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openFDA vs Spoonacular

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

APIopenFDANEW—SpoonacularNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — 50 points/day
Rate limitUnpublished50 points/day on free plan
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

openFDA vs Spoonacular: common questions

Which is more reliable, openFDA or Spoonacular?

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

openFDA needs no key, while Spoonacular requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for openFDA first.

Can I call openFDA and Spoonacular from the browser?

Yes — both openFDA and Spoonacular 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 openFDA and Spoonacular free for commercial use?

openFDA has unclear commercial terms, and Spoonacular 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.