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OpenSky Network vs Smartcar

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

APIOpenSky NetworkNEW—SmartcarNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
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?

On our scheduled checks, Smartcar leads on measured uptime — OpenSky Network at —% versus Smartcar 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 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.