Anime and manga have one of the most developer-friendly free API ecosystems on the internet. Five different APIs serve overlapping but complementary datasets, all without API keys. This shortlist covers when to reach for each one.
Quick comparison
| API | Best for | Auth | Query style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jikan | MyAnimeList data via REST | None | REST |
| AniList | Flexible queries with GraphQL | None | GraphQL |
| Kitsu | JSON:API for anime + manga libraries | None | JSON:API |
| MangaDex | Manga chapters and translations | None | REST |
| Shikimori | Russian-origin platform with ratings and studios | None | REST |
What "free" actually means here
For an anime/manga API to qualify:
- It must work without an API key for read access.
- It must serve real catalog data (titles, episodes, characters, etc.), not just toy endpoints.
- It must be actively maintained — anime APIs come and go, and stale ones get filtered out.
All five APIs on this list are community-loved and actively maintained as of 2026. Anime APIs do change rules over time, so re-check the docs before launch.
API options
Jikan REST API
Jikan is a community REST wrapper around MyAnimeList data. If you want anime catalog information in REST shape and don't want to learn GraphQL, this is the default choice.
Use it when:
- You are building anime search, detail, or seasonal discovery screens.
- You want character, staff, voice actor, and studio data.
- You prefer REST over GraphQL.
The integration complexity is low — single GET requests with clean response shapes.
AniList GraphQL API
AniList exposes anime and manga data via GraphQL. The flexibility is the key benefit: ask for exactly the fields you need in one query, and pair it with a frontend GraphQL client.
Use it when:
- You want to minimize over-fetching in a content-rich app.
- You are using a GraphQL client (Apollo, urql, etc.) elsewhere.
- You want filtered trend lists and detail pages in a single round-trip.
For developers comfortable with GraphQL, this is often the most ergonomic API on the list.
Kitsu API
Kitsu serves anime and manga data in JSON:API format, with a focus on user libraries and tracking applications.
Use it when:
- You are building a user-library or tracking app.
- You want trending anime and manga lists by popularity rank.
- You are comfortable with the JSON:API spec (relationships, included resources).
The JSON:API shape is opinionated — embrace it or pick Jikan/AniList instead.
MangaDex API
MangaDex is the canonical free API for manga, with detailed coverage of titles, chapters, translation groups, and authors.
Use it when:
- Your product is manga-focused (rather than anime).
- You need chapter data filtered by translation language.
- You want author and translation-group information.
For an anime-only product Jikan or AniList will be a better fit; for a manga reader, library, or discovery product, MangaDex is the obvious source.
Shikimori API
Shikimori is a Russian-origin anime and manga platform with strong ratings, genre, and studio metadata.
Use it when:
- You need genre and studio information for filter menus.
- You want ratings and popularity data alongside catalog metadata.
- You are building for a Russian-speaking audience.
For non-Russian audiences, the data overlaps with AniList and Jikan — the differentiator is the studio depth and ratings model.
Picking the right one
Match the API to the product:
- General anime app, REST → Jikan.
- GraphQL-based content app → AniList.
- User library and tracking → Kitsu.
- Manga reader or discovery → MangaDex.
- Russian-language audience or studio-deep filters → Shikimori.
A common pattern is to use Jikan or AniList as the primary metadata source plus MangaDex when manga-specific data is needed.
When not to use these APIs
These APIs are excellent free options, but they are not the right fit when you need:
- Streaming or video data. None of these provide video content. They are catalog metadata APIs, not Crunchyroll/Funimation.
- Heavy commercial redistribution of chapter or scan data. MangaDex in particular has terms around content redistribution — read them before building a competing reader.
- Guaranteed uptime. All five are community-operated and free. For mission-critical use, build retries and consider caching aggressively.
Related API Deposu entries
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
›Which anime API requires no API key?
All five APIs in this list — Jikan, AniList, Kitsu, MangaDex, and Shikimori — work without API key registration.
›Which API has the most up-to-date anime data?
AniList and Jikan (which sources from MyAnimeList) are the most actively maintained for anime metadata. For manga specifically, MangaDex is the canonical source for translated chapter data.
›Is there a GraphQL API for anime?
Yes — AniList exposes a full GraphQL API, which is the most flexible option when you want to fetch only the fields you need or build complex queries in a single request.
›Can I use these APIs in a commercial product?
Each provider has different terms. Most allow non-commercial and lightweight commercial use with attribution, but heavy commercial use (especially redistributing chapter content from MangaDex) requires checking the official terms first.