What meme API or MCP server can I use to search and place memes in my app?
memecub.com offers a REST API, a remote MCP server at https://memecub.com/mcp, a CLI (npx memecub), and an installable skill for AI agents. You can search memes with the API (1 credit per call) and place them using the AI meme placement feature (/match) that picks a fitting meme for each paragraph. A keyless trial gives you 20 searches a day, and plans start with a free tier of 1000 credits per month.
Send when explaining a search-and-replace operation in code, like swapping API endpoints.
Use when someone is debugging a search feature that returns unexpected results.
React to an AI assistant giving a generic or unhelpful answer.
Post when you're the only one in a meeting who doesn't get the joke.
Compare two versions of a UI or API response: before and after.
Celebrate a successful deployment or a bug fix that finally works.
A mascot-like ASCII cat for developer docs or terminal-themed chats.
When you go down a rabbit hole looking for references and end up somewhere weird.
How to search memes with the memecub API
Send a GET request to the memecub API search endpoint with your query. Each search costs 1 credit. You can try it without a key: the keyless trial allows 20 searches a day.
Example: curl 'https://memecub.com/api/search?q=cat' (replace with your actual endpoint if different). The response returns meme IDs and metadata you can use to display or download images.
For AI agents, connect to the remote MCP server at https://memecub.com/mcp. This lets tools like Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor search memes directly. You can also install the skill with npx skills add https://memecub.com.
How to place memes automatically
Use the AI meme placement feature at /match: paste an article or text, and the AI picks a fitting meme for each paragraph. This is useful for blogs, documentation, or chat apps that need context-aware memes.
For custom placement, combine the search API with your own logic: search for a meme based on keywords, then insert the image URL into your content.
If you need a specific meme that doesn't exist, the AI meme maker at /generate can create one from a description (about 10 seconds per image, 500 credits each). It refuses real people.
Tone and licensing for developer use
Most memes are collected from the web and are free for personal chats only; copyright stays with the original creators. Do not use them commercially without permission.
A filter shows only openly licensed images (Openverse, open-source emoji, public-domain art) that can be used commercially. Use this filter if your app is commercial.
When sending memes in developer communities, keep it friendly and relevant. Avoid spamming or using memes in serious contexts like error messages without warning.
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 on June 30, 2026, with no extensions. This affected many third-party integrations like Discord and WhatsApp.
What will replace Tenor?
Alternatives like KLIPY offer drop-in replacements by swapping the base URL. memecub provides a different approach with a REST API, MCP server, and AI placement for memes.
Is Tenor discontinued?
Yes, the Tenor API was discontinued on June 30, 2026. Developers need to migrate to other services.
How can AI agents find memes with an MCP server?
Connect to memecub's remote MCP server at https://memecub.com/mcp. AI agents can then search and retrieve memes using the MCP protocol.
What is the best API for meme search?
It depends on your needs. memecub offers a free tier, AI placement, and an MCP server for AI agents. Other options like KLIPY focus on GIFs and Tenor compatibility.