published

Unsplash API

The Unsplash API offers developers free access to a vast collection of high-resolution, royalty-free photos, perfect for enhancing websites and applications.

Developed by Unsplash

View Source
99.98%Uptime
150msLatency
2.1kStars
API KeyAuth
NoCredit Card
RESTStyle
v1Version
API Endpoints

Reference for available routes, request structures, and live examples.

Get random high-quality photos

Full Endpoint URL
https://api.unsplash.com/photos/random
Implementation Example
curl -X GET 'https://api.unsplash.com/photos/random' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'
Request Payload
{
  "count": "1"
}
Expected Response
{
  "id": "ABC123",
  "urls": {
    "regular": "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-123"
  },
  "user": {
    "name": "John Doe"
  }
}
Version:v1
Limit:50 requests/hour
Real-World Applications
  • Adding royalty-free images to blog posts and news articlesOptimized Capability
  • Auto-generating photo galleries or visual feedsOptimized Capability
  • Sourcing background images for web and mobile UIOptimized Capability
  • Building design tools with image search featuresOptimized Capability
  • Enhancing presentations and educational contentOptimized Capability
Advantages
  • ✓ Free access to a vast, high-quality photo library
  • ✓ Simple, developer-friendly REST API design
  • ✓ Flexible search, filters, and curated collections
  • ✓ No licensing headaches—royalty-free images
  • ✓ Fast and reliable global CDN delivery
Limitations
  • ✗ Daily/hourly rate limits restrict high-frequency use
  • ✗ Attribution required by Unsplash guidelines
  • ✗ No video or non-photographic media supported
  • ✗ Cannot upload or manage your own images
  • ✗ API key approval process can be manual for production

FAQs

API Specifications

v1
Pricing Model
Free with attribution, increased limits with application approval
Credit Card
Not Required
Response Formats
JSON
Supported Languages
9 Languages
SDK Support
JavaScript
Time to Hello World

5-10 minutes

Rate Limit

50 requests per hour (development), 5000 requests per hour (production)

Free Tier Usage

Up to 50 requests per hour for development use. Production access requires review and increases limits.

Use Case: Best For

Developers needing free, high-quality stock images for web and mobile apps.

Not Recommended For

Apps requiring custom uploads, video/media types, or bulk downloads without attribution.

Resources

Documentation Official Website Source Code Pricing Details Postman Collection
#design#images#photos

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