NPPES vs OpenF1
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
NPPES vs OpenF1: common questions
Which is more reliable, NPPES or OpenF1?
On our scheduled checks, NPPES leads on measured uptime — NPPES at 100% versus OpenF1 at 47.1% 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, NPPES or OpenF1?
OpenF1 has the lower median latency in our checks — NPPES responds in 910 ms versus OpenF1 at 747 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 NPPES and OpenF1 need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — NPPES is callable with no signup, and OpenF1 is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call NPPES and OpenF1 from the browser?
Only OpenF1 is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. NPPES needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are NPPES and OpenF1 free for commercial use?
NPPES allows commercial use on its free tier, and OpenF1 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.