shipapis
StarSubmit an APISubmit API

iTunes Search vs MusicBrainz

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

APIiTunes SearchNEW—MusicBrainzNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearyes
Data licenseUnverifiedCore data CC0; some supplementary data CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — no key required
Rate limitUnpublished~1 request/second per IP; descriptive User-Agent required
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

iTunes Search vs MusicBrainz: common questions

Which is more reliable, iTunes Search or MusicBrainz?

On our scheduled checks, MusicBrainz leads on measured uptime — iTunes Search at —% versus MusicBrainz 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 iTunes Search and MusicBrainz need an API key?

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

Can I call iTunes Search and MusicBrainz from the browser?

Yes — both iTunes Search and MusicBrainz 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 iTunes Search and MusicBrainz free for commercial use?

iTunes Search has unclear commercial terms, and MusicBrainz 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.