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MusicBrainz vs Watchmode

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

APIMusicBrainzNEW—WatchmodeREACHABLE—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useyesunclear
Data licenseCore data CC0; some supplementary data CC BY-NC-SA 3.0Watchmode terms
Free tierFree — no key requiredFree — 1,000 req/month
Rate limit~1 request/second per IP; descriptive User-Agent required1,000 req/month (free tier)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

MusicBrainz vs Watchmode: common questions

Which is more reliable, MusicBrainz or Watchmode?

On our scheduled checks, Watchmode leads on measured uptime — MusicBrainz at —% versus Watchmode at —% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do MusicBrainz and Watchmode need an API key?

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

Can I call MusicBrainz and Watchmode from the browser?

Yes — both MusicBrainz and Watchmode 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 MusicBrainz and Watchmode free for commercial use?

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