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Is GBIF API down?

Current status, daily uptime history and troubleshooting for the GBIF API (Science & Math).

No, GBIF is up

GBIF answered our last daily check (Oct 24, 2026, 12:25 UTC) in 115 ms with HTTP 403.

Checking GBIF now…

Sending a request from our server.

GBIF API uptime history

30 days agoLatest check
Uptime
2 checks so far
Last check
Oct 24, 2026, 12:25 UTC
Response
115 ms · HTTP 403
Last up
Now

We check GBIF's listed URL (https://www.gbif.org/developer/summary) once a day. History started when GBIF was first checked, so new entries show fewer than 30 days.

What does HTTP 403 mean? Read the 403 explainer.

GBIF API not working for you?

  1. A 429 response means you're being rate-limited. Slow down, cache responses, and respect any Retry-After header.
  2. If it works from one network but not another, check firewalls, VPNs and regional blocks.
  3. Check the provider's documentation, status page or social accounts for planned maintenance or a changed endpoint.

Science & Math APIs up at their last check

  1. 1Macrostrat logo

    Macrostrat API

    Online · 694 ms

    Geologic maps, rock columns and stratigraphy data.

    • No API key needed
    • Returns JSON at its URL
    • Callable from the browser (CORS)
    • HTTPS
    No authHTTPSCORS
  2. 2Chempirical logo

    Chempirical API

    Online · 533 ms

    Chemical compounds with physical data, reactions and substructure search.

    • No API key needed
    • Callable from the browser (CORS)
    • HTTPS
    No authHTTPSCORS
  3. 3CycleCalcs logo

    CycleCalcs API

    Online · 714 ms

    Interpreted astronomy: sun and moon times, moon phases, planets, eclipses, seasons.

    • No API key needed
    • Callable from the browser (CORS)
    • HTTPS
    No authHTTPSCORS
  4. 4Europe PMC logo

    Europe PMC API

    Online · 118 ms

    Life-science literature search with abstracts, citations and full-text links.

    • No API key needed
    • Fast: 118 ms response
    • Callable from the browser (CORS)
    • HTTPS
    No authHTTPSCORS
  5. 5iNaturalist logo

    iNaturalist API

    Online · 1121 ms

    Citizen-science wildlife observations with species identification and mapping.

    • No API key needed
    • Callable from the browser (CORS)
    • HTTPS
    No authHTTPSCORS

Compare all GBIF alternatives · APIs down right now

GBIF API status FAQ

Is GBIF API down right now?

GBIF answered our last daily check (Oct 24, 2026, 12:25 UTC) in 115 ms with HTTP 403. This page also runs a live check from our server when you open it, so you can see whether GBIF is responding at this moment.

How do you check whether GBIF API is up?

Once a day our checker requests GBIF's listed URL (https://www.gbif.org/developer/summary) and records whether it answers within 15 seconds. Answers like 401 (needs a key), 403 (blocks bots) or 429 (rate-limited) count as up, because the server responded. The listed URL is often the documentation page, so an API endpoint can occasionally fail while its docs stay up.

What can I use if GBIF API is down?

Free Science & Math APIs that were up at their last check include Macrostrat, Chempirical, CycleCalcs. See the full list of GBIF alternatives for a comparison.

Why does GBIF API work for others but not for me?

A 429 response means you're being rate-limited. Slow down, cache responses, and respect any Retry-After header. If it works from one network but not another, check firewalls, VPNs and regional blocks. Check the provider's documentation, status page or social accounts for planned maintenance or a changed endpoint.