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OpenSky Network vs Smartcar

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

APIOpenSky NetworkDEAD0SmartcarDEAD0
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d0.0%0.0%
Uptime · 30d0.0%0.0%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSnono
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial usenounclear
Data licenseNon-commercial/research use per OpenSky termsUnverified
Free tierFree for non-commercial/research use; anonymous requests are rate-limited and time-coarsenedFree tier — API key required
Rate limitAnonymous access throttled; registered/OAuth users get higher limitsUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

OpenSky Network vs Smartcar: common questions

Which is more reliable, OpenSky Network or Smartcar?

Both are neck-and-neck — OpenSky Network and Smartcar each measure 0.0% 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.

Do OpenSky Network and Smartcar need an API key?

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

Can I call OpenSky Network and Smartcar from the browser?

Neither sends browser-friendly CORS headers reliably, so call OpenSky Network and Smartcar from a server or proxy rather than client-side. The CORS and HTTPS rows above show exactly what we detected for each.

Are OpenSky Network and Smartcar free for commercial use?

OpenSky Network is personal/non-commercial only, and Smartcar 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.