Free alternatives to paid stock photo APIs
7 services, checked weekly
The APIs of stock photo agencies such as Shutterstock and Getty Images are for paying customers. These APIs give free photos, illustrations and public-domain artworks for websites and apps; check each one's licence and attribution rules before you use its images.
| Service | Category | API key | Formats | Free use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unsplash API | Image and photo | – | JSON | Free; a new app starts in demo mode with 50 requests per hour and can apply for a higher limit. |
| Pexels API | Image and photo | Needed, free | JSON | Free with an API key, limited to 200 requests per hour and 20,000 per month, and apps must show a link to Pexels and credit photographers where possible. |
| Pixabay API | Image and photo | Needed, free | JSON | Free with a free API key; results must be cached and hotlinking full images is not allowed. |
| Wikimedia Commons API | Image and photo | Not needed | JSON | Free, no key needed; check the licence of each file before you use it. |
| The Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection API | Image and photo | Not needed | JSON | Free, no key needed. |
| Art Institute of Chicago API | Image and photo | Not needed | JSON | Free, no key needed. |
| Rijksmuseum API | Image and photo | Not needed | JSON | Free, no key needed; most images are in the public domain. |