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Head-to-head · Stock Media APIs

Openverse API vs Pexels

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Openverse API #6 in Stock Media APIs 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Openverse
Pexels #8 in Stock Media APIs 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Pexels

Openverse API leads on 0 checks, Pexels on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreOpenverse API · 8.7/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresOpenverse API · 1 of 3

Openverse API scores higher on our rubric for stock media apis: 8.7 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #8.

Openverse API is the better fit for developers sourcing images and audio with license metadata. Pexels is the better fit for free commercial-use photo and video API access.

  • Openverse API fits best

    Developers sourcing images and audio with license metadata

  • Pexels fits best

    Free commercial-use photo and video API access

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Side by side

Feature Openverse API 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Pexels 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.5
Ranking #6 in Stock Media APIs #8 in Stock Media APIs
Best for Developers sourcing images and audio with license metadata Free commercial-use photo and video API access
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web Web, iOS, Android
Support Docs Docs
Integrations 6 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Openverse API 1/3 · Pexels 0/3
Commercial licensing Not checked yet Not checked yet
Attribution required ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Bulk downloads Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Asset types Mixed Not checked yet
Max results per request Not checked yet Not checked yet
API authentication Oauth Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Searches both openly licensed images and audio.
  • Returns license and attribution metadata with results.
  • Supports anonymous requests, OAuth, and self-hosting.
  • Search and download stock photos and videos across web and mobile apps.
  • REST API supports media search plus curated feeds and collections.
  • Commercial-use downloads do not require attribution under the Pexels License.
Cons
  • Attribution is required for works that need it.
  • Licensing information should be verified for each work.
  • Commercial or heavy-use fees may be introduced under its terms.
  • The catalog is narrower than leading stock media API options.
  • Support is limited to documentation.
  • The product focuses on stock media rather than broader creative production tools.
Our verdict

Openverse API provides programmatic search and retrieval of openly licensed creative works, covering images and audio. It is suited to developers building applications that need to find media and show license and attribution information…

Read the review →

Pexels is a free stock media platform for designers, bloggers, marketers, developers and other storytellers who need searchable photos and videos. It offers a website, iOS and Android apps, and a REST API, with downloads available for…

Read the review →
  1. Openverse APIStock Media APIs 8.7Free plan
  2. PexelsStock Media APIs 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Openverse API — where it wins

    • Searches both openly licensed images and audio.
    • Returns license and attribution metadata with results.
    • Supports anonymous requests, OAuth, and self-hosting.

    Where it doesn't

    • Attribution is required for works that need it.
    • Licensing information should be verified for each work.
    • Commercial or heavy-use fees may be introduced under its terms.

  • Pexels — where it wins

    • Search and download stock photos and videos across web and mobile apps.
    • REST API supports media search plus curated feeds and collections.
    • Commercial-use downloads do not require attribution under the Pexels License.

    Where it doesn't

    • The catalog is narrower than leading stock media API options.
    • Support is limited to documentation.
    • The product focuses on stock media rather than broader creative production tools.
  • Openverse API8.7/10 · Free plan

    A free, open-source API for finding openly licensed images and audio with attribution metadata.

    Visit OpenverseFull verdict →
  • Pexels8.5/10 · Free plan

    Free photo and video discovery for people and products that need commercial-use media.

    Visit PexelsFull verdict →

More comparisons

All stock media APIs comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update