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openAFRICA vs Shields

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

APIopenAFRICANEW—ShieldsNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

openAFRICA vs Shields: common questions

Which is more reliable, openAFRICA or Shields?

On our scheduled checks, Shields leads on measured uptime — openAFRICA at —% versus Shields 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 openAFRICA and Shields need an API key?

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

Can I call openAFRICA and Shields from the browser?

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

Are openAFRICA and Shields free for commercial use?

openAFRICA has unclear commercial terms, and Shields 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.