shipapis
StarSubmit an APISubmit API

Lobsters vs Tumblr

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

APILobstersHEALTHY97TumblrREACHABLE100
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms243208
P95 · ms11751101
Authnoneoauth
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedOAuth — some read routes may be public
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Lobsters vs Tumblr: common questions

Which is more reliable, Lobsters or Tumblr?

Both are neck-and-neck — Lobsters and Tumblr 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, Lobsters or Tumblr?

Tumblr has the lower median latency in our checks — Lobsters responds in 243 ms versus Tumblr at 208 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 Lobsters and Tumblr need an API key?

Lobsters needs no key, while Tumblr requires OAuth. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Lobsters first.

Can I call Lobsters and Tumblr from the browser?

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

Are Lobsters and Tumblr free for commercial use?

Lobsters has unclear commercial terms, and Tumblr 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.