Resources

How to Get an Unsplash API Key

A free Unsplash API key lets Sourcer search and insert millions of high-resolution photos directly into your timeline. Setup takes about 3 minutes.

Which plugins use this?

Sourcer
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Unsplash is photo-only

Unsplash's library covers high-resolution photography. For stock video, Sourcer also supports Pexels and Pixabay — you can use any combination by adding the keys you want.

Step-by-step guide

1
Go to the Unsplash Developer Portal

Visit unsplash.com/developers and click Register as a developer.

2
Sign up or sign in

Create a free Unsplash account if you don't have one. If you already use Unsplash, sign in with the same account.

3
Accept the API guidelines

Unsplash will show their API guidelines (attribution, rate limits, etc.). Read and accept them.

4
Create a new application

Click New Application, accept the developer terms, and fill in the form:

  • Application name: pick something personal, like "Jane's Stock Search" or "[Your Name] Sourcer". The name is just for your own dashboard — it doesn't need to be unique, but a personal name helps you spot it later.
  • Description: Search and insert Unsplash photos directly in my video editing software
5
Copy your Access Key

After creating the app, scroll down to the Keys section. Copy the Access Key (not the Secret Key — Sourcer only needs the Access Key).

6
Paste it into your Filmit account

Go to API Keys in your account settings (or Settings in Filmit Studio) and paste the key into the Unsplash field. Hit Save.

Done!

Your Unsplash key syncs across all your devices. Open Sourcer and switch to the Unsplash tab to start browsing.

Common questions

What's the rate limit on the free tier?

Unsplash's free demo tier allows 50 requests per hour. That's enough for typical browsing and inserting. If you need more, you can apply for production access (still free) which raises the limit to 5,000 per hour.

Can I use Unsplash photos commercially?

Yes. Unsplash photos can be used for free, commercially or non-commercially. The full license is on unsplash.com/license. Crediting the photographer is appreciated but not required.

Why does Unsplash ask for an Access Key AND a Secret Key?

The Secret Key is for actions like uploading or modifying photos on Unsplash, which Sourcer doesn't need. Sourcer only reads photos, so just the Access Key is enough — keep the Secret Key safe and unused.