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Open Library vs University of Oslo

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

APIOpen LibraryHEALTHY—University of OsloNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseMixed — mostly openUnverified
Free tierUnlimited within courtesy limitsFree — limits not published
Rate limitSoft — identified UA appreciatedUnpublished
In directory since2026-05-022026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Open Library vs University of Oslo: common questions

Which is more reliable, Open Library or University of Oslo?

On our scheduled checks, University of Oslo leads on measured uptime — Open Library at —% versus University of Oslo 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 Open Library and University of Oslo need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Open Library is callable with no signup, and University of Oslo is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Open Library and University of Oslo from the browser?

Yes — both Open Library and University of Oslo 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 Library and University of Oslo free for commercial use?

Open Library has unclear commercial terms, and University of Oslo 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.