Humanitarian Data Exchange vs openFDA
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Humanitarian Data Exchange vs openFDA: common questions
Which is more reliable, Humanitarian Data Exchange or openFDA?
On our scheduled checks, Humanitarian Data Exchange leads on measured uptime — Humanitarian Data Exchange at 98.0% versus openFDA at 94.1% 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, Humanitarian Data Exchange or openFDA?
Humanitarian Data Exchange has the lower median latency in our checks — Humanitarian Data Exchange responds in 729 ms versus openFDA at 1187 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 Humanitarian Data Exchange and openFDA need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — Humanitarian Data Exchange is callable with no signup, and openFDA is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call Humanitarian Data Exchange and openFDA from the browser?
Yes — both Humanitarian Data Exchange and openFDA 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 Humanitarian Data Exchange and openFDA free for commercial use?
Humanitarian Data Exchange has unclear commercial terms, and openFDA 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.