What is a frontend-first backend?

A frontend-first backend gives you production-grade data, auth, and automations without standing up servers. ReqRes lets you create projects with collections, app users, magic-link auth, and logs so your frontend can ship with real data and stay production-ready.

How do custom endpoints work?

Custom endpoints let you shape responses around your collections or specific UX flows. Define the path, method, and response data-ideal for staging environments, automation callbacks, and UI experiments. Higher limits are available on Premium.

What are the different API key types?

ReqRes offers three API key permission levels: read-only (GET only), read/write (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH), and manage (includes DELETE operations). Use admin keys for managing collections and automations; use session tokens for per-user data access.

What is the Data Explorer?

The Data Explorer is a web interface that lets you browse collections, inspect request logs, and debug user journeys. Filter and export your stored objects with richer observability on paid plans.

Can I use ReqRes for production?

Yes. Pro and Premium provide persistent collections, app users, automations, and observability suitable for production workloads. SLA and security reviews are available on Enterprise.

How does the Image to API feature work?

The Image to API feature uses AI to analyze UI screenshots and automatically generate working API endpoints. Upload a screenshot of your design (or a Figma frame), and we generate REST endpoints and schemas you can deploy. Available on all plans with different usage limits; deployment requires Pro or above.

Frontend-first backend

A real backend
you can call
directly.

Auth, data, and logs - ready for tests, demos, and frontend-led apps. Use it from Postman, Playwright, or fetch().

Start with the classic endpoints. Graduate to Projects for persistence, real auth, and logs.

Real scoped data. Not a mock.

Create a project Example app Docs

Cloudflare + Postgres CORS enabled Logs built in

Perfect for QA suites, classroom demos, and client-only MVPs. Free account - no card required.

Live preview

Healthy

Not a mock - real scoped data Ready

fetch() Collection Bearer <token>

Response preview

3 steps - client-only auth

1 Send magic link

Uses x-api-key (public key)

Before ReqRes

Stand up a backend repo
Implement auth
Write CRUD endpoints
Deploy + maintain forever

With ReqRes Projects

Create a project
Add a collection
Magic-link login → session token
Ship with fetch()

80% of backends are CRUD + auth. ReqRes gives you that 80% instantly.

Designed

Designed for modern frontend teams

Calm visuals that mirror how projects, speed, and flows feel in production.

Projects bundle everything

Collections, app users, logs, automations in one place.

Designed to move fast

Latency-friendly defaults for every request.

From UI to backend

Auth → session → records, end to end.

No servers. No databases. No DevOps. Just HTTP: fetch(), cURL, Postman.

Used by developers at companies like

Pillars

A real backend your frontend can own.

Projects, collections, app users, and logs live together so frontends stay production-ready without backend tickets.

Projects

Isolated environments with keys, limits, and observability.

project_id: "proj_12ab"

Collections

Schema-backed JSON with CRUD you call directly from the UI.

POST /app/collections/todos/records

App Users

Magic links issue session tokens scoped to each user.

Bearer <session_token>

Logs & automations

Every request is logged; triggers and webhooks fire on events.

record.created → webhook

Chapter 1

Projects bundle everything

One project holds collections, app users, and automations with clear prod/dev environments. Scoped keys; searchable logs.

Chapter 2

Collections are your JSON database

Define schemas, write with fetch(), and read per user or admin. Pagination and search are built in.

Chapter 3

App Users: real auth without backend

Magic links create app users; verification returns session tokens you use to scope data.

Chapter 4

Logs & automations: debug and react

Every request is logged. Fire webhooks on record events to keep QA and production in sync.

Project overview prod / dev

Collections

todos, orders, sessions

App users

magic links enabled

Logs

search & export

Automations

record.created webhooks

todos collection schema

{
  "title": "string",
  "completed": "boolean",
  "priority": "number",
  "app_user_id": "uuid (optional)"
}

GET /app/collections/todos/records?limit=10 200

Auth flow session token

POST /api/app-users/login
POST /api/app-users/verify
Authorization: Bearer <session_token>
GET /app/collections/todos/records

Automations record.created

record.created → webhook Active

record.updated → automation Queued

Flow

The project lifecycle

Six quick steps from zero to production-grade data and auth.

Create project

Namespace keys, collections, logs.

Add collection

Define your JSON data model.

Invite user

Magic link creates an app user.

Verify token

Mint a session token.

Read & write

Scoped CRUD via Bearer token.

Observe & react

Logs + webhooks on events.

Code realism

Works from any HTTP client

Use fetch(), cURL, Postman, or any HTTP client for apps, QA, or lessons.

Browser · Node · cURL · Postman · HTTPie · mobile · desktop

Flows

Switch between authentication, CRUD, and pagination.

Scope data with Authorization: Bearer <session_token>.

Example apps

See real apps built on ReqRes

Two real apps – magic-link auth + per-user CRUD – all from fetch().

Open example in your project → Enter the task register demo → Runs on a free ReqRes account.

Magic link login

Session token ready

Notes and Todos (per-user)

Use cases

Made for modern frontend teams

Client-only apps, QA suites, and demos stay production-ready with the same project.

Client-only SaaS

Client-only

Frontends call collections and auth directly; no servers to run.

Ship faster with scoped tokens.

QA & automation

Predictable data, logs, and webhooks for Playwright or Cypress.

Assert against real responses.

Demos & MVPs

Demo

Present working software with persistent data and logs.

Credibility without backend lift.

Education

Teach

Teach HTTP, auth, and pagination without local setup friction.

Why: focus on concepts, not tooling.

Foundations

Built on strong foundations

Edge delivery, persistence, and observability by default.

Cloudflare edge

Fast, global delivery
Managed TLS

Persistence

Postgres-backed data
Logs + retention

Security

HTTPS + CORS
Rate limits + status page

Pricing

Start free. Scale when you're ready.

Upgrade limits without rebuilding your projects.

Free Start a project with collections, app users, and logs.

Get Started free

Dev

$12

For freelancers

Higher rate limits
Log retention
Automations

Get Started (Dev)

Pro

Recommended

$29

For agencies

Multiple projects
More app users
Webhooks + logs

Upgrade to Pro

Team

$79

For teams

High volume
Seats + orgs
SLA options

Get Started (Team)

Enterprise?

Need custom limits, SSO, or data residency? Let's tailor a plan.

Email >

Supported by

PARTNERS

Appear inside real developer workflows

ReqRes serves billions of API requests every month. On Free plans, we may include a small “supported by” link inside a stable _meta block-never touching data. Paid plans never include sponsorship metadata.

Developer-first placement (docs-style JSON metadata)
Stable schema (no breaking changes; never touches data)
Ideal for devtools, infra, and education products

Sponsorship metadata is never returned on paid plans.

Served on infrastructure handling tens of billions of API requests per month.

Free tier stays free with tasteful sponsors

Partner with ReqRes View example response

Devtools, infra, education, OSS-friendly products. Include your product, target audience, and budget range.

{_meta} Example response shape (Free tier only)

{
  "_meta": {
    "sponsored": [
      {
        "label": "Supported by",
        "text": "Acme DevTools",
        "url": "https://acme.dev"
      }
    ]
  },
  "data": { ... }
}

LEGACY

Classic fake API playground (still supported)

Great for teaching, tutorials, and test suites. Projects are for persistence and real auth.

1 Add your key as x-api-key to see responses.

No card required Built for demos + tests

Example flow

Show full example requests

Request

Request path and headers.

Response

Live sample response

Blog

Latest from the team

Short notes on shipping real backends from the frontend - auth, data, logs.

View all posts → Get started →

Jan 22, 2026 • 1 min read

Free API for Testing: Real Examples You Can Use Today

If you're looking for a free API for testing, you usually want one thing: something you can hit immediately without setting up a backend, database, or authentication system. ReqRes provides a public REST API that deve...

testing qa api

Read post Get started

Jan 22, 2026 • 1 min read

Frontend-Only Auth Without Standing Up a Backend

Authentication is often the moment a frontend project stalls. OAuth providers, JWT handling, user tables, and email flows quickly turn a simple app into a backend project. But many teams don't actually need custom aut...

authentication frontend product

Read post Get started

Jan 22, 2026 • 1 min read

JSONPlaceholder Alternatives: When You Need More Than Fake Data

JSONPlaceholder is a fantastic tool for learning REST APIs. But many teams eventually hit its limits. Common pain points Common pain points include: Data resets between sessions No authentication flows No per user dat...

api frontend testing

Read post Get started

View all posts →

Want to try it now? Get started.

Start

Build your backend from the frontend.

Collections, app users, logs, and automations - ready for production teams.

Get Started Open example in your project Enter the task register

A real backend you can call directly.

Designed for modern frontend teams

Used by developers at companies like

A real backend your frontend can own.

Projects

Collections

App Users

Logs & automations

Projects bundle everything

Collections are your JSON database

App Users: real auth without backend

Logs & automations: debug and react

The project lifecycle

Create project

Add collection

Invite user

Verify token

Read & write

Observe & react

Works from any HTTP client

See real apps built on ReqRes

Made for modern frontend teams

Client-only SaaS

QA & automation

Demos & MVPs

Education

Built on strong foundations

Cloudflare edge

Persistence

Security

Start free. Scale when you're ready.

Appear inside real developer workflows

Classic fake API playground (still supported)

Latest from the team

Free API for Testing: Real Examples You Can Use Today

Frontend-Only Auth Without Standing Up a Backend

JSONPlaceholder Alternatives: When You Need More Than Fake Data

Build your backend from the frontend.

A real backend
you can call
directly.