18F vs LinkPreview
If you need a Open Data API that's easy to integrate, go with LinkPreview.
LinkPreview
Get JSON formatted summary with title, description and preview image for any requested URL
18F
- No authentication required
- No HTTPS support
- Currently flagged as inactive
LinkPreview
- Simple API key authentication
- HTTPS supported
- CORS enabled for frontend use
| Feature | 18F | LinkPreview |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | None | apiKey |
| HTTPS | No | Yes |
| CORS | Unknown | Yes |
When to use which?
18F is the better choice for quick prototypes and hackathons since it requires no authentication. LinkPreview works directly from the browser with CORS enabled, making it better for frontend-only apps. LinkPreview supports HTTPS, which is required for production deployments and secure data handling.