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TVDB vs TVMaze

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

APITVDBREACHABLE100TVMazeHEALTHY95
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms306479
P95 · ms1549927
AuthapiKeynone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearno
Data licenseTVDB terms — user-contributed dataCC BY-SA (attribution required, per docs)
Free tierFree personal API keyFree for personal/non-commercial use, no key
Rate limitUnpublishedAt least 20 calls per 10 seconds per IP (per docs)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

TVDB vs TVMaze: common questions

Which is more reliable, TVDB or TVMaze?

Both are neck-and-neck — TVDB and TVMaze 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, TVDB or TVMaze?

TVDB has the lower median latency in our checks — TVDB responds in 306 ms versus TVMaze at 479 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 TVDB and TVMaze need an API key?

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

Can I call TVDB and TVMaze from the browser?

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

TVDB has unclear commercial terms, and TVMaze is personal/non-commercial only. 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.