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Radio Browser vs Watchmode

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

APIRadio BrowserNEW—WatchmodeREACHABLE—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedWatchmode terms
Free tierFree and open source — no keyFree — 1,000 req/month
Rate limitUnpublished (clients asked to send a descriptive User-Agent)1,000 req/month (free tier)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Radio Browser vs Watchmode: common questions

Which is more reliable, Radio Browser or Watchmode?

On our scheduled checks, Watchmode leads on measured uptime — Radio Browser at —% versus Watchmode 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 Radio Browser and Watchmode need an API key?

Radio Browser needs no key, while Watchmode requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Radio Browser first.

Can I call Radio Browser and Watchmode from the browser?

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

Radio Browser has unclear commercial terms, and Watchmode 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.