Quandl vs Shields

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms
P95 · ms
Authnonenone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Quandl vs Shields: common questions

Which is more reliable, Quandl or Shields?

On our scheduled checks, Shields leads on measured uptime — Quandl at —% versus Shields 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 Quandl and Shields need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Quandl 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 Quandl and Shields from the browser?

Only Shields is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Quandl needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are Quandl and Shields free for commercial use?

Quandl 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.