Pexels API
Free Stock Photos and Videos.
Strengths
- Fast: 76 ms response
- Callable from the browser (CORS)
- HTTPS
vs
Pexels API vs Unsplash API
Two free Photography APIs compared on access, reliability and developer ratings, using data from our daily health checks.
The verdict
- Choose Pexels API if you want to call it from browser JavaScript, faster responses.
- Choose Unsplash API for its data: Create with the largest collection of high-quality images that are free to use.
Side by side
| Pexels API | Unsplash API | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Free Stock Photos and Videos. | Create with the largest collection of high-quality images that are free to use. |
| Provider | pexels.com | Unsplash |
| API key | Required | OAuth |
| HTTPS | Yes | Yes |
| CORS (browser calls) | Yes | Unknown |
| Status today | Online · 76 ms | Online · 974 ms |
| Uptime (30 days) | Up | Up |
| Developer rating | Not rated yet | Not rated yet |
| Price | Free / free tier | Free / free tier |
About each API
Unsplash API
Create with the largest collection of high-quality images that are free to use.
Create with the largest collection of high-quality images that are free to use. Trusted by Trello, Medium, and thousands of other API applications to power their free picture needs.
Strengths
- HTTPS
How to choose between them
- Prototyping or a tutorial? Pick the one that needs no API key (neither does, so compare their free tiers).
- 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.
Pexels vs Unsplash FAQ
Do Pexels API and Unsplash API need an API key?
Both require authentication (apiKey and OAuth).
Which can I call from the browser?
Pexels API supports CORS, so front-end JavaScript can call it directly. Call the other from a server.
More comparisons
Pexels API alternatives · Unsplash API alternatives · best Photography APIs