How it works
After registering for a key, you query endpoints for search, details, credits, images, videos (trailer links, mostly on YouTube), recommendations, trending lists and where-to-watch providers by country. Images are served from TMDB's CDN in several sizes, so an app can load small posters in lists and large ones on detail pages. The data is edited by a large community in dozens of languages and changes often, so cache it but refresh it.
It is free for non-commercial use as long as the app credits TMDB with an approved logo and the notice 'This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.' A project whose main purpose is earning money needs a commercial licence, arranged through TMDB's sales team. Watch-provider data comes from JustWatch and must be credited to JustWatch too. There is no uptime promise, and heavy traffic is throttled at around 40 requests a second.
TMDB API pricing
Free tier
Free for non-commercial use with credit to TMDB. Commercial use needs a licence, priced on request through TMDB's API for Business.
TMDB API pricing page (opens in a new tab)Approximate, checked September 2026.What the other tools cost
Related terms
More in Building blocks and outside APIs
Outside APIs