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iTunes Search vs Radio Browser

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

APIiTunes SearchNEW—Radio BrowserNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree and open source — no key
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished (clients asked to send a descriptive User-Agent)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

iTunes Search vs Radio Browser: common questions

Which is more reliable, iTunes Search or Radio Browser?

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

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

Can I call iTunes Search and Radio Browser from the browser?

Yes — both iTunes Search and Radio Browser 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 Radio Browser free for commercial use?

iTunes Search has unclear commercial terms, and Radio Browser 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.