The hardest part of a side project is often not the code, it is finding data you are allowed to use.
All of these have a free tier that is generous enough for a prototype, a portfolio piece or a small production app.
REST Countries
Countries, flags, currencies and languages: the fastest way to fill a select box properly.
restcountries.comNominatim
Turn addresses into coordinates using OpenStreetMap data, within its fair-use limits.
nominatim.orgFrankfurter
Daily and historical currency rates from central bank data, no key required.
frankfurter.devTMDB
The reference catalogue for anything media related, with images and translations included.
themoviedb.org/documentation/apiUnsplash API
High quality photos you can legally use, with search and attribution built in.
unsplash.com/developersJSONPlaceholder
Fake REST endpoints for wiring up an interface before the real backend exists.
jsonplaceholder.typicode.comPublic APIs
A maintained index of hundreds more, sorted by category and authentication type.
github.com/public-apis/public-apisRead the rate limits before you build on top of one; a free API that blocks you in production is worse than no API.
Need it built, not just chosen?
Web apps, APIs, infrastructure and interfaces. Freelance from Barcelona, working with clients anywhere.
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