Giphy vs Unsplash

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms
P95 · ms
AuthapiKeyapiKey
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree tier — API key requiredFree tier — API key required
Rate limitRetry-After: 0sUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Giphy vs Unsplash: common questions

Which is more reliable, Giphy or Unsplash?

On our scheduled checks, Unsplash leads on measured uptime — Giphy at —% versus Unsplash at —% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do Giphy and Unsplash need an API key?

Both ask you to authenticate — Giphy uses an API key and Unsplash uses an API key. Each key is free to obtain; the Auth and Card-required rows above spell out the signup terms.

Can I call Giphy and Unsplash from the browser?

Yes — both Giphy and Unsplash send CORS headers over HTTPS, so front-end code can fetch either directly with no backend proxy. That makes them easy to swap in a client-side app while you compare responses.

Are Giphy and Unsplash free for commercial use?

Giphy has unclear commercial terms, and Unsplash has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.