NDBC Buoy Data API vs Sunrise-Sunset

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms
P95 · ms
Authnonenone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedn/a
Free tierFree — limits not publishedUnlimited, attribution requested
Rate limitUnpublishedNo burst traffic
In directory since2026-07-052026-06-22
operationalpartialdownno data

NDBC Buoy Data API vs Sunrise-Sunset: common questions

Which is more reliable, NDBC Buoy Data API or Sunrise-Sunset?

On our scheduled checks, Sunrise-Sunset leads on measured uptime — NDBC Buoy Data API at —% versus Sunrise-Sunset 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 NDBC Buoy Data API and Sunrise-Sunset need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — NDBC Buoy Data API is callable with no signup, and Sunrise-Sunset is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call NDBC Buoy Data API and Sunrise-Sunset from the browser?

Only Sunrise-Sunset is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. NDBC Buoy Data API needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are NDBC Buoy Data API and Sunrise-Sunset free for commercial use?

NDBC Buoy Data API has unclear commercial terms, and Sunrise-Sunset 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.