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HackerNews vs Lobsters

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

APIHackerNewsNEW—LobstersNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — no key requiredFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

HackerNews vs Lobsters: common questions

Which is more reliable, HackerNews or Lobsters?

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

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

Can I call HackerNews and Lobsters from the browser?

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

Are HackerNews and Lobsters free for commercial use?

HackerNews has unclear commercial terms, and Lobsters 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.