Newton vs Open Notify

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%71.6%
Uptime · 30d100%65.0%
P50 · ms323241
P95 · ms16334298
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesno
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedn/a
Free tierFree — limits not publishedUnlimited (volunteer-run)
Rate limitUnpublishedPlease be gentle
In directory since2026-07-052026-05-02
operationalpartialdownno data

Newton vs Open Notify: common questions

Which is more reliable, Newton or Open Notify?

On our scheduled checks, Newton leads on measured uptime — Newton at 100% versus Open Notify at 71.6% 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, Newton or Open Notify?

Open Notify has the lower median latency in our checks — Newton responds in 323 ms versus Open Notify at 241 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 Newton and Open Notify need an API key?

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

Can I call Newton and Open Notify from the browser?

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

Are Newton and Open Notify free for commercial use?

Newton has unclear commercial terms, and Open Notify 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.