The Guardian vs Wikipedia REST
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
The Guardian vs Wikipedia REST: common questions
Which is more reliable, The Guardian or Wikipedia REST?
On our scheduled checks, Wikipedia REST leads on measured uptime — The Guardian at 98.0% versus Wikipedia REST 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, The Guardian or Wikipedia REST?
Wikipedia REST has the lower median latency in our checks — The Guardian responds in 742 ms versus Wikipedia REST at 98 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 The Guardian and Wikipedia REST need an API key?
Wikipedia REST needs no key, while The Guardian requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Wikipedia REST first.
Can I call The Guardian and Wikipedia REST from the browser?
Yes — both The Guardian and Wikipedia REST 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 The Guardian and Wikipedia REST free for commercial use?
The Guardian has unclear commercial terms, and Wikipedia REST allows commercial use on its free tier. 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.