Free APIs
Free Images & media APIs
| API | Free tier | Auth | Docs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsplash API Free high-resolution photos search Catch: Production: 5,000/hour after approval; attribution required | Demo apps: 50 requests/hour | API key | docs |
| Pexels API Free stock photos and videos Catch: Attribution required | Free: 200 requests/hour, 20,000/month | API key | docs |
| Pixabay API Free images, videos and music Catch: Cache results; no permanent hotlinking | Free: 100 requests per 60 seconds | API key | docs |
| GIPHY API GIF search and trending Catch: Beta keys rate limited; production needs review | Free beta key with hourly limits | API key | docs |
| Lorem Picsum Random placeholder photos by size Catch: Placeholder use | Free, no key | No key | docs |
| Openverse API Openly licensed images and audio Catch: Anonymous requests are rate limited | Free; anonymous with low rate, key for more | No key | docs |
| NASA Image and Video Library Search NASA photos, video and audio Catch: Some media have usage guidelines | Free, no key | No key | docs |
| Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection API 470,000+ artworks, many public domain Catch: 80 requests/second cap | Free, no key; limit of 80 requests/second | No key | docs |
| Smithsonian Open Access API Smithsonian collections and images Catch: Per-object rights vary | Free key via api.data.gov | API key | docs |
| Cloudinary Image and video upload, transform and delivery Catch: Credits cover storage, bandwidth and transformations | Free plan: 25 monthly credits | API key | docs |
| ScreenshotOne Website screenshot API Catch: Free plan has watermarks-free but capped | Free plan: 100 screenshots/month | API key | docs |
FAQ
What is the best free images & media API?+
Unsplash API, Pexels API, Pixabay 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 images & media API without an API key?+
Yes: Lorem Picsum, Openverse API, NASA Image and Video Library, Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection API work without a key.
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