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inspirehep.net vs OpenAlex

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

APIinspirehep.netNEW—OpenAlexNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearyes
Data licenseUnverifiedCC0
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree tier (~$1/day of usage); free API key available for more
Rate limitUnpublishedUsage-metered free tier (~$1/day per docs)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

inspirehep.net vs OpenAlex: common questions

Which is more reliable, inspirehep.net or OpenAlex?

On our scheduled checks, OpenAlex leads on measured uptime — inspirehep.net at —% versus OpenAlex 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 inspirehep.net and OpenAlex need an API key?

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

Can I call inspirehep.net and OpenAlex from the browser?

Yes — both inspirehep.net and OpenAlex 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 inspirehep.net and OpenAlex free for commercial use?

inspirehep.net has unclear commercial terms, and OpenAlex allows commercial use on its free tier. 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.