Today, companies need to create high-quality visual content more quickly than ever. That’s where stock media APIs can help. These tools give you access to vast libraries of high-quality images, videos, audio, and other content types, all without the hassle of hosting or managing the files yourself.
This article explains what stock media APIs are, what they offer, how much they cost, and what the best options for your needs are. Read on to discover the go-to API for creative companies in 2025!
What exactly is a stock media API?
A stock media API is an application programming interface (API) that offers its user access to a library of stock media assets: photos, vectors, illustrations, videos, and music. With the help of such APIs, businesses and web developers can integrate stock media content dynamically into their apps, websites, or platforms. This eliminates the need to host or store the media files on your computers.
APIs are massively popular these days, with the global API management market size expected to reach $34.17 billion by 2032.
The most popular stock image API features
The APIs that offer stock images usually come with these popular features:
- Keywords search: you can find files using specific keywords;
- Categories and tags: they allow you to filter media by type, style, or theme;
- Resolution and format: this feature allows you to choose different resolutions for images or videos;
- License information: it allows you to obtain details about usage rights of a specific media;
- Downloading and embedding: it generates links for file embedding or downloading.
How much does an image and video stock API cost?
Creating your own API can be pricey: on average, it costs $20,000 to build a relatively simple one. Luckily, the solutions available on the market are affordable. For instance, some are completely free, while some require either monthly fees (around $30 per month on average) or allow you to purchase individual visuals. Images can cost $2–10 each, while video clips range from $49 to over $200, depending on resolution and licensing.
9 best image and video stock APIs to try
There are different types of image and video stock APIs. Some of them offer free videos, vector images, and stock photos; some are paid; some are AI-powered; and some are video focused. So, let’s explore all of these types.
The best image stock APIs with AI-powered features
If you’re looking for AI-powered stock media search, consider APIs from Depositphotos and Dreamstime. Depositphotos features a library of 310+ million royalty-free files and offers an advanced AI-driven search system that enhances accuracy and efficiency, helping you find the perfect images and videos quickly. Beyond its standalone API, the Depositphotos library can also be integrated as part of the Creative Suite API—a bespoke solution designed to streamline your creative workflows with seamless access to high-quality, licensed stock media, a design editor, and numerous AI-powered editing tools.
Dreamstime’s API also provides access to millions of stock photos, featuring AI-assisted keyword suggestions that refine search results and improve efficiency. Both platforms leverage AI to enhance media discovery, making them valuable tools for businesses and developers seeking high-quality visual content.
The best free image stock APIs
If you are looking for free stock media, you can try image APIs created by Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay. Unsplash offers a vast collection of high-resolution images contributed by photographers worldwide. It is widely used for its aesthetic and high-quality content.
Pexels offers images and videos, which can be an excellent choice for projects that require a mix of media. Pixabay provides images, videos, vector graphics, and music.
The best paid image stock APIs
Both paid and free stock APIs have their benefits. The free ones allow you to save costs, while the paid ones often offer more diverse content. So, if you’re looking for authentic visuals and can spend extra on them, this might be the option for you.
One of the best paid image APIs is Alamy and Vecteezy. Alamy offers a massive and diverse collection of stock images with a strong focus on authentic, real-world, and editorial content. It’s ideal for projects that require less conventional visuals. Vecteezy also offers high-quality, royalty-free images and illustrations. Its API grants seamless integration of media search, previews, and metadata, making it a strong option for commercial apps and creative tools.
The best video stock APIs
If your business or brand focuses primarily on stock video content, you can try working with Videvo or Storyblocks. Videvo is known for its high-quality, professional video footage. It caters to filmmakers and businesses needing premium content. Storyblocks follows a subscription-based model that allows unlimited downloads. It’s a budget-friendly option for content creators who need a steady supply of stock videos.
To sum up
Stock media APIs are powerful tools that help improve the ways businesses access and use visual content. There’s an API suited to every need and budget, from the ones offering free high-quality images for blogs to those allowing you to access and download premium video clips for commercial campaigns. Overall, integrating a stock media API into a website or app is a smart and scalable choice for creators of all kinds.
