HackerNews vs Lobsters
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
HackerNews vs Lobsters: common questions
Which is more reliable, HackerNews or Lobsters?
Both are neck-and-neck — HackerNews and Lobsters each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.
Which is faster, HackerNews or Lobsters?
Lobsters has the lower median latency in our checks — HackerNews responds in 380 ms versus Lobsters at 243 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 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.