ImgBB
Free image hosting with a simple REST API. Upload, host, and share images with permanent URLs.
Best for developers who need quick, free image hosting with API integration for forums, blogs, and apps.
Use Cases
Free Tier
Unlimited image hosting, 32MB per image, permanent links, API access
How to Maximize the Free Tier
ImgBB is the simplest free image hosting available — perfect for side projects and prototyping. The API is a single POST request with base64 data, so you can upload from any environment. Permanent links mean you don't need to worry about images expiring. The main limitation is no image transformations — if you need resizing or optimization, combine ImgBB for storage with a client-side library like sharp or a CDN like Cloudflare. Avoid for production apps where ad-supported viewing pages would look unprofessional.
Getting Started
Sign up → get your API key from the dashboard → POST to `https://api.imgbb.com/1/upload` with base64 image data and API key → receive JSON with direct URL, thumbnail URL, and delete URL → use the URL anywhere.
Pros
- Truly free: No storage cap on free tier — unlimited images with permanent hosting and no expiration
- Simple API: Single POST endpoint with base64 or URL input — integrates in minutes with any language or framework
- No account needed: API uploads work with just an API key — no user registration required for programmatic uploads
Cons
- File size limit: 32MB per image on the free tier — can't host large high-resolution photos or videos
- Ad-supported viewing: Direct image links show ImgBB ads on the page — not suitable for embedding in professional projects
- No transforms: No image processing, resizing, or CDN delivery — you get raw hosting only