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GBIF vs ITIS

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

APIGBIFNEW—ITISNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
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

GBIF vs ITIS: common questions

Which is more reliable, GBIF or ITIS?

On our scheduled checks, ITIS leads on measured uptime — GBIF at —% versus ITIS 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 GBIF and ITIS need an API key?

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

Can I call GBIF and ITIS from the browser?

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

Are GBIF and ITIS free for commercial use?

GBIF has unclear commercial terms, and ITIS 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.