# Pixabay API MCP

> Pixabay API provides an AI connection to millions of high-quality, royalty-free stock photos and videos. Your agent can search for specific media by keyword or tag, retrieve full metadata sets, filter results by orientation, and get direct download links—all without you ever leaving your chat window. It turns massive visual libraries into simple, conversational data streams.

## Overview
- **Category:** design-creative
- **Price:** Free
- **Tags:** stock-media, royalty-free, image-search, video-assets, media-metadata, asset-auditing

## Description

You're used to spending hours clicking through photo portals just to find the right asset. This MCP changes that. Instead of manual searches, you talk to your agent and it handles the entire media discovery process using Pixabay’s vast catalog. It instantly finds thousands of images and video clips based on complex criteria—like finding only horizontal illustrations tagged 'cyberpunk' or retrieving all metadata for a specific user. Your agent acts like an always-on visual research assistant, pulling not just pretty pictures but the raw data behind them: tags, types, and direct links. Since Vinkius hosts this MCP, you connect once to get access to this powerful media intelligence tool alongside thousands of others. You can audit entire creative campaigns, ensuring every piece of media is properly licensed and visually stunning before a single designer even opens Photoshop.

## Tools

### check_api_status
Confirms if the Pixabay service is online and ready for use.

### search_pixabay_images
Searches the library to find free, high-quality images based on your keywords.

### search_pixabay_videos
Finds and retrieves free, high-quality video clips using specific search terms.

## Prompt Examples

**Prompt:** 
```
Search for high-quality images of 'sunset over mountains' using Pixabay.
```

**Response:** 
```
I've retrieved several stunning images of sunsets! Notable previews include mountain landscapes with vibrant colors. I can provide the direct links to the high-resolution files if you'd like.
```

**Prompt:** 
```
Find illustrations of 'robot working' in 'horizontal' orientation.
```

**Response:** 
```
I've identified several horizontal illustrations of robots! They are categorized as 'illustration' type and match your search criteria. I can assist you with the user metadata and tags for each image.
```

**Prompt:** 
```
Search for free videos about 'nature' on Pixabay.
```

**Response:** 
```
I've retrieved several nature videos from the Pixabay catalog! They feature landscapes and wildlife with various durations. I can provide the unique video IDs and direct links to assist in your project.
```

## Capabilities

### Search for Visual Assets
It searches the Pixabay library for specific images or videos based on keywords.

### Audit Media Metadata
You retrieve detailed information about assets, including tags and user ownership data.

### Filter by Type and Orientation
The MCP narrows results to specific formats like vector illustrations or only horizontal videos.

### Check Service Status
It confirms that the Pixabay service is currently operational, preventing workflow interruptions.

## Use Cases

### Auditing a Campaign's Visual Needs
A marketing manager needs to know if their Q4 campaign has enough assets showing 'urban life at night.' They tell the agent, which runs the search_pixabay_images tool. The agent returns not only previews but also counts and tags for asset availability across various formats.

### Filling a UI Mockup
A developer needs placeholder media for a landing page mockup. They ask the agent to find 'minimalist office' images, filtered specifically for horizontal orientation. The agent quickly provides multiple options and their direct download links.

### Researching Video Trends
A content strategist wants to compare visual themes across different media types. They use the search_pixabay_videos tool to pull clips on 'global travel,' getting unique video IDs and metadata for later deep-dive analysis.

### Checking Asset Compliance
A project lead needs to confirm that all necessary media types are available before launch. They ask the agent to run a status check, ensuring both image and video search tools are ready to go for comprehensive audits.

## Benefits

- Stop manually browsing photo sites. The agent handles searches for both images and videos, delivering direct links and metadata immediately.
- You get more than just pictures; you retrieve full data packages including tags and user information, which is critical for content auditing.
- The ability to filter results by type (illustration, photo) or orientation means your search is precise. You don't waste time looking at irrelevant crops.
- Need peace of mind? Run a status check first. The tool ensures the connection is operational before you start a major research task.
- Whether building marketing collateral or conducting visual research, the agent acts as a real-time consultant, keeping your media flow organized and licensed.

## How It Works

The bottom line is that it lets you treat massive visual libraries like a structured database query.

1. Subscribe to this MCP and input your personal Pixabay API Key into your preferred AI client.
2. Ask your agent a specific question, such as 'Find me three high-resolution video clips about nature.'
3. Your agent uses the tool to pull back multiple results, giving you direct links and full metadata for the assets.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**How does the Pixabay API MCP work with my existing content workflow?**
Your agent uses this MCP as a dedicated tool. You simply tell it to search for media, and the agent executes the necessary queries against Pixabay's catalog directly from your chat interface.

**Can I use the search_pixabay_images tool for videos too?**
No. Use 'search_pixabay_images' specifically when you need photos, and use 'search_pixabay_videos' whenever your project requires video clips.

**What happens if the Pixabay API is down?**
You can run the check_api_status tool. If it reports an issue, you know to pause asset requests until the service comes back online.

**Is this MCP for commercial use only?**
It connects to Pixabay's royalty-free library, which means the assets are cleared for general creative and marketing purposes. Always confirm specific license terms within your project guidelines.

**Does the search_pixabay_images tool provide direct download links?**
Yes, it retrieves direct links along with metadata and high-quality web previews, so you don't have to navigate back to the source site.