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Hong Kong Observatory vs Weatherstack

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

APIHong Kong ObservatoryNEW—WeatherstackNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseHKO open data (see terms of use)Unverified
Free tierFree, no keyFree tier — API key required
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Hong Kong Observatory vs Weatherstack: common questions

Which is more reliable, Hong Kong Observatory or Weatherstack?

On our scheduled checks, Weatherstack leads on measured uptime — Hong Kong Observatory at —% versus Weatherstack 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 Hong Kong Observatory and Weatherstack need an API key?

Hong Kong Observatory needs no key, while Weatherstack requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Hong Kong Observatory first.

Can I call Hong Kong Observatory and Weatherstack from the browser?

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

Are Hong Kong Observatory and Weatherstack free for commercial use?

Hong Kong Observatory has unclear commercial terms, and Weatherstack 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.