shipapis
StarSubmit an APISubmit API

Zen Quotes vs JokeAPI

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

APIZen QuotesNEW—JokeAPINEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
Authnonenone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified (open-source project)
Free tierFree — no keyFree — no key
Rate limitRate-limited on the free tier (see zenquotes.io)120 requests/minute per IP (per jokeapi.dev docs)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Zen Quotes vs JokeAPI: common questions

Which is more reliable, Zen Quotes or JokeAPI?

On our scheduled checks, JokeAPI leads on measured uptime — Zen Quotes at —% versus JokeAPI 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 Zen Quotes and JokeAPI need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Zen Quotes is callable with no signup, and JokeAPI is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Zen Quotes and JokeAPI from the browser?

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

Are Zen Quotes and JokeAPI free for commercial use?

Zen Quotes has unclear commercial terms, and JokeAPI 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.