GBIF vs SHARE

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%98.9%
Uptime · 30d100%96.6%
P50 · ms445261
P95 · ms16913119
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
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 SHARE: common questions

Which is more reliable, GBIF or SHARE?

On our scheduled checks, GBIF leads on measured uptime — GBIF at 100% versus SHARE at 98.9% 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, GBIF or SHARE?

SHARE has the lower median latency in our checks — GBIF responds in 445 ms versus SHARE at 261 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 GBIF and SHARE need an API key?

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

Can I call GBIF and SHARE from the browser?

Yes — both GBIF and SHARE 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 SHARE free for commercial use?

GBIF has unclear commercial terms, and SHARE 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.