Database Access Types

Each database entry includes an Access Type field indicating how the database can be accessed. Understanding access types helps in planning projects, budgeting, and identifying appropriate data sources.

Access Type Classifications

Open Source

Source code/data freely available, can be modified and redistributed. Examples include GeoNames, OBIS, GBIF, and open-source translation tools.

Estimated: ~5% of databases

Free

Free to access and use (may require registration). Most government databases, UN databases, research databases, and NGO databases fall into this category.

Estimated: ~60% of databases

Free with Registration

Free access after creating an account. Many research databases, some government portals, and trade analysis tools require registration.

Estimated: ~10% of databases

Free (Limited)

Free tier with usage limits, paid options available. Common for APIs and commercial services (Google Maps API, translation services, geocoding APIs).

Estimated: ~15% of databases

Paid/Subscription

Commercial service requiring payment or subscription. Includes commercial trade databases (ImportGenius, Panjiva, Tendata), premium API services, and enterprise data platforms.

Estimated: ~10% of databases

Restricted/Institutional

Access limited to specific institutions or authorization required. Includes sensitive government data, specialized research databases, and security-related databases (INTERPOL, some CRA data).

Estimated: ~3% of databases

Mixed (Free/Paid tiers)

Both free and paid access options available. Many APIs and services offer free tiers with limited features and paid tiers with advanced capabilities.

Examples: Google Maps API, Microsoft Translator, LocationIQ

Government/Public

Publicly funded, generally free access. Most government databases, statistical offices, and public research institutions provide free access to their data.

Access Type Statistics

Based on documented databases (310+ sources):

Free Access: ~60% (government, research, NGO sources)
Free with Registration: ~10%
Free Tier + Paid: ~15% (APIs, commercial services with free tiers)
Paid/Subscription Only: ~10% (commercial trade, premium services)
Restricted/Institutional: ~3% (specialized, sensitive data)
Open Source: ~5% (research, open data initiatives)
Unknown/Not Documented: ~2%

Access Planning Recommendations

For Free Access Projects

Focus on:

Government databases (Statistics Canada, UN databases)
Research/academic databases (GBIF, OBIS, university repositories)
Open-source initiatives
NGO databases (environmental, health, gender organizations)

Best Categories: Ecosystem/environmental (government), Indigenous (public resources), Gender (UN/NGO), Health (UN/government)

For Budget-Conscious Projects

Strategies:

Utilize free tiers of commercial APIs (geocoding, translation)
Leverage government open data portals
Consider open-source alternatives where available
Use free research databases (GBIF, OBIS, academic repositories)

For Commercial/Enterprise Projects

Budget for:

Commercial trade databases (ImportGenius, Panjiva, Tendata)
Premium geocoding APIs
Advanced translation services
Subscription services for real-time data, bulk downloads, advanced features

Evaluate: ROI of paid services vs. free alternatives

For Research/Academic Projects

Prioritize:

Free research databases, open-source tools, government data
Institutional subscriptions may provide access to paid databases
Academic partnerships for restricted databases

Access Patterns by Database Type

APIs and Web Services

Most offer free tiers with usage limits
Paid tiers typically provide higher limits, better support, advanced features
Open-source alternatives may exist for some services

Government Databases

Generally free for public access
May require registration for detailed data
Some restricted data requires authorization

Commercial Databases

Typically require subscription or payment
May offer trial periods or limited free access
Enterprise pricing common for business use

Research/Academic Databases

Often free and open access
May require institutional affiliation for some resources
Open-source tools common in research communities

NGO/International Organization Databases

Generally free public access
May require registration
Some data may be restricted based on purpose