shipapis
StarSubmit an APISubmit API

NPPES vs TheMealDB

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

APINPPESNEW—TheMealDBNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useyesunclear
Data licenseU.S. Government (public NPI data)Unverified
Free tierFree — no key requiredFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

NPPES vs TheMealDB: common questions

Which is more reliable, NPPES or TheMealDB?

On our scheduled checks, TheMealDB leads on measured uptime — NPPES at —% versus TheMealDB 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 NPPES and TheMealDB need an API key?

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

Can I call NPPES and TheMealDB from the browser?

Only TheMealDB 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 TheMealDB free for commercial use?

NPPES allows commercial use on its free tier, and TheMealDB 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.