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Steam vs CheapShark

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

APISteamNEW—CheapSharkNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree, no API keyFree — no key
Rate limitUnpublished (undocumented endpoint; IP rate-limited)Unpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Steam vs CheapShark: common questions

Which is more reliable, Steam or CheapShark?

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

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

Can I call Steam and CheapShark from the browser?

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

Are Steam and CheapShark free for commercial use?

Steam has unclear commercial terms, and CheapShark 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.