7 Best Free APIs for Developers in 2026 — No API Key Required

APIs That Just Work — No Signup, No Key

Most 'free' APIs still require you to register, verify email, generate an API key, and read 50 pages of docs before making your first request. We think that's backwards.

Here are 7 APIs you can use right now by pasting a URL into your browser. No account, no key, no credit card. Just HTTP.

1. Screenshot API

Capture any webpage as an image or PDF.

curl "https://api.pandan.is/v1/screenshot?url=https://github.com" -o screenshot.png

Free tier: 100 screenshots/month | Formats: PNG, JPEG, WebP, PDF | Documentation →

2. QR Code API

Generate QR codes in PNG or SVG format with customizable size and colors.

curl "https://qr.pandan.is/v1/qr?data=https://mysite.com&size=300" -o qr.png

Free tier: 200 QR codes/month | Formats: PNG, SVG, Base64 | Documentation →

3. OG Image Generator

Create Open Graph preview images for social media sharing.

curl "https://og.pandan.is/v1/og?title=Hello+World&theme=dark" -o og.png

Free tier: Unlimited | Themes: Dark, Light | Documentation →

4. Link Shortener API

Shorten URLs programmatically with optional custom aliases and click tracking.

curl -X POST https://s.pandan.is/v1/shorten \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"url":"https://example.com/really/long/path"}'

Free tier: 50 links | Features: Click tracking, custom aliases | Documentation →

5. Currency Exchange API

Get live exchange rates for 14 major currencies, with ISK as base.

curl "https://gjaldmidlar.pandan.is/api/rates"

Free tier: Unlimited | Update frequency: Every 4 hours | Documentation →

6. Invoice PDF Generator

Generate professional PDF invoices via API. Supports VAT calculation and multiple templates.

curl -X POST https://reikningur.pandan.is/v1/invoice \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"company":"Acme Inc","items":[{"name":"Web Design","qty":1,"price":500}]}'

Free tier: 5 invoices/month | Documentation →

7. Salary Calculator API (Iceland)

Calculate net salary from gross income for the Icelandic tax system.

curl "https://laun.pandan.is/api/calculate?gross=700000"

Free tier: Unlimited | Documentation →

Why These APIs Are Different

• No authentication: Start making requests immediately
• No SDK required: Works with any HTTP client in any language
• RESTful: Standard GET/POST with JSON responses
• Fast: European-hosted, sub-second responses
• Free tiers that actually work: Not 10 requests/day — real usable limits

All From One Place

All these APIs are built and maintained by Pandan. Check our Developer Hub for complete documentation, pricing, and interactive demos.