REST Countries vs TheNews API

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms
P95 · ms
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useyesunclear
Data licenseMPL-2.0Unverified
Free tierUnlimitedFree tier — token required
Rate limitNone publishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-05-022026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

REST Countries vs TheNews API: common questions

Which is more reliable, REST Countries or TheNews API?

On our scheduled checks, TheNews API leads on measured uptime — REST Countries at —% versus TheNews API 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 REST Countries and TheNews API need an API key?

REST Countries needs no key, while TheNews API requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for REST Countries first.

Can I call REST Countries and TheNews API from the browser?

Yes — both REST Countries and TheNews API 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 REST Countries and TheNews API free for commercial use?

REST Countries allows commercial use on its free tier, and TheNews API 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.