iNaturalist vs STAPI
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
iNaturalist vs STAPI: common questions
Which is more reliable, iNaturalist or STAPI?
On our scheduled checks, STAPI leads on measured uptime — iNaturalist at 24.7% versus STAPI at 100% 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, iNaturalist or STAPI?
STAPI has the lower median latency in our checks — iNaturalist responds in 689 ms versus STAPI at 529 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 iNaturalist and STAPI need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — iNaturalist is callable with no signup, and STAPI is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call iNaturalist and STAPI from the browser?
Yes — both iNaturalist and STAPI 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 STAPI free for commercial use?
iNaturalist has unclear commercial terms, and STAPI 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.