Key facts
- Google has discontinued the Tenor GIF API as of June 30, 2026.
- The Tenor API previously provided searchable GIFs to platforms like X and Discord.
- Tenor continues to serve GIFs within Google's own applications.
- Platforms like X, Discord, WhatsApp, and Bluesky are migrating to alternative GIF services.
- Klipy is emerging as a primary alternative, with its founder also being Tenor's original founder.
- Google invested in Klipy, the startup behind one of the main Tenor alternatives.
Google has officially shut down the Tenor GIF API, a service that provided searchable animated GIFs to numerous platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and Discord. The API's sunsetting, effective June 30, 2026, means these platforms must now seek alternative solutions for GIF integration.
Tenor, acquired by Google in 2018, will continue to function within Google's own products like Gboard and Google Messages. However, its external API access has been terminated as part of Google's effort to focus resources on core products, likely driven by a lack of monetization potential for the free API.
Platforms that relied on Tenor have been actively transitioning to alternatives. X confirmed its migration away from Tenor, while Discord has been testing and appears to be largely adopting Klipy. WhatsApp and Bluesky are also reportedly moving towards Klipy integration. Users of these services may notice a different selection of GIFs available.
Interestingly, Klipy, a startup that has raised $3.8 million in funding with investment from Google, is co-founded by Frank Nawabi, who originally founded Tenor before its acquisition by Google. This development signals a shift in the GIF service landscape for major social and communication platforms.