OMDb vs Watchmode

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms188554
P95 · ms11401050
AuthapiKeyapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseCommunity-contributed metadataWatchmode terms
Free tier1,000 req/day free keyFree — 1,000 req/month
Rate limitPatron key `trilogy` is shared — cache responses1,000 req/month (free tier)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

OMDb vs Watchmode: common questions

Which is more reliable, OMDb or Watchmode?

Both are neck-and-neck — OMDb and Watchmode each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.

Which is faster, OMDb or Watchmode?

OMDb has the lower median latency in our checks — OMDb responds in 188 ms versus Watchmode at 554 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 OMDb and Watchmode need an API key?

Both ask you to authenticate — OMDb uses an API key and Watchmode uses an API key. Each key is free to obtain; the Auth and Card-required rows above spell out the signup terms.

Can I call OMDb and Watchmode from the browser?

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

OMDb has unclear commercial terms, 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.