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Head-to-head · Stock Media APIs

Openverse API vs Pixabay

  • 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
Pixabay #7 in Stock Media APIs 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Pixabay

Openverse API leads on 0 checks, Pixabay 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 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.

Openverse API is the better fit for developers sourcing images and audio with license metadata. Pixabay is the better fit for free photo and video search via API.

  • Openverse API fits best

    Developers sourcing images and audio with license metadata

  • Pixabay fits best

    Free photo and video search via API

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Side by side

Feature Openverse API 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Pixabay 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.6
Ranking #6 in Stock Media APIs #7 in Stock Media APIs
Best for Developers sourcing images and audio with license metadata Free photo and video search via API
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 Email, Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Openverse API 1/3 · Pixabay 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 photos, illustrations, vectors, videos, music and GIFs
  • Developer API searches and retrieves images and videos
  • iOS and Android apps complement web access and creator community features
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 API covers images and videos, not the full media catalog
  • Full-resolution downloads may require account registration
  • Use is subject to prohibited uses and third-party rights under the license
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 →

Pixabay combines a searchable stock library with a creator-sharing community. It serves people looking for photos, illustrations, vector graphics, videos, music, sound effects and GIFs for personal or commercial projects. The service also…

Read the review →
  1. Openverse APIStock Media APIs 8.7Free plan
  2. PixabayStock Media APIs 8.6Free 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.

  • Pixabay — where it wins

    • Search and download photos, illustrations, vectors, videos, music and GIFs
    • Developer API searches and retrieves images and videos
    • iOS and Android apps complement web access and creator community features

    Where it doesn't

    • The API covers images and videos, not the full media catalog
    • Full-resolution downloads may require account registration
    • Use is subject to prohibited uses and third-party rights under the license
  • Openverse API8.7/10 · Free plan

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

    Visit OpenverseFull verdict →
  • Pixabay8.6/10 · Free plan

    A free media library with broad asset formats and an API for image and video search.

    Visit PixabayFull 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