Gutendex API
Web-API for fetching data from Project Gutenberg Books Library.
Strengths
- No API key needed
- HTTPS
vs
Gutendex API vs Open Library API
Two free Books APIs compared on access, reliability and developer ratings, using data from our daily health checks.
The verdict
- Choose Gutendex API for its data: Web-API for fetching data from Project Gutenberg Books Library.
- Choose Open Library API if you want faster responses.
Side by side
| Gutendex API | Open Library API | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Web-API for fetching data from Project Gutenberg Books Library. | Books, book covers and related data. |
| Provider | Gutendex | Open Library |
| API key | Not needed | Not needed |
| HTTPS | Yes | Yes |
| CORS (browser calls) | Unknown | No |
| Status today | Online · 10846 ms | Online · 1547 ms |
| Uptime (30 days) | Up | Up |
| Developer rating | Not rated yet | Not rated yet |
| Price | Free / free tier | Free / free tier |
About each API
Open Library API
Books, book covers and related data.
Open Library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Read, borrow, and discover more than 3M books for free.
Strengths
- No API key needed
- Returns JSON at its URL
- HTTPS
How to choose between them
- Prototyping or a tutorial? Pick the one that needs no API key (both qualify).
- Calling from a web page? You need CORS. Otherwise route requests through your own server or a serverless function.
- Going to production? Favour HTTPS, a strong uptime record and a provider with clear rate limits and terms. Check each API's docs before you commit.
- Still unsure? Both are free to try: send one request to each and compare the data you get back.
Gutendex vs Open Library FAQ
Do Gutendex API and Open Library API need an API key?
Neither needs an API key; you can call both straight away.
More comparisons
Gutendex API alternatives · Open Library API alternatives · best Books APIs