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IMDb-API vs TVDB

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

APIIMDb-APIREACHABLE—TVDBREACHABLE—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthapiKeyapiKey
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial usenounclear
Data licenseThird-party scrape — not official IMDbTVDB terms — user-contributed data
Free tierFree tier with daily capFree personal API key
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

IMDb-API vs TVDB: common questions

Which is more reliable, IMDb-API or TVDB?

On our scheduled checks, TVDB leads on measured uptime — IMDb-API at —% versus TVDB 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 IMDb-API and TVDB need an API key?

Both ask you to authenticate — IMDb-API uses an API key and TVDB uses an API key. Each key is free to obtain; the Auth and Card-required rows above spell out the signup terms.

Can I call IMDb-API and TVDB from the browser?

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

Are IMDb-API and TVDB free for commercial use?

IMDb-API is personal/non-commercial only, and TVDB 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.