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Alamy API

The Alamy API provides programmatic access to Alamy's large archive of content. The API provides three key features delivered via three appropriately named endpoints, search, item metadata retrieval and download.

Integrate the world's most inclusive content collection​

The Alamy API lets you bring millions of high-quality stock images, illustrations, vectors and video directly into your own platform over a straightforward REST interface. It powers integrations for everyone from developers building an early-stage application to established global brands, and is used by news organisations, publishers and platforms worldwide.

Behind the API is an archive of over 450 million stock photos, 360° panoramic images, vectors and videos.

Why build on the Alamy API​

  • Rich search — advanced filters and accurate metadata help your users find the right content fast.
  • Flexible licensing — a range of licensing and pricing options to suit your business model.
  • Content you can trust — royalty-free content audited for copyright compliance.
  • Secure by design — authentication via OAuth 2.0.
  • Fast onboarding — concise documentation and a quick path from credentials to first request.

What you can do​

  • Search the archive with rich filters and receive structured metadata for matching items.
  • Retrieve metadata for single or bulk items in the IPTC NinJS 2.0 format.
  • Download licensed content via short-lived signed URLs. Calling download is logged against your account, and the licensed POST decrements your pack — see Download.
  • Stay in sync with a change feed of created, modified and removed content.
  • Reconcile orders through the order history endpoint.

The base URL for every request is https://api.alamy.com/v3.

Getting access​

To start using the Alamy API:

  1. Create an Alamy customer account if you don't already have one.
  2. Request access to the API.

An account manager will then follow up to discuss your integration and agree the plan that works best for you.

Where to go next​

Building with AI coding tools​

The documentation is published in machine-readable form so agentic tooling can work from the API contract directly. The complete OpenAPI document is at /openapi.json (YAML), with a site index for language models at /llms.txt. See AI coding tools for how to point a tool at them, which endpoints have side effects, and how to test a download path without spending production budget.