iNaturalist vs Open Dog Registry

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms
P95 · ms
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree tier — API key required
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

iNaturalist vs Open Dog Registry: common questions

Which is more reliable, iNaturalist or Open Dog Registry?

On our scheduled checks, Open Dog Registry leads on measured uptime — iNaturalist at —% versus Open Dog Registry 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 iNaturalist and Open Dog Registry need an API key?

iNaturalist needs no key, while Open Dog Registry requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for iNaturalist first.

Can I call iNaturalist and Open Dog Registry from the browser?

Yes — both iNaturalist and Open Dog Registry 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 iNaturalist and Open Dog Registry free for commercial use?

iNaturalist has unclear commercial terms, and Open Dog Registry 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.