11 free and fun APIs you must use in your side project
Tags: webdev, programming, beginners, opensource
Published: 2023-12-18 13:48:54


Starting a new project is like setting sail on an adventure—full of excitement and challenges for developers. As you brainstorm ideas and map out the features for your next big thing, there's a game-changer that can make your journey smoother: APIs. 

<img width="100%" style="width:100%" src="https://media1.tenor.com/m/31nachzhSKQAAAAd/did-you-say-free.gif">

To give your project the boost it needs without denting your budget, here's a handpicked collection of the best free APIs. These are like trusty companions you can seamlessly integrate into your work, making your coding voyage more enjoyable and efficient. 

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### Opensource API testing platform

[Firecamp](https://firecamp.dev) is opensource API testing tool that helps your test your APIs faster than ever. 

If you can spend 5 seconds giving us a star, I would be super grateful 💜

{% cta  https://github.com/firecamp-dev/firecamp %} Star the Firecamp repo ⭐  {% endcta %}


![octacat](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/5kjqmny5y0c4k4gyqcxs.png)

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Let's dive in :

1.[JSONPlaceholder API](https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/)

- helps developers test their programs before using a real one. It lets you create, change, and delete fake data using HTTP requests.
- Can use as per your need it can be JSON, CSV, and YAML


![JSON placeholder](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/x660agyk72r429p8kv2p.png)


{% cta https://github.com/typicode/json-server %} Check out JSON Placeholder's GitHub repo! {% endcta %}

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2.[OpenWeatherMap API](https://openweathermap.org/api)


- Real-time weather data for any location worldwide.
- Access to current weather conditions, forecasts, and historical data.
- Ideal for applications involving weather forecasts, climate analysis, or travel planning.

{% cta   %}  Check out OpenWeatherMap's GitHub repo!  {% endcta %}

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3.[News API](https://newsapi.org/)

- Aggregates news articles from various sources worldwide.
- Provides live and historical data, including headlines, sources, and article summaries.
- Perfect for applications requiring live news updates, content aggregation, or sentiment analysis.

{% cta https://github.com/search?q=NewsAPI  %}  Check out OpenWeatherMap's GitHub repo!   {% endcta %}

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4.[Unsplash API](https://unsplash.com/developers)

- High-quality, royalty-free images for use in applications and websites.
- Access to a vast collection of professional photographs.
- Ideal for projects involving visual content, design, or user engagement.


{% cta https://github.com/unsplash  %}   Check out Unsplash API's GitHub repo!  {% endcta %}

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5.[REST Countries API](https://restcountries.com/)

- Retrieve information about countries, including population, area, and more.
- Useful for applications dealing with geography, education, or cultural exploration.


![Countries APIs](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ghsa3b5eev6xnydsgo6s.png)


{% cta  https://github.com/apilayer/restcountries %}   Check out REST Countrie's GitHub repo!  {% endcta %}

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6.[Randomuser.me API](https://randomuser.me/)

- Generate random user data, including names, addresses, and profile pictures.
- Great for testing and prototyping applications without using real user data.


{% cta  https://github.com/RandomUser.me %}   Check out Randomuser's GitHub repo!  {% endcta %}

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7.[JokeAPI](https://jokeapi.dev/)

- Incorporate humor into your project with a vast collection of jokes.
- Perfect for entertainment applications or adding a light-hearted touch to your website.

{% cta   https://github.com/Sv443/JokeAPI %}   Check out JokeAPI's GitHub repo!  {% endcta %}

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8.[ExchangeRate-API](https://www.exchangerate-api.com/)

- Access real-time and historical exchange rates for various currencies.
- Essential for projects involving e-commerce, finance, or travel.

{% cta  https://github.com/exchangeratesapi/exchangeratesapi %}  Check out ExchangeRate-API's GitHub repo!  {% endcta %}

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9.[NASA Open API](https://api.nasa.gov/)

- Retrieve data from NASA's vast collection, including images, videos, and astronomy data.
- Ideal for educational projects, space enthusiasts, or anyone interested in cosmic exploration.

{% cta https://github.com/nasa  %}   Check out NASA Open API's GitHub repo!  {% endcta %}

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10.[COVID-19 Data API](https://covid19api.com/)

- Stay informed with real-time global COVID-19 statistics.
- Useful for applications focused on health, data visualization, or pandemic monitoring.


{% cta https://github.com/COVID-19-Data  %}   Check out  COVID-19 Data API's GitHub repo!  {% endcta %}

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11.[Book API](https://openlibrary.org/developers/api)

- Open Library offers a suite of APIs to help developers get up and running with our data. This includes RESTful APIs, which make Open Library data availabile in JSON, YAML and RDF/XML formats.

{% cta  https://github.com/internetarchive/openlibrary %}   Check out Book API's GitHub repo!  {% endcta %}

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These APIs cover a wide range of functionalities, allowing you to add diverse features to your projects without incurring additional costs.

Be sure to explore their documentation for seamless integration into your development workflow. 

Do you remember which first API you try for your fun project? Comment them below and share with community.


See you next week!! 🙏