inspirehep.net vs OpenAlex
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
inspirehep.net vs OpenAlex: common questions
Which is more reliable, inspirehep.net or OpenAlex?
On our scheduled checks, inspirehep.net leads on measured uptime — inspirehep.net at 100% versus OpenAlex at 1.0% 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, inspirehep.net or OpenAlex?
inspirehep.net has the lower median latency in our checks — inspirehep.net responds in 514 ms versus OpenAlex at 3167 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 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.