Kitsu vs Jikan

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 licenseUnverifiedUnverified (source data from MyAnimeList)
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree, no API key
Rate limitUnpublished3 requests/sec, 60 requests/min (per Jikan v4 docs)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Kitsu vs Jikan: common questions

Which is more reliable, Kitsu or Jikan?

On our scheduled checks, Jikan leads on measured uptime — Kitsu at —% versus Jikan 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 Kitsu and Jikan need an API key?

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

Can I call Kitsu and Jikan from the browser?

Yes — both Kitsu and Jikan 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 Kitsu and Jikan free for commercial use?

Kitsu has unclear commercial terms, and Jikan 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.