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iNaturalist vs RescueGroups

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

APIiNaturalistNEW—RescueGroupsNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

iNaturalist vs RescueGroups: common questions

Which is more reliable, iNaturalist or RescueGroups?

On our scheduled checks, RescueGroups leads on measured uptime — iNaturalist at —% versus RescueGroups 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 RescueGroups need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — iNaturalist is callable with no signup, and RescueGroups is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call iNaturalist and RescueGroups from the browser?

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

Are iNaturalist and RescueGroups free for commercial use?

iNaturalist has unclear commercial terms, and RescueGroups 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.