore need an API key?

SportScore needs no key, while FoodData Central requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for SportScore first.

Can I call FoodData Central and SportScore from the browser?

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

Are FoodData Central and SportScore free for commercial use?

FoodData Central has unclear commercial terms, and SportScore 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.