
π How to get an OpenCorporates API key
OpenCorporates is the largest open database of companies (200M+ across 140+ jurisdictions). API access requires a key, and free access is reserved for public-benefit projects.
- Create an OpenCorporates account. Register at opencorporates.com with your email address.
- Request an API key. From your account, open the API section at api.opencorporates.com and request a key. You'll be asked what you're building.
- Apply for free public-benefit access (if eligible). Journalists, academics, NGOs and open-data projects can apply for free or discounted access. Commercial use requires a paid plan β contact their sales team for pricing.
- Authenticate your requests. Append api_token=YOUR_TOKEN to each request, e.g. https://api.opencorporates.com/v0.4/companies/search?q=apple&api_token=YOUR_TOKEN.
π Documentation & Examples
Everything you need to integrate with OpenCorporates
π Quick Start Examples
// OpenCorporates API Example
const response = await fetch('http://api.opencorporates.com/documentation/API-Reference', {
method: 'GET',
headers: {
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
});
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);Accessing comprehensive data on corporate entities and directors across multiple countries has never been easier with the OpenCorporates API. This powerful API allows users to retrieve detailed information about registered companies, including their directors, associated filings, and operational histories. Whether you're a developer building business intelligence tools, a compliance officer verifying corporate records, or a researcher analyzing market trends, this API provides a wealth of data in a structured format that's easy to integrate into your applications. Explore the documentation at OpenCorporates API Documentation to unlock the potential of corporate data for your projects.
Utilizing the OpenCorporates API offers numerous advantages that can enhance your data analytics and reporting capabilities. Key benefits include:
- Access to a vast database covering corporate entities from numerous jurisdictions.
- Comprehensive profiles, including directorships and corporate structures, empowering informed decision-making.
- Real-time updates to ensure data accuracy and relevance.
- Flexible search functionality that allows for targeted queries based on various criteria.
- Easy integration with web applications through standard API calls.
Hereβs a simple JavaScript code example for calling the OpenCorporates API to retrieve data about a specific company:
const fetch = require('node-fetch');
const apiKey = 'YOUR_API_KEY';
const companyName = 'example-corp';
const url = `https://api.opencorporates.com/v0.4/companies/search?q=${companyName}&api_token=${apiKey}`;
fetch(url)
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
console.log('Company Data:', data);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error('Error fetching data from OpenCorporates API:', error);
});
Make sure to replace 'YOUR_API_KEY' with your actual OpenCorporates API key before running the code. This example demonstrates how to initiate a search for a specific company and log the retrieved data to the console.
How to Get an OpenCorporates API Key
The OpenCorporates API requires an api_token on every request β there is no unauthenticated access.
- Go to the API account signup page.
- Choose your account type. Free API accounts are available if your project publishes the data under an open licence with share-alike attribution; commercial use needs a paid plan that removes the open-data restriction.
- Complete the self-serve signup β your API token is issued to your account immediately.
- Copy the token from your API account dashboard.
Free accounts are rate-limited to roughly 50 requests/day and 200 requests/month; higher limits depend on your plan. Check current tiers on the API accounts page.
Pass the token as the api_token query parameter:
https://api.opencorporates.com/v0.4/companies/search?q=acme&api_token=YOUR_API_TOKEN
Keep your token private β anyone with it can consume your quota.
Security Assessment
β Frequently Asked Questions
Is the OpenCorporates API free?
Partially. Unauthenticated/low-volume exploration is very limited. Free API keys are granted to public-benefit users (journalists, researchers, NGOs) on application. Commercial use requires a paid licence.
What data does the OpenCorporates API return?
Legal-entity records for 200M+ companies across 140+ jurisdictions: registered name and number, status, incorporation date, registered address, officers and directors, and filings where available.
What are OpenCorporates API alternatives for company data?
Depending on jurisdiction: Companies House API (UK, free), SEC EDGAR (US filings, free), GLEIF LEI API (free), or commercial providers. See the alternatives link on this page for more.









