Google Photos vs Unsplash

Google's Photos APIs let apps read from and write to a user's Google Photos library across three products: the current Picker API lets a user securely choose individual items to share without granting an app full library access, the older Library API supports app-driven uploads and management of app-created content (several of its broader read scopes were removed on April 1, 2025), and the newer Ambient API drives slideshow experiences on photo frames and connected TVs. Every product requires OAuth2 user consent — there is no server-only API-key path — governed by Google's Photos API User Data and Developer Policy. Usage is free, bounded by per-project quotas that vary by product (for example 100,000 requests/minute for the Picker API versus 10,000/day for the Library API).

Unsplash's JSON API lets apps search, browse, and download from its library of freely licensed photos, returning dynamically resizable image URLs (powered by Imgix) alongside photographer and collection metadata. Nearly all real use is covered by a static Client-ID access key sent via the Authorization header — full OAuth is only needed for a handful of actions performed on a user's behalf, like liking a photo. New applications start in demo mode at 50 requests/hour and can apply for production approval to reach 1,000/hour, with attribution to the photographer and Unsplash required under the Unsplash API Guidelines.