# Pexels API vs Pixabay API

Page: https://free-web-services.com/compare/pexels-vs-pixabay/

| | [Pexels API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/graphics/images/pexels-api.md) | [Pixabay API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/graphics/images/pixabay-api.md) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Image and photo | Image and photo |
| API key | Needed, free | Needed, free |
| Pricing | 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. | Free with a free API key; results must be cached and hotlinking full images is not allowed. |
| From the browser | Yes (CORS) | Yes (CORS) |
| Formats | JSON | JSON |
| Interface | REST, HTTP-GET | REST, HTTP-GET |
| Provider | pexels.com | pixabay.com |
| MCP server | No | No |

## Which one to choose

Pixabay also has illustrations and vector graphics besides photos and videos, with a free key, but results must be cached and full images may not be hotlinked. Pexels has photos and videos with a credit to the photographer, at 200 requests an hour, but new keys cannot be requested at the moment. For a new project, Pixabay.