Data downloads vs API, or both?
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) provide real-time access to IPinfo's IP data through programmatic requests. They're ideal for applications that need immediate information without maintaining local databases and integrate seamlessly into existing software.
Data downloads deliver complete IP databases that organizations can host internally, offering maximum flexibility in how the data is processed, stored, and utilized within their own infrastructure.
Does data retrieval matter? In some cases, it doesn’t. In other cases, it really does. The reality is that both the API and data downloads offer different benefits based on the priorities of each use case.
By the end of this article, you should have enough resources to make the right choice for your use case. And if not, no worries! We’ll give you quick access to our data experts to ask any remaining questions.
The Facts: What You Need to Know
Before diving into more comparison details that specifically affect use cases, here are some simple facts to know about downloads and our API.
Data Downloads Versus Our API
IPinfo’s API and data downloads use the same accurate datasets that are updated every day. That being said, there are some reasons our users choose data downloads over our API and vice versa.
1. Speed
IPinfo's API offers the fastest implementation path for accessing IP data. Developers avoid building complex ETL pipelines, configuring databases, setting up servers, or writing SQL queries. Instead, they receive immediate IP data through simple API calls.
Some development teams require additional time to integrate the API into existing systems. IPinfo addresses this need by providing comprehensive libraries and implementation guides for multiple programming languages.
Data downloads typically involve a longer initial setup process. This custom solution requires selecting specific data types, determining download frequency, and other configuration options. After selection, your implementation timeline depends on your internal data processing capabilities.
For immediate IP data access with minimal development time, the API provides the optimal starting point.
2. Response Time
IPinfo's database delivers the industry's fastest IP lookups by eliminating internet traversal for each query. Internal database lookups average approximately one millisecond, while API lookups complete within 100 milliseconds.
On average, our API returns requests within 50 to 200 milliseconds. But even though our API is lightning fast, IPinfo’s database is the best option if you need the lowest latency possible.
3. Fresh Data
IPinfo's API automatically queries our continuously updated database, delivering the most current IP intelligence available. Daily database downloads maintain equivalent accuracy levels to API calls.
IP address data changes rapidly – 44% of city-level data changes annually. Users who implement weekly or monthly download schedules may experience gradually decreasing accuracy between updates. API users avoid this accuracy degradation entirely through real-time data access.
Here’s a snapshot of how IP information changes over time.
This is why weekly and monthly database downloads won’t stay as accurate as API requests or daily downloads. If you require the most accurate insights, then daily database downloads or our API may be the right choice for you.
4. Usage Volume
IPinfo's API offers cost advantages for lower usage volumes through flexible payment options. Users select either pre-set monthly request packages or metered pay-as-you-go billing. Weekly and monthly request summaries help users monitor and optimize their API usage patterns. IPinfo provides comprehensive documentation on request optimization techniques including effective bot traffic filtering.
For high-volume monthly requests, database downloads typically reduce total expenditure. Download pricing consolidates all IP data types into a single comprehensive package rather than charging separately for individual datasets or predetermined API plans. Try IPinfo’s free data downloads.
5. Security or Critical Dependence
IPinfo maintains near-perfect 99.999% API uptime. However, certain security-conscious organizations require contingency planning for even the most unlikely service disruptions.
Database downloads eliminate dependence on external infrastructure and connectivity by hosting IP data entirely within your controlled environment. Organizations implementing strict security protocols often select database downloads to maximize infrastructure sovereignty and eliminate external dependencies.
6. Flexibility
Database download flexibility represents the primary reason organizations transition from API implementation. Database downloads enable simultaneous processing of billions of IP addresses according to your specific requirements.
Many organizations select database downloads to simplify GDPR and privacy regulation compliance. While API implementations can enhance privacy through techniques like partial IP hashing, database downloads provide complete control over data handling, storage, and lookup methodologies.
Database downloads grant comprehensive flexibility in IP data management without sharing information with external systems. This approach enables customized lookup procedures that maximize individual privacy protection.
7. Data Processing
Many organizations prefer IPinfo's API because it minimizes data processing requirements. When an application requests privacy detection data through the API, it receives only the specific dataset requested.
Database downloads provide comprehensive IP information requiring internal processing within your organization. Data enrichment companies prioritize this processing capability as their core business function.
Conversely, companies focused on product development often prefer to minimize data processing requirements. These organizations benefit from targeted API queries that support feature development without diverting resources to data management.
8. Interactions
Data downloads and APIs differ fundamentally in how they interact with your systems. With downloads, you receive a complete dataset through a one-time transfer that your organization then hosts internally. This approach provides total control over the data, but requires you to manage updates and infrastructure.
APIs, conversely, establish an ongoing connection where your application sends requests to IPinfo's servers whenever it needs information. This creates a dynamic relationship where IPinfo handles all data maintenance while you benefit from always having current information without managing underlying infrastructure. The interaction is programmatic, requiring proper implementation within your codebase but eliminating the need for local data storage and management.
Inspiration: Data Retrieval for Better Use Cases
More than anything, use cases often determine whether data downloads or API is best. To illustrate this, here are a few examples of use cases that benefited from one or the other.
Data Enrichment
Dreamdata, an organization that specializes in B2B revenue attribution, uses IPinfo’s data for enrichment. Initially, when Dreamdata had lower traffic volumes, they used the API. Here’s why they opted for the API when they first signed up for IPinfo’s data:
- It was more cost-effective for their traffic volumes.
- It was easier to integrate with their existing systems.
As their traffic grew and they needed to scale, however, they migrated to data downloads for these reasons.
- Downloads were the most efficient way to embed large volumes of IP data into their platform.
- Data downloads are lower latency.
Using downloads, they help B2B clients understand their buyers and map out the customer journey. For example, they use downloads to identify the country and city and also to conduct reverse lookups of accounts.
These two examples represent how similar use cases may benefit from a different data retrieval method.
ABM or Sales Intel
ABM organizations use the API to target high-value leads at a time when they’ll be more likely to buy. Say, for instance, that geolocation insights and other user intent data indicate a potential customer. Sales teams can use this information to connect with these high-value site visitors.
Explore the best geolocation API.
On the other hand, other ABM and sales intel companies use the raw data from our downloadable database to help users pinpoint the right buyers. Additionally, these downloaded insights help map out buyer journeys and understand customers even better.
These are just a few examples of how similar use cases can use different data retrieval to improve their targeting, personalization, enrichment, and more.
Key Partners and Integrations
IPinfo seamlessly integrates with leading platforms to provide enhanced IP intelligence capabilities across your technology stack:
Snowflake
IPinfo is available on the Snowflake Marketplace, where Snowflake users looking for IP address datasets can easily utilize IPinfo's optimized datasets on their platform.
DataDog
IPinfo is featured prominently within the DataDog threat intelligence product and allows users of the platform to easily populate their logs with additional context for all their logs containing IP addresses.
Google Cloud
Connect IPinfo data with thousands of other Google Cloud services and data sources to drive innovation and inform critical business decisions.
Palo Alto Networks
IPinfo's API generates valuable data about any IP address to enable Cortex XSOAR users to customize their cybersecurity stack without requiring any additional effort on their end.
Maltego
Maltego uses the API integrations of IPinfo in conjunction with Host.io to create a more robust and comprehensive cybersecurity solution for domain investigation.
Splunk
The Splunk data platform is one of the most versatile platforms out there. Users of that platform can find IPinfo's API right in the Splunkbase platform and developers can use the API to maximize IP address data.
When to Use Both API and Database Downloads
For many organizations, the optimal solution isn't choosing between API and database downloads – it’s strategically implementing both. Here are scenarios where a combined approach delivers maximum value:
Hybrid Architectures
Organizations with complex infrastructure often benefit from database downloads for their core systems while using APIs for edge applications. For example, a cybersecurity company might use database downloads for their central threat intelligence platform while deploying APIs for lightweight client-side implementations.
Learn how to leverage IP data for access control.
Handling Different Data Types
Some IP data changes more frequently than others. For instance, you might use database downloads for relatively stable ASN data while using the API for rapidly changing privacy detection data that identifies VPNs and proxies. This hybrid approach optimizes for both cost and accuracy.
Development to Production Migration
Many development teams start with the API for rapid prototyping and testing. Once the product moves to production with predictable traffic patterns, they transition high-volume lookups to database downloads while maintaining API access for specialized queries or as a fallback mechanism.
Do You Need Data Downloads or the API?
Here’s a simple assessment. Below is a list of common priorities for many of our users. Start by putting a checkmark next to your most important concerns. You could also have the project manager, developers, or other team members do the same to gauge any variation in priorities.
- We need the most up-to-date data.
- We need simplicity. (Just make the call and get the data.)
- We don’t want to worry about building or maintaining infrastructure for IP data.
- We need to quickly ship a feature that needs IP data.
- Next to accurate data, price is a major factor. We need the cheaper option.
- We need complete flexibility with IP data.
- Latency is a top concern.
- Privacy compliance with IP data is a major concern.
- We have the in-house expertise to load, host, and service large datasets.
- We need whole datasets rather than individual API calls.
Next, take the numbers that matter the most for your use case and compare them with the table below. For instance, if most of your top priorities align with database downloads, then this may be the best option for your use case.
Get Started With Fast and Simple Setup
IPinfo's official libraries, reliable customer support, and easy-to-use services help users begin using IP data with less hassle.
API Setup
- Sign up
- Get your token
- Access our supported documentation
- Choose your integrations
- Contact support team with additional questions
Database Downloads
- Request a quote
- Choose a downloading schedule
- Select your preferred format
- Customize your data feed
- Start downloading the raw data
Still Not Sure if You Need Data Downloads or the API?
If you’ve read through this article, assessed your top priorities, and still find that your use case is uniquely challenging, feel free to contact one of our data experts. Sometimes our users benefit from downloading a few datasets while using the API for other kinds of data.
This is often because the API may be better for some particular feature within a use case.
That being said, please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have about data services and your use case. We’re always ready to help!
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About the author
As the product marketing manager, Fernanda helps customers better understand how IPinfo products can serve their needs.
