Gutendex

API

Free REST API for Project Gutenberg book metadata

Overview

Gutendex is a RESTful API that provides programmatic access to metadata from Project Gutenberg’s library of public domain books. Key endpoints include /books (with filters for title, author, subject, language, and more) and /books/{id} for detailed information on specific works. Responses are in JSON, containing fields like book titles, author details, publication dates, subjects, ISBNs (where available), and links to Project Gutenberg’s book files. Ideal use cases: building book discovery apps, educational tools for classic literature, literary research platforms, or integrating free public domain book data into personal projects.

Example Integration (JavaScript)

script.js JS


fetch('https://gutendex.com/')
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

Key Features

RESTful API
JSON Responses
No Authentication Required
Filterable Endpoints
Access to Project Gutenberg Metadata
CORS Enabled

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Gutendex free to use?

Yes, Gutendex is completely free with no hidden costs or paid tiers.

? Does Gutendex require an API Key?

No, Gutendex does not require any authentication or API key to access its endpoints.

? What is the response format?

Gutendex returns all data in JSON format, which is widely supported and easy to parse in most programming languages.

Top Alternatives

Open Library API Search Google

Project Gutenberg Official API Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free

Category Books

Platform Public API

Pros

⊕ Completely free to use
⊕ No rate limits
⊕ Easy to integrate
⊕ Rich metadata fields
⊕ CORS support for web applications

Cons

⊖ Limited to public domain books only
⊖ Metadata syncs periodically (not real-time)
⊖ No direct book downloads (links to Project Gutenberg files)