patchBay

Abacus vs Search Services

If you need a Development API that's easy to integrate, go with Abacus.

Abacus

Free and simple counting service. You can use it to track page hits and specific events

Search Services

API for Internet Archive's Search-related services

Abacus

  • No authentication required
  • HTTPS supported
  • CORS enabled for frontend use

Search Services

  • Simple API key authentication
  • HTTPS supported
FeatureAbacusSearch Services
AuthenticationNoneapiKey
HTTPSYesYes
CORSYesUnknown

When to use which?

Abacus is the better choice for quick prototypes and hackathons since it requires no authentication. Abacus works directly from the browser with CORS enabled, making it better for frontend-only apps.