Photon API vs REST Countries
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Photon API vs REST Countries: common questions
Which is more reliable, Photon API or REST Countries?
On our scheduled checks, REST Countries leads on measured uptime — Photon API at 97.8% versus REST Countries at 100% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.
Which is faster, Photon API or REST Countries?
REST Countries has the lower median latency in our checks — Photon API responds in 768 ms versus REST Countries at 274 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 Photon API and REST Countries need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — Photon API is callable with no signup, and REST Countries is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call Photon API and REST Countries from the browser?
Yes — both Photon API and REST Countries 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 Photon API and REST Countries free for commercial use?
Photon API has unclear commercial terms, and REST Countries allows commercial use on its free tier. 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.