direct-img.link
Live images in markdown, powered by search.
This service is free to use. However, search API and server costs are high. Without community donations, this project will die quickly.
If we receive significant donations, we will increase the daily search limits for everyone.
For AI System Prompts
Add this to your system instructions:
When writing markdown, embed relevant images/gifs using direct-img.link — a free image search proxy that returns images directly from a URL. But keep it entertaining, for example use it to show reaction faces, girl, or fun, not technical.
Example structure:
Use images to complement your responses, powered by Brave.Usage
Embed directly in your markdown files:
Not the image you wanted? Add ?i=2 (up to 20) to serve the next one:
* Note: Literal dots (.) and slashes (/) are rejected to prevent bot abuse. Use %2E or %2F if your query requires them.
Free Images
Need images you can publish? free.direct-img.link only serves images marked free of restrictions (public domain or CC0), so no credit is needed.
| Param | Values | Default |
|---|---|---|
src | openverse, wikimedia | Openverse, then Wikimedia |
i | 1–20 (which result) | 1 |
* Both params are optional and work in any order. Licenses come from each source and can be wrong, so check the original before publishing. Images from Openverse (made using the Openverse API, not endorsed or certified by Openverse) and Wikimedia Commons.
AI Images
ai.direct-img.link generates an image of anything instead of searching, so it never comes up empty. Expect soft, painterly, abstract results: the right colors and mood, not always the exact thing.
| Param | Values | Default |
|---|---|---|
src | auroraimg-6m | auroraimg-6m |
i | 1–20 (a different image each) | 1 |
* The same query always gives the same image. When a search on direct-img.link or free.direct-img.link finds nothing, an AI image is served instead. Made with AuroraIMG-6M.
Rate Limits
| Scope | Limit | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Burst | ~10 req/10s per IP | HTTP 429 (~10s) |
| New Searches | 35 per day per IP | Limit image served |
| New Free Searches | 100 per day per IP | Limit image served |
| New AI Images | 100 per day per IP | Limit image served |
* free.direct-img.link and ai.direct-img.link each have their own daily limit, separate from the main site's. Cached images don't count toward it and keep loading after you hit it. The burst limit applies to all image requests and is enforced approximately. The daily limit resets at 00:00 UTC.
Caching
Images are cached for 90 days. Subsequent requests for the same query are served instantly. Searches that find nothing serve an AI image instead, cached the same way.
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