The placeholder image API built for AI coding agents

The only placeholder API with a native MCP server. Claude Code, Cursor, and Windsurf generate working image URLs automatically — no manual setup, no broken links.

Get Your API Key API Docs

$ npm install -g placeholdermcp
$ claude mcp add placeholdermcp pmcp mcp-serve
# Now just ask: "add a 600x400 placeholder hero image"

$ npm install -g placeholdermcp
# Cursor → Settings → MCP → add to mcp.json:
{"mcpServers":{"placeholdermcp":{"type":"stdio",
  "command":"pmcp","args":["mcp-serve"]}}}

$ npm install -g placeholdermcp
# Windsurf → Cascade → MCP → mcp_config.json:
{"mcpServers":{"placeholdermcp":{"type":"stdio",
  "command":"pmcp","args":["mcp-serve"]}}}

$ npm install -g placeholdermcp
# Cline → MCP Servers → cline_mcp_settings.json:
{"mcpServers":{"placeholdermcp":{"type":"stdio",
  "command":"pmcp","args":["mcp-serve"]}}}

$ npm install -g placeholdermcp
# Codex → ~/.codex/config.toml:
[mcp_servers.placeholdermcp]
command = "pmcp"
args = ["mcp-serve"]

$ npm install -g placeholdermcp
# VS Code → .vscode/mcp.json:
{"servers":{"placeholdermcp":{"type":"stdio",
  "command":"pmcp","args":["mcp-serve"]}}}

# No agent? Just hit the API:
curl https://api.placeholdermcp.com/600x400 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ak_YOUR_KEY" \
  -o hero.png

Native MCP server No credit card required Agent-friendly API

Built for AI Agents

Your AI writes the code. We provide the images.

Every other placeholder service was built for humans copying URLs. PlaceholderMCP is built for the tools that write your code. Your agent signs up, creates an API key, and generates images — you add your card when you're ready.

Native MCP Server

First-party Model Context Protocol server — not a wrapper

Programmatic Everything

Signup, API keys, image generation — all via API, no browser needed

Zero Friction

No CAPTCHA, no bot blocks. AI agents get full API access instantly

Get API Key Works with Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf & more

How AI Agents Use PlaceholderMCP

                                    // 1. Agent signs up the user

                                    POST /saas/api/v1/sdk/auth/signup

                                    // 2. Agent creates an API key

                                    POST /saas/api/v1/sdk/apikeys/create

                                    // 3. Agent generates images

                                    GET api.placeholdermcp.com/600x400

                                        X-API-Key: key_...

                                    // 4. User adds card later

                                    placeholdermcp.com/dashboardv2#billing

No credit card to start

Agent-friendly — no CAPTCHA or bot blocks

Pay only when you're ready to scale

One API, six kinds of placeholder

Switch generator with a single generator= param. From a coloured label to a real licensed photograph or a prompt-to-image render — same URL, same key.

Text

The classic. Coloured slate with your label, custom fonts, dimensions and format — the default when you just want a labelled box.

pmcp gen 400x300 --text "Hi"

Photo

Real stock photos (Picsum) sized to your exact dimensions. Seed for a repeatable shot, or add blur and grayscale.

pmcp gen 600x400 -g photo --seed 7

Licensed

Real photography under a per-request licence (fleetstreet.ai), served with creator credit and an audit id — safe to ship, not just to mock.

pmcp licensed 800x600 --keyword coast

AI generation

Prompt-to-placeholder. Describe the image and get a generated render back — great when no stock shot fits the brief.

pmcp gen 512 -g ai --prompt "mountain"

ASCII art

An ASCII-art pattern rendered to a real image — a retro, terminal-flavoured slate for dev tools and docs headers.

pmcp gen 400x300 -g asciiart

Icon

A FontAwesome icon rendered on a coloured slate — name the glyph (e.g. fa-star) for crisp icon tiles at any size.

pmcp gen 128 -g icon --text fa-star

Coming soon: beyond images

The same one-API pattern, extended to audio and video. In development — not yet live.

Audio Coming soon

Turn text into natural speech, and speech back into text — on demand. Placeholder voiceovers and TTS previews for prototypes, backed by our own GPU pool.

Video Coming soon

Generate a short video clip from a text prompt — a few seconds of placeholder motion for hero sections and demos. Rendered on our GPU pool, one clip at a time.

Built for the way you code now

Every feature designed for AI-assisted development. Your agent handles the setup — you ship faster.

Native MCP Server

First-party Model Context Protocol server. Claude Code and other MCP-compatible agents use PlaceholderMCP as a tool — no plugins needed.

Fully Programmatic

Signup, API key creation, and image generation — all via REST API. No browser, no CAPTCHA, no manual steps. Built for agents.

Sub-100ms Response

Global CDN delivery across 450+ edge locations. Your agent gets images instantly — no waiting, no timeouts.

Fully Customizable

Colors, text, fonts, dimensions, and formats via URL parameters. Agents generate exactly the right placeholder for every context.

Usage Analytics

Per-key usage tracking, real-time analytics dashboard. See exactly how your agents and apps consume the API.

$1 to Get Started

7-day free trial — $0 today, then $1/mo, cancel anytime. Agents get a 48-hour keyless window via the CLI, no card needed to start building.

How we compare

The only placeholder image API built for AI coding agents — with generous rate limits from day one.

	PlaceholderMCP	Unsplash API	Picsum	Placehold.co
Free trial	7 days (+48h keyless CLI)	50/hour	Fair use	No limit
Basic plan ($1/mo)	200/hour	—	—	—
Daily limit (Basic)	2,000/day	~1,200/day	Fair use	No limit
MCP server	Native
Programmatic signup	API	Manual	No signup	No signup
API key management
Usage analytics
Custom colors & text
Multiple generators	Text, Photo, Licensed, AI, ASCII, Icon	Photos only	Photos only	Text only
Paid tiers	From $1/mo	Free (apply for more)	Free only	Free only

See Pricing Plans

Get started in 30 seconds

Add PlaceholderMCP to your project — your AI agent handles the rest.

Add to CLAUDE.md

Paste this into your project's CLAUDE.md file. Claude Code will use PlaceholderMCP for all placeholder images automatically.

                            # Placeholder Images

                            Use PlaceholderMCP for all placeholder images.

                            API: https://api.placeholdermcp.com/{width}x{height}

                            Header: X-API-Key: {your-key}

                            Formats: ?format=png|jpg|webp|svg

                            Options: ?bg=hex&text=label&color=hex

Direct API Usage

Works with any HTTP client — curl, fetch, axios, requests. Your agent can use the API directly.

                            # Generate a 600x400 placeholder

                            curl https://api.placeholdermcp.com/600x400 \

                              -H "X-API-Key: key_your_key"

                            # With custom colors and text

                            curl https://api.placeholdermcp.com/300x200 \

                              ?bg=1a1a1a&color=ffffff&text=Hero \

                              -H "X-API-Key: key_your_key"

Get Your API Key Full API Reference

The placeholder image API built for AI coding agents

Your AI writes the code. We provide the images.

Native MCP Server

Programmatic Everything

Zero Friction

How AI Agents Use PlaceholderMCP

See it in action

One API, six kinds of placeholder

Text

Photo

Licensed

AI generation

ASCII art

Icon

Coming soon: beyond images

Audio Coming soon

Video Coming soon

Built for the way you code now

Native MCP Server

Fully Programmatic

Sub-100ms Response

Fully Customizable

Usage Analytics

$1 to Get Started

How we compare

Start for $1. Scale when you're ready.

Get started in 30 seconds

Add to CLAUDE.md

Direct API Usage