Open5e vs PokéAPI

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d89.2%100%
Uptime · 30d85.0%100%
P50 · ms64661
P95 · ms43082193
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearno
Data licenseSRD content under OGL 1.0a; API/site MIT-licensedFair-use fan data
Free tierFree, no API key requiredUnlimited (be reasonable)
Rate limitUnpublishedNone — locally cache please
In directory since2026-07-052026-05-02
operationalpartialdownno data

Open5e vs PokéAPI: common questions

Which is more reliable, Open5e or PokéAPI?

On our scheduled checks, PokéAPI leads on measured uptime — Open5e at 89.2% versus PokéAPI 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, Open5e or PokéAPI?

PokéAPI has the lower median latency in our checks — Open5e responds in 646 ms versus PokéAPI at 61 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 Open5e and PokéAPI need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Open5e is callable with no signup, and PokéAPI is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Open5e and PokéAPI from the browser?

Yes — both Open5e and PokéAPI 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 Open5e and PokéAPI free for commercial use?

Open5e has unclear commercial terms, and PokéAPI is personal/non-commercial only. 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.