Radio Browser vs TheAudioDB

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d95.1%100%
Uptime · 30d98.3%100%
P50 · ms556195
P95 · ms2431562
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree and open source — no keyFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublished (clients asked to send a descriptive User-Agent)Unpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Radio Browser vs TheAudioDB: common questions

Which is more reliable, Radio Browser or TheAudioDB?

On our scheduled checks, TheAudioDB leads on measured uptime — Radio Browser at 95.1% versus TheAudioDB 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, Radio Browser or TheAudioDB?

TheAudioDB has the lower median latency in our checks — Radio Browser responds in 556 ms versus TheAudioDB at 195 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 Radio Browser and TheAudioDB need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Radio Browser is callable with no signup, and TheAudioDB is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Radio Browser and TheAudioDB from the browser?

Yes — both Radio Browser and TheAudioDB 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 Radio Browser and TheAudioDB free for commercial use?

Radio Browser has unclear commercial terms, and TheAudioDB 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.