Lorem Picsum API vs PlaceKeanu API

Two free Photography APIs compared on access, reliability and developer ratings, using data from our daily health checks.

The verdict

Choose Lorem Picsum API if you want faster responses.
Choose PlaceKeanu API if its data fits your use case better; on access and reliability it's level with Lorem Picsum API.

	Lorem Picsum API	PlaceKeanu API
What it does	Images from Unsplash. A free photography API by Lorem Picsum.	Resizable Keanu Reeves placeholder images with grayscale and young Keanu options.
Provider	Lorem Picsum	PlaceKeanu.com
API key	Not needed	Not needed
HTTPS	Yes	Yes
CORS (browser calls)	Unknown	Unknown
Status today	Online · 536 ms	Online · 961 ms
Uptime (30 days)	Up	Up
Developer rating	Not rated yet	Not rated yet
Price	Free / free tier	Free / free tier

Images from Unsplash. A free photography API by Lorem Picsum.

Lorem Ipsum... but for photos

Strengths

Resizable Keanu Reeves placeholder images with grayscale and young Keanu options.

For when you need a little more Keanu in your life

Strengths

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.

Neither needs an API key; you can call both straight away.