Placeholder image services fill an <img> tag until the real images exist. Each one returns one of four kinds of image: a labeled box, a random photo, a stock photo chosen by subject, or an image generated from a description. Here is what the main services return today and when each one fits.
One image slot, three services
An 800Ă—600 photo of a living room for a property listing:
At a glance
| Service | What the URL returns | Choose the subject | Sizes and formats | Free use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| placeholdr.dev | An AI image generated from the description in the URL | Yes, any description up to 120 characters | 64–2048 px; JPEG | 30 new images a day per IP address and per live domain; saved images load without limit. No key. |
| placehold.co | A solid box with text | No, text only | 10–4000 px; SVG, PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP, AVIF | Free, no limits stated. No key. |
| Lorem Picsum | A random real photo from Unsplash | No; a seed or photo ID fixes which random photo you get | Size set in the URL; JPEG, WebP | Free, no limits stated. No key. |
| DummyImage | A solid box with text, with named ad and screen sizes | No, text only | GIF, PNG, JPEG | Free and open source. No key. |
| via.placeholder.com | A box with text, plus photos by subject, avatars and QR codes | Photos from a fixed library of CC0 photos; unknown subjects get a gray box | Boxes 1–4000 px, photos up to 2000 px; PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP, SVG, AVIF | Free, for mockups, prototypes, tests and demos. No key. |
| Pollinations | An AI image from your prompt, with a choice of dozens of models | Yes | Depends on the model | Pay-as-you-go credits with an API key. Without a key, an older endpoint gives 1 image every 45 seconds per IP, with a logo. |
Which one to use
- Wireframes, layout tests and ad slots: placehold.co or DummyImage. A box that shows its size and label is clearer than a picture, and loads instantly.
- Any good-looking photo, whatever it shows: Lorem Picsum. Real photography, instant, and no daily limit.
- Real photos of common subjects: via.placeholder.com's photo library. Check that it covers your subjects first.
- Images that match the content: placeholdr.dev. Product grids, team pages, menus, property listings and blog covers read like the finished site, and pages built by AI coding tools get an image for each section.
- A specific AI model, image editing or volume generation on a server: Pollinations, with an API key and credits.
What to know about placeholdr.dev
- The first request for a new URL returns a temporary SVG while the image is generated, usually for 5 to 30 seconds. Reload to see it. After that, the image loads from Cloudflare's CDN and never changes.
- Free use allows 30 new images a day per IP address, and 30 a day per live domain. Saved images load without limit. Pro gives 500 new images a day to your domains for $9 a month.
- There are no text labels or solid colors. For those, use placehold.co.
- Images are up to 2048 px per side, in JPEG. AI images can contain odd details, so review them before showing them to a client.
Services that stopped working
| Service | Status in October 2026 | Replacement URL |
|---|---|---|
| source.unsplash.com | Switched off by Unsplash in 2024; answers 503 | placeholdr.dev/800x600/coffee. See the Unsplash Source replacement. |
| placekitten.com | Down since 2024; answers 521 | placeholdr.dev/600x400/kitten |
| LoremFlickr | No images since Flickr blocked it on October 21, 2026 | placeholdr.dev/320x240/dog |
| PlaceIMG | Domain gone | placeholdr.dev/640x480/city%20street |
via.placeholder.com was down from early 2025 and came back on October 7, 2026, under a new owner.
Detailed comparisons
- placehold.co vs placeholdr.dev
- Lorem Picsum vs placeholdr.dev
- Pollinations vs placeholdr.dev
- Unsplash Source replacement
Try placeholdr.dev in the demo, or read the full API reference. Spotted something out of date? Write to hello@placeholdr.dev.