Tenor (owned by Google) is a GIF search library and API best known for powering reaction-GIF keyboards in iOS, Android, and chat apps. Tenor is search across Google's public catalog with required attribution; it doesn't host GIFs you upload yourself. swiftimg covers both sides: upload your own animated content, get a permanent unbranded URL automatically converted to a smaller animated WebP, and search the public catalog of uploaded GIFs through a clean REST API.
swiftimg vs Tenor at a glance
| Feature | swiftimg | Tenor |
|---|---|---|
| Host your own GIFs | Yes (primary use) | No (search catalog only) |
| Public GIF search API | Yes (/v1/gifs/search) | Yes (free with key) |
| Trending GIFs endpoint | Yes (/v1/gifs/trending) | Yes |
| Catalog size | User-uploaded (growing) | Google-scale (millions) |
| Attribution required | No | Yes (Tenor/Google branding) |
| Permanent direct URL | Yes (unbranded) | Yes (catalog items, attributed) |
| Automatic animated WebP (5–10× smaller) | Automatic | Separate URLs per format |
| REST API for uploads | Yes (keys, signed transforms) | Search-only |
| Custom / white-label domain | From $9/mo | No |
| Free anonymous upload | Yes | N/A (no upload) |
List prices as of 2026 for context — directional, not apples-to-apples. Check each provider for current pricing.
When Tenor is the better choice
Tenor if you specifically need Google's enormous reaction-GIF catalog and are happy carrying the Tenor/Google attribution it requires.
swiftimg vs Tenor — FAQ
Can swiftimg replace Tenor inside my app?
For most apps, yes. swiftimg's public /v1/gifs/search and /v1/gifs/trending endpoints give a Tenor-shaped picker over user-uploaded GIFs, and uploads return permanent unbranded URLs you control. The one thing swiftimg can't match is the raw size of Tenor's Google-backed reaction catalog — if your product depends on every meme GIF ever made, Tenor still wins on catalog breadth.
How does the swiftimg GIF search API work?
Send GET /v1/gifs/search?q=<query> and you get back a JSON list of ready animated GIFs whose title or tags match, scored by FTS5 rank. Each result includes a direct URL plus the automatic animated WebP variant for cheaper embedding. /v1/gifs/trending returns the most-viewed GIFs for a default surface before the user types.
Will swiftimg GIFs play in chat the way Tenor ones do?
Yes — direct image URLs unfurl inline in Slack, Discord, X, and iMessage, and the animated WebP variant plays automatically.
Do I have to display 'Powered by swiftimg'?
No. Unlike Tenor, swiftimg doesn't require visible attribution on results or embeds. On paid plans you can serve everything through your own custom domain so users never see swiftimg at all.
Is swiftimg cheaper than Tenor for an embed-heavy product?
Tenor's API is free but ties you to Google branding and catalog. swiftimg's GIF search and trending endpoints are free to call, and paid plans add hosting, transforms, and a custom domain.
Ready to switch from Tenor?
Start free, then unlock the full API, transforms, signed URLs, and a custom domain on the Developer plan.