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Kroki vs VATlayer

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

APIKrokiHEALTHY92VATlayerHEALTHY93
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms633473
P95 · ms31832118
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree tier — key may be required
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Kroki vs VATlayer: common questions

Which is more reliable, Kroki or VATlayer?

Both are neck-and-neck — Kroki and VATlayer 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 VATlayer?

VATlayer has the lower median latency in our checks — Kroki responds in 633 ms versus VATlayer at 473 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 VATlayer need an API key?

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

Can I call Kroki and VATlayer from the browser?

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

Are Kroki and VATlayer free for commercial use?

Kroki has unclear commercial terms, and VATlayer 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.