🚀 100% Free APIs Every Developer Should Know in 2024

Your Ultimate Toolkit for Building Powerful Projects without Spending a Dime!

As a developer, having access to reliable APIs can drastically enhance your workflow, saving you time and energy. And what’s better than 100% free APIs? In this post, I'll take you through 20 powerful free APIs that you can use in your next project—whether it’s building a website, app, or data-driven service.

Let’s dive in! 💻👇

1. OpenWeather API 🌤️

What It Does: Provides current and forecasted weather data globally.

Use Cases: Build weather apps, widgets, or automate alerts for weather conditions.

Free Tier: 60 API calls/minute.

Link: OpenWeather API

2. NewsAPI 📰

What It Does: Access worldwide news articles and headlines.

Use Cases: Create news aggregator websites or push notifications for trending news.

Free Tier: Up to 100 requests/day.

Link: NewsAPI

3. CurrencyConverter API 💱

What It Does: Converts currency rates in real-time.

Use Cases: E-commerce sites, finance apps, or international transaction calculators.

Free Tier: 100 API requests/day.

Link: CurrencyConverter API

4. The Dog API 🐕

What It Does: Get random pictures of dogs, breeds, and more.

Use Cases: Entertainment apps, or social media content.

Free Tier: Unlimited use.

Link: The Dog API

5. The Cat API 🐱

What It Does: Similar to The Dog API, but for cats! 🐾

Use Cases: Cat-related websites, blogs, or any fun app.

Free Tier: Unlimited use.

Link: The Cat API

6. Giphy API 🎥

What It Does: Search and retrieve trending GIFs.

Use Cases: Social media apps, chat integrations, and blogs.

Free Tier: Unlimited use with watermark.

Link: Giphy API

7. Unsplash API 📸

What It Does: Access high-quality, free images.

Use Cases: Use in websites, blogs, or apps for beautiful visuals.

Free Tier: 50 requests/hour.

Link: Unsplash API

8. RandomUser.me 🧑

What It Does: Generate random user profiles.

Use Cases: Test apps, mock websites, or create dummy data.

Free Tier: Unlimited requests.

Link: RandomUser.me

9. OpenLibrary API 📚

What It Does: Access millions of books, authors, and libraries around the world.

Use Cases: Book apps, educational platforms, or library catalogs.

Free Tier: Unlimited access.

Link: OpenLibrary API

10. IPify API 🌍

What It Does: Get your public IP address.

Use Cases: Network apps, security applications, or IP-based functionalities.

Free Tier: Unlimited requests.

Link: IPify API

11. JokeAPI 🤣

What It Does: Generate random jokes, or filter by categories (e.g., programming, general).

Use Cases: Fun apps, bots, or entertainment sites.

Free Tier: Unlimited requests.

Link: JokeAPI

12. ZenQuotes API 🧘‍♂️

What It Does: Access motivational quotes and life wisdom.

Use Cases: Daily quote apps, widgets, or social media content.

Free Tier: 100 requests/day.

Link: ZenQuotes API

13. NASA API 🚀

What It Does: Access space-related data from NASA.

Use Cases: Space apps, blogs, or educational platforms.

Free Tier: Unlimited requests.

Link: NASA API

14. Placeholder API 🎨

What It Does: Get customizable placeholder images for your app/website.

Use Cases: Testing or designing layouts.

Free Tier: Unlimited use.

Link: Placeholder API

15. CoinGecko API 🪙

What It Does: Provides real-time cryptocurrency data.

Use Cases: Build cryptocurrency trackers or finance dashboards.

Free Tier: 100 API calls/minute.

Link: CoinGecko API

16. GitHub API 🛠️

What It Does: Interact with repositories, commits, issues, and more on GitHub.

Use Cases: Automate your GitHub workflows or integrate GitHub data into apps.

Free Tier: Unlimited requests.

Link: GitHub API

17. Pexels API 📷

What It Does: Access thousands of royalty-free images and videos.

Use Cases: Enhance your website, app, or blog visuals.

Free Tier: 200 requests/month.

Link: Pexels API

18. Mapbox API 🗺️

What It Does: Provides customizable maps, navigation, and geolocation data.

Use Cases: Build location-based apps or maps for websites.

Free Tier: 50,000 map loads/month.

Link: Mapbox API

19. Twilio API 📞

What It Does: Send SMS, make phone calls, or integrate messaging into apps.

Use Cases: Customer service, notifications, or authentication systems.

Free Tier: $15 trial credit.

Link: Twilio API

20. JSONPlaceholder API 🔗

What It Does: Free fake online REST API for testing and prototyping.

Use Cases: Mock data for projects, testing CRUD functionalities.

Free Tier: Unlimited use.

Link: JSONPlaceholder API

✨ Closing Thoughts:

All these free APIs can drastically reduce your workload, giving you the tools to focus on the core aspects of your app or website. Whether you’re looking to add visuals, data, or interactivity, these APIs are the perfect way to get started without spending anything. Pick the right one for your project and let your creativity shine! 🌟

Let me know which one you’ll try first—or if I missed any great free APIs! Happy coding! 🚀👨‍💻