TMDb vs Watchmode

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms352554
P95 · ms15281050
AuthapiKeyapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial usenounclear
Data licenseTMDb terms — attribution requiredWatchmode terms
Free tierFree personal API keyFree — 1,000 req/month
Rate limit~50 req/sec documented ceiling1,000 req/month (free tier)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

TMDb vs Watchmode: common questions

Which is more reliable, TMDb or Watchmode?

Both are neck-and-neck — TMDb and Watchmode 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 Watchmode?

TMDb has the lower median latency in our checks — TMDb responds in 352 ms versus Watchmode at 554 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 Watchmode need an API key?

Both ask you to authenticate — TMDb uses an API key and Watchmode 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 Watchmode from the browser?

Yes — both TMDb and Watchmode 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 Watchmode free for commercial use?

TMDb is personal/non-commercial only, and Watchmode 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.