JokeAPI vs Urban Dictionary

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms
P95 · ms
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverified (open-source project)Unverified
Free tierFree — no keyFree — limits not published
Rate limit120 requests/minute per IP (per jokeapi.dev docs)Unpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

JokeAPI vs Urban Dictionary: common questions

Which is more reliable, JokeAPI or Urban Dictionary?

On our scheduled checks, Urban Dictionary leads on measured uptime — JokeAPI at —% versus Urban Dictionary 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 JokeAPI and Urban Dictionary need an API key?

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

Can I call JokeAPI and Urban Dictionary from the browser?

Yes — both JokeAPI and Urban Dictionary 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 JokeAPI and Urban Dictionary free for commercial use?

JokeAPI has unclear commercial terms, and Urban Dictionary 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.