How to Choose the Best Anime API in 2026
There are 19 Anime APIs in our directory. Of these, 8 require no authentication, making them ideal for quick prototyping. 8 are rated beginner-friendly.
Scores last tested: 2026-08-10
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Anime APIs
Ranked by API Score. Measured means we called a real endpoint of that API; Est. means the score is derived from metadata because the endpoint could not be called without credentials. Discontinued APIs are excluded.
| Name | API Score | Auth | HTTPS | CORS | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnimeFacts | 92 A+ Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ✓ | Beginner |
| Catboy | 92 A+ Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ✓ | Beginner |
| Jikan | 92 A+ Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ✓ | Beginner |
| NekosBest | 92 A+ Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ✓ | Beginner |
| Danbooru Anime | 87 A Est. | API Key | ✓ | ✓ | Intermediate |
| AnimeChan | 84 A Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ✗ | Beginner |
| Mangapi | 82 A Est. | API Key | ✓ | ? | Intermediate |
| AnimeNewsNetwork | 74 B Est. | No Auth | ✓ | ✓ | Beginner |
| MyAnimeList | 73 B Est. | OAuth | ✓ | ? | Advanced |
| Trace Moe | 73 B Measured | No Auth | ✓ | ✗ | Beginner |
Free Anime APIs (No Auth)
These APIs require no API key or signup. Start using them immediately.
AnimeChan
⭐ Beginner's PickAnimeChan serves a database of 10,000+ anime quotes with character and anime title metadata.
AnimeFacts
⭐ Beginner's PickAnimeFacts is a simple REST API with over 100 trivia facts about popular anime series, accessible by an anime slug name.
AnimeNewsNetwork
⭐ Beginner's PickAnime News Network exposes its encyclopedia data as a free XML API, covering anime and manga titles, cast, staff, genres, and release information maintained by professional journalists.
Catboy
⭐ Beginner's PickCatboy serves random neko (anime cat-person) images and GIFs across several mood categories with no API key required.
Jikan
⭐ Beginner's PickJikan is an unofficial REST API for MyAnimeList that lets you fetch anime and manga data without OAuth setup.
NekosBest
⭐ Beginner's PickNekosBest serves anime-style neko (cat-girl) images and roleplay GIF reactions like hugging, patting, or waving, all sourced from a curated anime art collection.
Try It in 5 Minutes: Trace Moe
Quick implementation example using Trace Moe.
Using curl
curl "https://api.trace.moe/search?url=https://images.plurk.com/32B15UXxymfSMwKGTObY5e.jpg"
New to APIs? Read our Getting Started Guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Anime APIs are available?
There are 19 Anime APIs in our directory as of 2026.
Are there free Anime APIs?
Yes, 8 Anime APIs require no authentication and are completely free to use.
What is the easiest Anime API to use?
Trace Moe is one of the easiest to get started with. It is rated as beginner-level and requires no authentication.
Do I need an API key for Anime APIs?
It depends. 8 APIs need no authentication, 4 require an API key, and 5 use OAuth.