Free APIs
Free Food & recipes APIs
| API | Free tier | Auth | Docs |
|---|---|---|---|
| TheMealDB Meal recipes, ingredients and images Catch: Test key for development; paid for production | Free test key (1) | API key | docs |
| TheCocktailDB Cocktail recipes and ingredients Catch: Test key for development; paid for production | Free test key (1) | API key | docs |
| Spoonacular Food API Recipes, nutrition, meal plans and product data Catch: Backlink required; 1 request/second | Free plan: 50 points/day | API key | docs |
| Open Food Facts API Open database of food products and ingredients Catch: Send a custom User-Agent; read rate limits apply | Free, no key | No key | docs |
| USDA FoodData Central API Nutrient data for foods Catch: Hourly cap per IP | Free key: 1,000 requests/hour per IP | API key | docs |
| Open Brewery DB Breweries, cideries and bottle shops Catch: Mostly US coverage | Free, no key | No key | docs |
FAQ
What is the best free food & recipes API?+
TheMealDB, TheCocktailDB, Spoonacular Food API are good places to start. Compare the free tiers and catches in the table; they differ mostly in limits and whether commercial use is allowed.
Is there a food & recipes API without an API key?+
Yes: Open Food Facts API, Open Brewery DB work without a key.
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