Open Food Facts API vs openFDA
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Open Food Facts API vs openFDA: common questions
Which is more reliable, Open Food Facts API or openFDA?
Both are neck-and-neck — Open Food Facts API and openFDA each measure 94.1% 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, Open Food Facts API or openFDA?
openFDA has the lower median latency in our checks — Open Food Facts API responds in 1401 ms versus openFDA at 1187 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 Food Facts API and openFDA need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — Open Food Facts API is callable with no signup, and openFDA is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call Open Food Facts API and openFDA from the browser?
Yes — both Open Food Facts API and openFDA 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 Open Food Facts API and openFDA free for commercial use?
Open Food Facts API has unclear commercial terms, and openFDA 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.