GBIF vs NASA APOD

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms
P95 · ms
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearyes
Data licenseUnverifiedPublic domain (US Gov)
Free tierFree — limits not published1,000 req/hour with free key
Rate limitUnpublishedDEMO_KEY: 30/hour, 50/day
In directory since2026-07-052026-05-02
operationalpartialdownno data

GBIF vs NASA APOD: common questions

Which is more reliable, GBIF or NASA APOD?

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

GBIF needs no key, while NASA APOD requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for GBIF first.

Can I call GBIF and NASA APOD from the browser?

Yes — both GBIF and NASA APOD 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 GBIF and NASA APOD free for commercial use?

GBIF has unclear commercial terms, and NASA APOD allows commercial use on its free tier. 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.