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IPWhois vs Nominatim (OSM)

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

APIIPWhoisHEALTHY100Nominatim (OSM)HEALTHY96
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms23332
P95 · ms598990
AuthapiKeyuserAgent
CORSyesyes
HTTPSnoyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearno
Data licenseUnverifiedODbL (OpenStreetMap)
Free tierFree tier — API key may be required for production1 req/sec, identified UA required
Rate limitUnpublished1/sec hard — per application
In directory since2026-07-052026-05-02
operationalpartialdownno data

IPWhois vs Nominatim (OSM): common questions

Which is more reliable, IPWhois or Nominatim (OSM)?

Both are neck-and-neck — IPWhois and Nominatim (OSM) each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.

Which is faster, IPWhois or Nominatim (OSM)?

IPWhois has the lower median latency in our checks — IPWhois responds in 23 ms versus Nominatim (OSM) at 332 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 IPWhois and Nominatim (OSM) need an API key?

Nominatim (OSM) needs no key, while IPWhois requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Nominatim (OSM) first.

Can I call IPWhois and Nominatim (OSM) from the browser?

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

Are IPWhois and Nominatim (OSM) free for commercial use?

IPWhois has unclear commercial terms, and Nominatim (OSM) is personal/non-commercial only. 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.