Kroki vs Shotstack
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Kroki vs Shotstack: common questions
Which is more reliable, Kroki or Shotstack?
Both are neck-and-neck — Kroki and Shotstack each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.
Which is faster, Kroki or Shotstack?
Kroki has the lower median latency in our checks — Kroki responds in 633 ms versus Shotstack at 1167 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 Kroki and Shotstack need an API key?
Kroki needs no key, while Shotstack requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Kroki first.
Can I call Kroki and Shotstack from the browser?
Yes — both Kroki and Shotstack 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 Kroki and Shotstack free for commercial use?
Kroki has unclear commercial terms, and Shotstack 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.