name: Openverse API Plans
description: >
  The Openverse API is free to use with no paid tiers. Access is available
  anonymously for limited use, or via OAuth2 registration for standard higher
  limits. Enhanced rate limits are selectively granted for high-volume use cases.
  The service reserves the right to charge fees for commercial or heavy usage in
  the future.
plans:
  - name: Anonymous
    description: >
      Unauthenticated access to the Openverse API. Limited to 1 request per
      second. Page size capped at 20 results per request. No registration required.
      Suitable for development, testing, and low-volume exploration.
    url: https://docs.openverse.org/api/reference/authentication_and_throttling.html
    price: 0.00
    currency: USD
    unit: month
    features:
      - Anonymous access — no registration needed
      - Search images and audio
      - 1 request per second throttle
      - Maximum 20 results per page
      - Access to all public endpoints
    limitations:
      - No API key required but heavily throttled
      - Page size limited to 20 results
      - No SLA or support

  - name: Standard (Authenticated)
    description: >
      Free tier available to any developer who registers an OAuth2 application.
      Provides a higher and more practical rate limit than anonymous access.
      Registration requires an application name, description, and email. Tokens
      are obtained via OAuth2 client credentials flow and expire periodically.
    url: https://docs.openverse.org/api/reference/authentication_and_throttling.html
    price: 0.00
    currency: USD
    unit: month
    features:
      - OAuth2 client credentials authentication
      - Higher rate limits than anonymous access
      - Page size up to 500 results per request
      - Bearer token authentication
      - Access to all public endpoints
      - Rate limit headers in responses
    limitations:
      - Must register an application
      - Tokens expire and must be refreshed
      - No guaranteed SLA

  - name: Enhanced (By Request)
    description: >
      Selectively granted tier for high-volume use cases offering significantly
      higher burst and sustained request rates. Must be requested from the Openverse
      team and is typically reserved for trusted integrations, platforms, or
      institutional partners. Not available via self-service.
    url: https://docs.openverse.org/api/reference/authentication_and_throttling.html
    price: 0.00
    currency: USD
    unit: month
    features:
      - Significantly higher burst limits
      - Higher sustained request rates
      - OAuth2 authentication required
      - Suitable for large-scale integrations
    limitations:
      - Must be approved by Openverse team
      - Not available via self-service registration
      - Subject to ongoing review