# Free Image and Photo APIs

Page: https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/

Image APIs give you free photos and artworks, avatars, QR codes, placeholder images and website screenshots, or let you upload and share images. Check each service's licence and attribution rules before you show its images on your site.

## Services

| Service | API key | Formats | Free use |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Art Institute of Chicago API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/art-institute-of-chicago-api.md) | Not needed | JSON | Free, no key needed. |
| [Cloudinary](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/cloudinary-api.md) | Needed, free | JSON | Free plan with 25 credits a month, without a payment card. |
| [DiceBear avatars](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/dicebear-avatars.md) | Not needed | XML | Free and open source, no key needed. |
| [Flickr API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/flickr-api.md) | Needed, free | JSON, XML | Free for non-commercial use with a free API key; commercial use needs permission. |
| [goQR.me QR code API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/goqr-me-qr-code-api.md) | Not needed | - | Free, no key needed. |
| [GrabzIt](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/grabz.md) | Needed, free | - | Free to try. |
| [Gravatar API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/gravatar.md) | Not needed | JSON, XML | Free; avatars need no key, the profile API uses a free API key. |
| [Imgur API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/imgur-api.md) | Needed, free | JSON | Free for non-commercial use with a free client ID; commercial use needs an agreement with Imgur. |
| [Lorem Picsum](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/lorem-picsum.md) | Not needed | - | Free, no key needed. |
| [Microlink](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/microlink.md) | Not needed | JSON | The free plan allows 50 requests per day without a key; paid plans offer more. |
| [Pexels API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/pexels-api.md) | 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](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/pixabay-api.md) | Needed, free | JSON | Free with a free API key; results must be cached and hotlinking full images is not allowed. |
| [Rijksmuseum API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/rijksmuseum-api.md) | Not needed | JSON | Free, no key needed; most images are in the public domain. |
| [The Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/the-metropolitan-museum-of-art-collection-api.md) | Not needed | JSON | Free, no key needed. |
| [Unsplash API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/unsplash-api.md) | Needed, free | JSON | Free; a new app starts in demo mode with 50 requests per hour and can apply for a higher limit. |
| [Wikimedia Commons API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/media/images/wikimedia-commons-api.md) | Not needed | JSON | Free, no key needed; check the licence of each file before you use it. |

## Questions

**Which free image and photo APIs work without an API key?**  
Art Institute of Chicago API, DiceBear avatars, goQR.me QR code API, Gravatar API, Lorem Picsum, Microlink, Rijksmuseum API, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection API and Wikimedia Commons API work without a key, according to their documentation. Most keyless services ask you to keep the number of requests reasonable, and some ask for a User-Agent that names your app.

**Are these image and photo APIs really free?**  
The services here can be used without paying, at least on a free plan or free tier, often with limits such as a number of requests per day or non-commercial use only. The table above quotes what each service says about its free use; check the provider's own terms before you rely on it.

**How up to date is this list?**  
The address of every service is checked about once a week, and services that stop working or stop being free are removed. This list last changed on November 8th, 2026.