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Universities List vs Open Library

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

APIUniversities ListNEW—Open LibraryHEALTHY—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSnoyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedMixed — mostly open
Free tierFree — limits not publishedUnlimited within courtesy limits
Rate limitUnpublishedSoft — identified UA appreciated
In directory since2026-07-052026-05-02
operationalpartialdownno data

Universities List vs Open Library: common questions

Which is more reliable, Universities List or Open Library?

On our scheduled checks, Open Library leads on measured uptime — Universities List at —% versus Open Library at —% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do Universities List and Open Library need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Universities List is callable with no signup, and Open Library is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Universities List and Open Library from the browser?

Only Open Library is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Universities List needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are Universities List and Open Library free for commercial use?

Universities List has unclear commercial terms, and Open Library 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.