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18F vs UPC database

If you need a Open Data API that's easy to integrate, go with UPC database.

18F

Unofficial US Federal Government API Development

UPC database

More than 1.5 million barcode numbers from all around the world

18F

  • No authentication required
  • No HTTPS support
  • Currently flagged as inactive

UPC database

  • Simple API key authentication
  • HTTPS supported
Feature18FUPC database
AuthenticationNoneapiKey
HTTPSNoYes
CORSUnknownUnknown

When to use which?

18F is the better choice for quick prototypes and hackathons since it requires no authentication. UPC database supports HTTPS, which is required for production deployments and secure data handling.