Open Disease vs openFDA API
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Open Disease vs openFDA API: common questions
Which is more reliable, Open Disease or openFDA API?
On our scheduled checks, openFDA API leads on measured uptime — Open Disease at 99.02% versus openFDA API at 100% 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, Open Disease or openFDA API?
Open Disease has the lower median latency in our checks — Open Disease responds in 451 ms versus openFDA API at 806 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 Open Disease and openFDA API need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — Open Disease is callable with no signup, and openFDA API is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call Open Disease and openFDA API from the browser?
Only Open Disease is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. openFDA API needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are Open Disease and openFDA API free for commercial use?
Open Disease has unclear commercial terms, and openFDA API 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.