TMDb vs TVDB
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
TMDb vs TVDB: common questions
Which is more reliable, TMDb or TVDB?
Both are neck-and-neck — TMDb and TVDB each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.
Which is faster, TMDb or TVDB?
TVDB has the lower median latency in our checks — TMDb responds in 352 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 TMDb and TVDB need an API key?
Both ask you to authenticate — TMDb uses an API key and TVDB uses an API key. Each key is free to obtain; the Auth and Card-required rows above spell out the signup terms.
Can I call TMDb and TVDB from the browser?
Yes — both TMDb 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 TMDb and TVDB free for commercial use?
TMDb is personal/non-commercial only, 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.