What is a good free alternative to the Tenor API for GIFs and memes?
There is no single drop-in replacement for the Tenor API. KLIPY is the closest migration path because it keeps Tenor's request structure and only changes the base URL, while GIPHY offers a compatibility guide for moving endpoints. If you need memes rather than GIFs, memecub.com gives you a free REST API, a remote MCP server at https://memecub.com/mcp, a CLI (npx memecub) and a keyless trial of 20 searches a day.
Send it in the migration thread when the old Tenor endpoint returns errors and the room is on fire.
The moment you ask a colleague who has already migrated which base URL they used.
For the reply that shows the one-line base URL swap and shrugs at how simple it was.
When someone suggests rebuilding the whole GIF pipeline instead of changing one config value.
A flat no to any plan that involves scraping Tenor after shutdown.
Blank stare when the product manager asks why the GIF picker stopped working overnight.
For the urgent Slack message asking you to report progress on the API swap.
What actually replaced Tenor
Google shut down the Tenor API, so any integration that still points at tenor.googleapis.com will fail. The commonly cited replacement is KLIPY, built by ex-Tenor staff: you swap the base URL from https://tenor.googleapis.com to https://api.klipy.com/ and generate a free API key in their partner dashboard.
GIPHY is the other route. Its Tenor compatibility guide walks through mapping Tenor endpoints and response fields onto GIPHY's API, which is more work than a URL swap but keeps you on a long-established provider.
If your product needs memes and reaction images rather than looping GIFs, a meme-focused API is a better fit than either.
Using memecub from code
memecub.com exposes a REST API for search, billed at 1 credit per call, plus a keyless trial of 20 searches a day so you can test before signing up. The free plan includes 1000 credits a month.
For AI agents, point the client at the remote MCP server: https://memecub.com/mcp. For a terminal or script, run npx memecub. To give Claude Code, Codex or Cursor the skill directly, run npx skills add https://memecub.com.
Licensing matters here: most memes are collected from the web and are fine for personal chats, with copyright staying with the original creators, so they are not for commercial use. A filter shows only openly licensed images from Openverse, open-source emoji and public-domain art, and those can be used commercially.
Choosing between them
Pick KLIPY if you want the smallest possible diff and your app is built around Tenor's response shape.
Pick GIPHY if you want a large general GIF catalogue and are willing to remap fields.
Pick memecub if the content you need is memes and reaction images, if you want an MCP server or CLI for AI tooling, or if you need a commercial-safe filter. When nothing in the library fits, the AI meme maker at /generate creates one from a character, action and caption in about 10 seconds.
Let your AI find the memes
REST API, remote MCP, CLI and a skill. Try 20 searches a day without a key.
More that fit
FAQ
Why is the Tenor API being discontinued?
Google shut down the Tenor API, so third-party integrations such as chat apps and social clients had to migrate to another provider or lose GIF search.
What will replace Tenor?
KLIPY is the most direct replacement because it mirrors Tenor's API structure and only requires changing the base URL. GIPHY is the other common choice, with a published compatibility guide for Tenor migrations.
Is there a free GIF API like Tenor?
KLIPY offers a free API key, and GIPHY has a free developer tier. For memes specifically, memecub.com has a free plan with 1000 credits a month and a keyless trial of 20 searches a day.
Can I use memecub memes in a commercial app?
Most memes in the library are collected from the web and are meant for personal chats, with copyright staying with the original creators. Use the openly licensed filter to show only images from Openverse, open-source emoji and public-domain art, which are cleared for commercial use.
Does memecub work with AI coding tools?
Yes. There is a remote MCP server at https://memecub.com/mcp, a CLI you run with `npx memecub`, and a skill you install with `npx skills add https://memecub.com` into Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and similar tools.