OpenSanctions vs Shields
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
OpenSanctions vs Shields: common questions
Which is more reliable, OpenSanctions or Shields?
Both are neck-and-neck — OpenSanctions and Shields each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.
Which is faster, OpenSanctions or Shields?
Shields has the lower median latency in our checks — OpenSanctions responds in 387 ms versus Shields at 30 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 OpenSanctions and Shields need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — OpenSanctions 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 OpenSanctions and Shields from the browser?
Yes — both OpenSanctions and Shields 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 OpenSanctions and Shields free for commercial use?
OpenSanctions 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.