SWAPI vs TVDB

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d66.7%100%
Uptime · 30d43.3%100%
P50 · ms483306
P95 · ms14511549
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedTVDB terms — user-contributed data
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree personal API key
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

SWAPI vs TVDB: common questions

Which is more reliable, SWAPI or TVDB?

On our scheduled checks, TVDB leads on measured uptime — SWAPI at 66.7% versus TVDB 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, SWAPI or TVDB?

TVDB has the lower median latency in our checks — SWAPI responds in 483 ms versus TVDB at 306 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 SWAPI and TVDB need an API key?

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

Can I call SWAPI and TVDB from the browser?

Yes — both SWAPI and TVDB 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 SWAPI and TVDB free for commercial use?

SWAPI has unclear commercial terms, and TVDB 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.