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Keen IO vs OpenAlex

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

APIKeen IOHEALTHY90OpenAlexDEAD0
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%1.0%
Uptime · 30d100%1.7%
P50 · ms6673167
P95 · ms14613167
AuthapiKeynone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearyes
Data licenseUnverifiedCC0
Free tierFree tier — key may be requiredFree tier (~$1/day of usage); free API key available for more
Rate limitUnpublishedUsage-metered free tier (~$1/day per docs)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Keen IO vs OpenAlex: common questions

Which is more reliable, Keen IO or OpenAlex?

On our scheduled checks, Keen IO leads on measured uptime — Keen IO at 100% versus OpenAlex at 1.0% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Which is faster, Keen IO or OpenAlex?

Keen IO has the lower median latency in our checks — Keen IO responds in 667 ms versus OpenAlex at 3167 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 Keen IO and OpenAlex need an API key?

OpenAlex needs no key, while Keen IO requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for OpenAlex first.

Can I call Keen IO and OpenAlex from the browser?

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

Are Keen IO and OpenAlex free for commercial use?

Keen IO has unclear commercial terms, and OpenAlex 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.