Unsplash API

Unsplash API is the gateway to the world’s most generous photo library, trusted by companies like Medium, Trello, and thousands of applications to access over 3 million high-quality images from 300,000+ photographers worldwide. As the API powering billions of photo views monthly, it has democratized access to professional photography, enabling developers to integrate stunning visuals without licensing complexities or costs.

What makes Unsplash API exceptional is its combination of exceptional photo quality, simple licensing, and developer-friendly implementation that removes all barriers to beautiful imagery. Unlike traditional stock photo services with complex licensing and high costs, it provides free access to professionally curated photos with a simple attribution model that works for any use case.

Developers and designers choose Unsplash API because it transforms the challenge of finding quality images into a simple API call, providing dynamic, diverse content that keeps applications fresh and engaging. From startup apps to enterprise platforms, it delivers the visual foundation that modern applications demand.

Key Features

• Massive Professional Photo Library - Access 3+ million high-resolution images from 300,000+ photographers worldwide • Intelligent Search Capabilities - Advanced keyword, color palette, and orientation filtering for precise image discovery • Dynamic Random Generation - Programmatic access to random photos with category and collection filtering • Curated Collection Access - Browse and integrate editorial collections and themed photo galleries • Responsive Image Delivery - Dynamic image sizing with Imgix integration for optimized performance • Automatic Attribution System - Built-in photographer credits and UTM tracking for proper attribution • Comprehensive Usage Analytics - Track downloads, views, and engagement metrics for integrated photos • Simple Commercial Licensing - Free use for commercial projects with straightforward attribution requirements

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Completely free with generous rate limits • Exceptional photo quality and curation • Simple licensing without legal complexity • Well-documented API with client libraries • Active community and regular content updates

Cons

• Rate limiting on free tier (50 requests/hour) • Attribution required for all usage • Limited to photography (no illustrations or vectors) • Cannot guarantee permanent image availability • Some popular searches may return repetitive results

Get Started with Unsplash API

Integrate beautiful photography with the API trusted by Medium, Trello, and thousands of applications. Visit unsplash.com/developers to access 3+ million professional photos that transform your applications with stunning visuals, all completely free with simple attribution.