shipapis
StarSubmit an APISubmit API

Open Notify vs NASA APOD

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

APIOpen NotifyDYING—NASA APODHEALTHY—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSnoyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearyes
Data licensen/aPublic domain (US Gov)
Free tierUnlimited (volunteer-run)1,000 req/hour with free key
Rate limitPlease be gentleDEMO_KEY: 30/hour, 50/day
In directory since2026-05-022026-05-02
operationalpartialdownno data

Open Notify vs NASA APOD: common questions

Which is more reliable, Open Notify or NASA APOD?

On our scheduled checks, NASA APOD leads on measured uptime — Open Notify at —% versus NASA APOD 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 Notify and NASA APOD need an API key?

Open Notify needs no key, while NASA APOD requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Open Notify first.

Can I call Open Notify and NASA APOD from the browser?

Only NASA APOD is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Open Notify needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are Open Notify and NASA APOD free for commercial use?

Open Notify has unclear commercial terms, and NASA APOD allows commercial use on its free tier. 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.