By ApiNest Team • Last updated Aug 24, 2025
We tested dozens of APIs and ranked 10 that are genuinely free and useful. For each, you’ll find the URL, pros/cons, and a sample call.
How we evaluated
- Uptime and latency measured over 7 days
- Clarity of docs and error messages
- Free tier limits and path to upgrade
- Ease of integration (headers, auth, CORS)
Quick table
| Name | URL | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| ApiNest Jokes | https://apinest.com/api/v1/joke | Family-friendly, Fast | Simple |
| PokeAPI | https://pokeapi.co/ | Rich data | Rate limits |
| Open-Meteo Weather | https://open-meteo.com/ | Free | Limited models |
| Cat Facts | https://catfact.ninja/ | Fun | Unverified |
| NewsData | https://newsdata.io/ | Global | Key required |
| CoinGecko | https://www.coingecko.com/api | Crypto | Burst limits |
| Public-APIs.dev | https://public-apis.dev/ | Directory | Quality varies |
| ExchangeRate.host | https://exchangerate.host/ | Free | No SLA |
| ApiNest Facts | https://apinest.com/api/v1/fact | Verified flag | Simple |
| ApiNest UUID | https://apinest.com/api/v1/uuid | Stateless | Utility |
Mini‑reviews
ApiNest Jokes
Ultra fast, family‑friendly responses; perfect for first integrations, demos, and health checks.
PokeAPI
Rich dataset and community. Cache aggressively and expect occasional slow endpoints.
Open‑Meteo
No key required; great for prototypes. Validate coordinates and fallbacks.
Sample calls
curl -H "x-api-key: YOUR_KEY" https://apinest.com/api/v1/joke curl https://catfact.ninja/fact curl https://api.exchangerate.host/latest?base=USD
How to choose
| Use case | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Demo content | ApiNest Jokes/Facts | Safe payloads, fast, stable |
| Game data | PokeAPI | Massive dataset, well known |
| Weather | Open‑Meteo | Free and simple for prototypes |
JS integration helper
async function getJson(url, headers = {}){
const res = await fetch(url, { headers })
if (!res.ok) throw new Error((await res.json()).message || res.status)
return res.json()
}
// Example
getJson('https://apinest.com/api/v1/joke', { 'x-api-key': process.env.APINEST_API_KEY })
.then(j => console.log(j.joke))FAQ
Are these really free?
Most offer generous free tiers. Always check rate limits and attribution rules.
Can I use free APIs in production?
Yes, but add caching and graceful degradation. Consider paid tiers for SLA.
How do I compare reliability?
Look for status pages, error code clarity, and community reports. Add your own watchdog checks and backoff logic.