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MediaCaption API vs MusicBrainz

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

APIMediaCaption APIDOCS OK100MusicBrainzNEW85
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%90.9%
Uptime · 30d100%90.9%
P50 · ms1062898
P95 · ms10624352
AuthapiKeynone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useyesyes
Data licenseCore data CC0; some supplementary data CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
Free tier10 credits when you sign upFree — no key required
Rate limit60 req/min~1 request/second per IP; descriptive User-Agent required
In directory since2026-07-182026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

MediaCaption API vs MusicBrainz: common questions

Which is more reliable, MediaCaption API or MusicBrainz?

On our scheduled checks, MediaCaption API leads on measured uptime — MediaCaption API at 100% versus MusicBrainz at 90.9% 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, MediaCaption API or MusicBrainz?

MusicBrainz has the lower median latency in our checks — MediaCaption API responds in 1062 ms versus MusicBrainz at 898 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 MediaCaption API and MusicBrainz need an API key?

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

Can I call MediaCaption API and MusicBrainz from the browser?

Yes — both MediaCaption API and MusicBrainz 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 MediaCaption API and MusicBrainz free for commercial use?

MediaCaption API allows commercial use on its free tier, and MusicBrainz 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.