Where can I find a free meme generator API on GitHub?
The most popular free and open-source meme generator API on GitHub is jacebrowning/memegen, which generates memes from URL parameters. Other options include Imgflip's free API (not open source) and various community projects like Meme Maker API. For a ready-to-use meme library with search and AI generation, memecub.com offers a REST API with a keyless trial.
Use when comparing meme APIs: Drake prefers one option over another.
Send when someone claims their meme API is 'open source' but it's not.
Post in a dev chat when CI fails after adding a meme API dependency.
React to a meme API repo that hasn't been updated in years.
When you find a meme API repo and want to fork it for your own use.
Use when someone asks for your meme API recommendations and you have opinions.
Top open-source meme generator APIs on GitHub
jacebrowning/memegen: A free and open-source API that generates memes from URL parameters. It's simple to use: just construct a URL with the template and text, and it returns an image. No API key required.
Meme Maker API: A RESTful API for creating, reading, updating, and deleting memes. It's open source and available on GitHub, but you'll need to host it yourself.
Imgflip API: While not open source, Imgflip offers a free API that provides access to classic and trending memes, animated GIFs, and AI memes. It's a good alternative if you don't need to modify the code.
How to use a meme generator API
For memegen, you can generate a meme by making a GET request to a URL like https://api.memegen.link/images/{template}/{top_text}/{bottom_text}.png. Replace {template} with a meme template name (e.g., 'drake'), and {top_text} and {bottom_text} with your captions.
For Meme Maker API, you'll need to clone the repository, install dependencies, and run the server. Then you can make POST requests to create memes.
If you prefer a hosted solution with a larger library and AI features, memecub.com offers a REST API (search 1 credit per call) and a keyless trial of 20 searches a day. You can also use the remote MCP server or CLI.
When to choose a hosted API over a GitHub project
Choose a GitHub project if you need full control, want to avoid usage limits, or have specific customization needs.
Choose a hosted API like Imgflip or memecub if you want to save time on maintenance, need a large library of memes, or want additional features like AI generation.
Consider licensing: open-source APIs are often MIT-licensed, while hosted APIs have their own terms. Always check the license before commercial use.
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
Is there an open source meme generator API on GitHub?
Yes, jacebrowning/memegen is a popular open-source meme generator API on GitHub. It's free and generates memes from URL parameters.
How do I find a meme API repo on GitHub?
Search GitHub for 'meme generator API' or 'meme API'. Look for repositories with recent commits, a clear README, and an open-source license.
What is the best free meme generator API?
It depends on your needs. For open source, memegen is simple and free. For a hosted solution with a large library, Imgflip is free. For AI features and a developer-friendly API, consider memecub.
Can I use these meme APIs for commercial projects?
Check the license of each API. Open-source APIs like memegen are often MIT-licensed, allowing commercial use. Hosted APIs like Imgflip have their own terms; memecub's web-collected memes are for personal use, but openly licensed images are available for commercial use.