Unsplash API vs Pexels API
Free API comparison
| Unsplash API | Pexels API | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Image and photo | Image and photo |
| API key | Needed, free | Needed, free |
| Pricing | Free; a new app starts in demo mode with 50 requests per hour and can apply for a higher limit. | 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. |
| From the browser | Yes (CORS) | Yes (CORS) |
| Formats | JSON | JSON |
| Interface | REST, HTTP-GET | REST, HTTP-GET |
| Provider | unsplash.com | pexels.com |
| MCP server | No | No |
Which one to choose
Both give free stock photos that must be credited. Unsplash starts every new app at 50 requests an hour, and you can apply for more; Pexels allows 200 an hour and 20,000 a month and adds videos, but new Pexels API keys cannot be requested at the moment. For a new project, Unsplash is the one you can start with today.
Each service's own page has its full description, a code example and what visitors report: Unsplash API, Pexels API.