How can I search memes by keyword using an API?
Use memecub's REST API: send a keyword to the search endpoint and get matching memes back, at 1 credit per call. There is also 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 for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor. A keyless trial gives you 20 searches a day, so you can test keyword search before signing up.
Send when your keyword query returns nothing and you rewrite it for the fifth time.
For the moment you stare at an empty search response wondering where the results went.
When the perfect meme is on the tip of your tongue but the keyword won't come.
A joke about keyword filters for anyone tuning search terms and getting odd matches.
For the developer whose search query worked on day one and breaks ten years later.
Send when someone suggests regex to solve a simple keyword search problem.
For debugging sessions where the bug is in your query, not the API.
How keyword search works
You send a keyword or short phrase to the memecub search endpoint and get back memes that match it. Each search call costs 1 credit, and the keyless trial allows 20 searches a day so you can try queries before committing.
The same search is available in three shapes: a REST API for your own code, a remote MCP server at https://memecub.com/mcp for AI assistants, and a CLI for quick terminal lookups. Pick the one that matches where your code already runs.
Calling it from code, an agent or the terminal
REST: authenticate with your memecub key, send your keyword as the search term, and read the meme results from the response. Keep the key in an environment variable rather than in source control.
MCP: point your MCP-capable client at https://memecub.com/mcp and let the assistant call search with the keyword it inferred from the conversation. This is the shortest path for ChatGPT-style or Claude-style agents that need a meme mid-reply.
CLI: run npx memecub and search by keyword without writing any code, useful for scripts and quick checks.
Skill: install with npx skills add https://memecub.com into Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or similar tools so the agent knows how to search and pick memes on its own.
Choosing between keyword search and other options
Keyword search is best when you already know the joke or emotion you want. If nothing fits, the AI meme maker at /generate takes a character, action and caption and produces an image in about 10 seconds for 500 credits; it refuses real people.
If you have a whole article and need a meme per paragraph, AI meme placement at /match does the picking for you instead of one query at a time.
Watch licensing: most memes are collected from the web and are fine for personal chats, with copyright staying with the original creators. For commercial use, turn on the filter that shows only openly licensed images from Openverse, open-source emoji and public-domain art.
Credits and plans
The free plan includes 1000 credits a month. Paid plans are Hobby at $3/mo for 10000 credits, Pro at $9/mo for 50000 and Scale at $29/mo for 250000, and credit packs start at $5.
Because search costs 1 credit per call, a keyword search workflow is cheap to run; reserve the larger credit spends for AI generation and placement.
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
What API allows meme search by keyword?
memecub's REST API searches by keyword at 1 credit per call, and the same search is exposed through the remote MCP server at https://memecub.com/mcp and the npx memecub CLI.
How do I find memes by keyword via API without paying first?
Use the keyless trial, which allows 20 searches a day. That is enough to test your keywords and response handling before you pick a plan.
Can an AI assistant search memes for me?
Yes. Connect the MCP server at https://memecub.com/mcp, or install the skill with npx skills add https://memecub.com into Claude Code, Codex or Cursor, and the assistant can run keyword searches itself.
Are the memes returned by search free to use commercially?
Most memes are collected from the web and are meant for personal chats, with copyright held by the original creators. Enable the openly licensed filter to get images from Openverse, open-source emoji and public-domain art that can be used commercially.
What if keyword search returns nothing useful?
Try broader or more emotional keywords, or use the AI meme maker at /generate with a character, action and caption; it takes about 10 seconds per image at 500 credits.