Guide · Open source
How to use public-api-lists: browse and find free APIs
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
public-api-lists is a curated, searchable directory of free public APIs, meaning web services anyone can call to get data. It is organized into about 48 categories such as weather, animals, finance and science. This guide shows you how to browse and search the list, read its Auth, HTTPS and CORS columns, and use the JSON version of the list in your own project.
Public API Listspublic-api-lists/public-api-lists · ★ 16.3k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Open the website. Go to https://public-api-lists.github.io/public-api-lists/ in your browser. No installation is needed.
- 2Choose a category. Use the index or search to pick a category such as Weather, Finance or Animals.
- 3Check Auth, HTTPS and CORS. Look at the columns to see whether a key is needed, whether HTTPS is supported and whether browser calls are allowed.
- 4Open the API documentation. Follow the link on the API name to read its docs and confirm how requests are made.
- 5Test a request. Make a simple call from your browser, a terminal or your code to confirm the API responds as expected.
- 6Optionally load the JSON list. Fetch https://public-api-lists.github.io/public-api-lists/api/all.json to use the list in your own project.
What public-api-lists is and who it is for
The project is a hand-curated list of free public APIs. The README describes it as covering 730+ APIs across 48 categories, with a website for browsing and a JSON version of the list.
It suits developers looking for a free data source for a side project, students learning how to call web APIs, and beginners who want example APIs that require no sign-up. It is a directory, not a software package to install.
Open the website and browse by category
Open the website at https://public-api-lists.github.io/public-api-lists/ . There is nothing to install and no prerequisites are listed in the README.
The index lists categories such as Animals, Anime, Finance, Weather and Science & Math. Pick a category to see its APIs in a table with a short description of each one.
- Animals, Anime, Anti-Malware, Art & Design and Books are among the categories listed in the README index.
- Each category table has columns for API, Description, Auth, HTTPS and CORS.
Read the Auth, HTTPS and CORS columns
These columns help you judge whether an API is easy to try. Auth shows whether a key or login is needed. In the README examples, No means no authentication, while values such as apiKey or OAuth mean you must authenticate.
HTTPS shows whether the API supports secure connections. CORS shows whether browsers can call the API directly from a web page. Some entries are marked Unknown, so check the API's own documentation before relying on it.
- Auth: No means no key is listed; apiKey or OAuth means you will need credentials.
- HTTPS: Yes means the API supports HTTPS.
- CORS: Yes means browser calls from a web page are allowed; No or Unknown means you should test it first.
Use the JSON version of the list
The project publishes its list as JSON at https://public-api-lists.github.io/public-api-lists/api/all.json . You can load this file in your own code to build a search tool, a dropdown of APIs or a quick reference for a project.
The README does not document the JSON fields in detail, so inspect the file to see its structure before writing code that depends on it.
https://public-api-lists.github.io/public-api-lists/api/all.jsonPick an API and check its documentation
Each entry links to the API's own site or docs. Open that link before you start, because the list is maintained by volunteers and the README does not promise uptime or support for the listed APIs.
For production work, do not rely on the list alone. Confirm terms, rate limits and availability with the provider.
- Confirm the provider's documentation and terms of use.
- Check whether a key is required and how to get one.
- Test a simple request before building on it.
What people use it for
- Finding a free weather or finance data source for a side project
- Picking an example API with no sign-up for a web development class
- Checking which APIs support CORS before building a browser-based demo
- Building a small internal dropdown or search tool from the JSON list
Frequently asked questions
Is public-api-lists free to use?
The project is released under the MIT licence, and the website and JSON list are available at no cost. The individual APIs listed have their own terms, which you should check on each provider's site.
Do I need to install anything to use public-api-lists?
No. The README lists the website as the way to use it, and no prerequisites are listed. You open the site in a browser.
How do I find an API that does not need a key?
Look at the Auth column in each category table. Entries marked No do not list an API key or OAuth requirement. Confirm this in the API's documentation before you build on it.
How do I know if an API supports CORS?
The CORS column shows Yes, No or Unknown. Yes means browser calls are allowed. Unknown means the list does not say, so test the API from a web page before relying on it.
Can I use public-api-lists in production?
The README does not make uptime or SLA promises for the listed APIs, and the list is volunteer-maintained. Verify each provider's reliability and terms before using it in production.
What are alternatives to public-api-lists?
The README names public-apis/public-apis, APIs.guru and RapidAPI Hub as comparable projects. Try them if you want a different catalogue or search experience.
New agent skills, repos and AI tools — every week
The best new skills and open-source projects, the fastest-growing repos, and one free prompt. Five minutes to read. Unsubscribe anytime.
Our verdict
public-api-lists suits developers, students and beginners who want a quick, free catalogue of public APIs to experiment with or use in side projects. If you need guaranteed uptime, production SLAs or a downloadable software package, pick a different option and check the providers directly.
Install options & downloads