OpenAlex vs World Bank

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms
P95 · ms
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useyesyes
Data licenseCC0CC BY 4.0
Free tierFree tier (~$1/day of usage); free API key available for moreFree — no API key required
Rate limitUsage-metered free tier (~$1/day per docs)Unpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

OpenAlex vs World Bank: common questions

Which is more reliable, OpenAlex or World Bank?

On our scheduled checks, World Bank leads on measured uptime — OpenAlex at —% versus World Bank 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 OpenAlex and World Bank need an API key?

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

Can I call OpenAlex and World Bank from the browser?

Yes — both OpenAlex and World Bank 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 OpenAlex and World Bank free for commercial use?

OpenAlex allows commercial use on its free tier, and World Bank 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.