shipapis
StarSubmit an APISubmit API

MusicBrainz vs Openwhyd

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

APIMusicBrainzHEALTHY82OpenwhydHEALTHY84
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d90.2%98.0%
Uptime · 30d86.7%100%
P50 · ms660219
P95 · ms47701055
Authnonenone
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useyesunclear
Data licenseCore data CC0; some supplementary data CC BY-NC-SA 3.0Unverified
Free tierFree — no key requiredFree — no key required
Rate limit~1 request/second per IP; descriptive User-Agent required100 req/window · 99 remaining · resets 60
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

MusicBrainz vs Openwhyd: common questions

Which is more reliable, MusicBrainz or Openwhyd?

On our scheduled checks, Openwhyd leads on measured uptime — MusicBrainz at 90.2% versus Openwhyd at 98.0% 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, MusicBrainz or Openwhyd?

Openwhyd has the lower median latency in our checks — MusicBrainz responds in 660 ms versus Openwhyd at 219 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 MusicBrainz and Openwhyd need an API key?

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

Can I call MusicBrainz and Openwhyd from the browser?

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

Are MusicBrainz and Openwhyd free for commercial use?

MusicBrainz allows commercial use on its free tier, and Openwhyd 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.