# TMDB API key: a compatible key in about a minute > To get a TMDB API key for a commercial project, sign in to amodb with an email and a one time code, pay for a plan and create the key. It takes about a minute. The key has the TMDB v3 shape, so you change the base URL and keep your code. There is no free tier. ## Get a TMDB compatible key in four steps amodb sells keys for its own API, which keeps the TMDB v3 paths and JSON. It is not a key from TMDB and it does not work on api.themoviedb.org. What you get is a key of the same shape, 32 lowercase hex characters, that your TMDB client accepts after one change of base URL. 1. Open [pricing](https://amodb.dev/pricing/) and pick a plan: 20, 40 or 120 requests per minute. Every plan returns all data. 2. Sign in with your email. amodb sends a 6 digit code that is valid for 10 minutes. There is no password. 3. Pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay for 1 to 24 months. Nothing renews automatically. 4. Open **Account**, then **API keys**, and create a key. Copy it right away, because the full key is shown once. The steps take about a minute, and the key works as soon as the payment is confirmed. ## Use the key: change the base URL Keep your TMDB code and change two values, the base URL and the key. Both ways to send the key work, `api_key` in the query and an `Authorization: Bearer` header. ```bash # TMDB curl "https://api.themoviedb.org/3/movie/550?api_key=$TMDB_KEY" # amodb curl "https://api.amodb.dev/3/movie/550?api_key=$AMODB_KEY" ``` The same call with a Bearer header, in three languages: ```bash curl "https://api.amodb.dev/3/movie/550?language=en-US" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $AMODB_KEY" ``` ```js const res = await fetch("https://api.amodb.dev/3/movie/550?language=en-US", { headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.AMODB_KEY}` }, }); if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`amodb ${res.status}`); const movie = await res.json(); console.log(movie.title, movie.release_date); ``` ```python import os import requests res = requests.get( "https://api.amodb.dev/3/movie/550", params={"language": "en-US"}, headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['AMODB_KEY']}"}, timeout=10, ) res.raise_for_status() movie = res.json() print(movie["title"], movie["release_date"]) ``` The reply has the TMDB v3 shape: ```json { "id": 550, "imdb_id": "tt0137523", "title": "Fight Club", "release_date": "1999-10-15", "runtime": 139, "genres": [{ "id": 18, "name": "Drama" }], "vote_average": 8.4, "poster_path": "/pB8BM7pdSp6B6Ih7QZ4DrQ3PmJK.jpg" } ``` Read `images.secure_base_url` from `/3/configuration` so poster links point to `img.amodb.dev`. Images need no key. More on sending the key is on [authentication](https://amodb.dev/authentication/), and a longer walkthrough is in the [quickstart](https://amodb.dev/quickstart/). ## A free TMDB key and an amodb key side by side The right choice depends on your project and your terms, not on a feature list. The TMDB column only repeats what TMDB publishes in general. Read TMDB's own terms and docs for the current rules. | | Free TMDB key | amodb key | | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Price | Free for qualifying use under TMDB's terms | Paid, prepaid for 1 to 24 months, no trial | | How you get it | A TMDB account and a key request on TMDB's site | Email, 6 digit code, payment, then create the key in your account | | Commercial use | Check TMDB's terms for commercial use and attribution | Allowed under amodb's terms | | Rate limit | Set by TMDB, check their docs | 20, 40 or 120 requests per minute by plan | | Data | TMDB data | TMDB v3 shape, plus `ratings`, `moods`, `soundtracks`, `wikidata` and `showtimes` through `append_to_response` | | Key format | v3 key, 32 hex characters | 32 lowercase hex characters | | Base URL | `https://api.themoviedb.org/3` | `https://api.amodb.dev/3` | | Write methods | Account, list and rating methods | Not offered, they answer 405 | ## When a free TMDB key is enough Stay on a free TMDB key for a personal or learning project that fits TMDB's terms. If your use qualifies, TMDB costs nothing and amodb cannot match that. Use an amodb key when the project is commercial and you want a paid agreement, when you need a fixed limit per minute that you can plan around, or when one title page should get ratings from five sources in a single call. Check the gaps first: write methods, changes feeds and a few other paths are not offered. They are listed on [TMDB API alternative](https://amodb.dev/tmdb-api-alternative/) and in [amodb vs TMDB](https://amodb.dev/amodb-vs-tmdb/). ## Commercial use and limits Commercial use is allowed under amodb's [terms](https://amodb.dev/terms/). You may show the data in your apps, sites, bots and internal tools, and cache responses to save requests. You may not resell raw API access, publish bulk dumps, share keys or open extra accounts to raise your rate. The full list is in the [acceptable use policy](https://amodb.dev/acceptable-use/). The plan sets the rate. Every reply carries `X-RateLimit-Limit`, `X-RateLimit-Remaining` and `X-RateLimit-Reset`, and a 429 adds `Retry-After`. Details are on [rate limits](https://amodb.dev/rate-limits/). ## Questions and answers ### Is this a TMDB API key? No. It is an amodb key. It has the same shape as a TMDB v3 key, 32 lowercase hex characters, and works on amodb's TMDB v3 compatible paths at https://api.amodb.dev/3. It does not work on api.themoviedb.org, and amodb is an independent service. ### Can I get a TMDB API key for free? TMDB offers a free key for qualifying use under its own terms, and you request it on TMDB's site. amodb has no free tier and no trial, so an amodb key always comes with a paid plan. Read TMDB's terms before you decide which one fits. ### Can I get a TMDB API key without registration? Not on amodb. You sign in with an email and a 6 digit code, with no password and no application form, then pay and create the key. A TMDB key needs a TMDB account, so check TMDB's site for its current steps. ### Can I use the key in a commercial project? Yes. Commercial use is allowed under amodb's terms. Use the data in your own apps and sites, but do not resell raw API access, share your key or put it in client side code. ### How many requests can one key make? The plan sets the rate: 20, 40 or 120 requests per minute per key, counted in a sliding 60 second window. Every plan returns all data and there is no daily cap. ## Related pages - [TMDB API key alternative](https://amodb.dev/tmdb-api-alternative/): Need a TMDB API key for a commercial project? amodb is a paid, TMDB v3 compatible API with 20 to 120 requests per minute. Compare terms, limits and the gaps. - [Quickstart](https://amodb.dev/quickstart/): Make your first amodb call: get a key, request movie details in curl, JavaScript, Python, PHP or Go, then load the poster from img.amodb.dev. Under 2 minutes. - [Pricing: amodb plans and TMDB API pricing](https://amodb.dev/pricing/): TMDB API pricing compared: amodb has three prepaid plans of 20, 40 or 120 requests per minute, with all data on every plan. No free tier, no trial, no renewal. - [Authentication](https://amodb.dev/authentication/): How to send your amodb key: api_key in the query, an Authorization Bearer header, or apikey for OMDb calls. Key format, storage, rotation and the 401 errors. - [amodb vs TMDB](https://amodb.dev/amodb-vs-tmdb/): Head to head: amodb against TMDB. See endpoint parity, the paths amodb does not offer, free versus paid terms, 14 languages, extensions and rate limits. - [Rate limits, and TMDB API limits compared](https://amodb.dev/rate-limits/): TMDB API limits compared with amodb rate limits: 20, 40 or 120 requests per minute per key in a sliding 60 second window, no daily cap, 429 with Retry-After. Updated: 2026-10-19. Source: https://amodb.dev/tmdb-api-key/