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IMDb-API vs Watchmode

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

APIIMDb-APIREACHABLE—WatchmodeREACHABLE—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthapiKeyapiKey
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial usenounclear
Data licenseThird-party scrape — not official IMDbWatchmode terms
Free tierFree tier with daily capFree — 1,000 req/month
Rate limitUnpublished1,000 req/month (free tier)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

IMDb-API vs Watchmode: common questions

Which is more reliable, IMDb-API or Watchmode?

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

Both ask you to authenticate — IMDb-API uses an API key and Watchmode 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 Watchmode from the browser?

Only Watchmode 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 Watchmode free for commercial use?

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