OpenSanctions vs Wikidata
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
OpenSanctions vs Wikidata: common questions
Which is more reliable, OpenSanctions or Wikidata?
Both are neck-and-neck — OpenSanctions and Wikidata 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 Wikidata?
OpenSanctions has the lower median latency in our checks — OpenSanctions responds in 387 ms versus Wikidata at 585 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 Wikidata need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — OpenSanctions is callable with no signup, and Wikidata is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call OpenSanctions and Wikidata from the browser?
Only OpenSanctions is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Wikidata needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are OpenSanctions and Wikidata free for commercial use?
OpenSanctions has unclear commercial terms, and Wikidata 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.