TVDB vs xColors

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

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms306642
P95 · ms15491161
AuthapiKeynone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseTVDB terms — user-contributed dataUnverified
Free tierFree personal API keyFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

TVDB vs xColors: common questions

Which is more reliable, TVDB or xColors?

Both are neck-and-neck — TVDB and xColors 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 xColors?

TVDB has the lower median latency in our checks — TVDB responds in 306 ms versus xColors at 642 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 xColors need an API key?

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

Can I call TVDB and xColors from the browser?

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

TVDB has unclear commercial terms, and xColors 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.