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iTunes Search vs Last.fm

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

APIiTunes SearchDYING43Last.fmDEAD0
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d5.9%0.0%
Uptime · 30d5.0%0.0%
P50 · ms233—
P95 · ms293—
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedLast.fm terms — attribution required
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree personal API key
Rate limitRetry-After: 29sUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

iTunes Search vs Last.fm: common questions

Which is more reliable, iTunes Search or Last.fm?

On our scheduled checks, iTunes Search leads on measured uptime — iTunes Search at 5.9% versus Last.fm at 0.0% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do iTunes Search and Last.fm need an API key?

iTunes Search needs no key, while Last.fm requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for iTunes Search first.

Can I call iTunes Search and Last.fm from the browser?

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

Are iTunes Search and Last.fm free for commercial use?

iTunes Search has unclear commercial terms, and Last.fm 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.