About OpenColors, the Global Color Registry

We're building the world's largest open database of named colors with a free, fast API that plugs into any product.

Computers can display 16.7 million colors, yet only about 30,000 have official names — 0.18% of the spectrum. OpenColors lets anyone name an unnamed hex for $1. The name is permanent and served through a free API.

The $1 fee covers database hosting, Stripe processing, API bandwidth, and maintenance. There are no ads and no subscriptions. Read operations stay free.

OpenColors is independent, made in Canada by Roy McLaughlin, and is not affiliated with Pantone, RAL, or any other color system.

Spectrum
16.7 million RGB colors
Naming price
$1 USD, permanent
API
Free reads, MCP for AI agents
Affiliation
Independent — not Pantone or RAL

Frequently asked questions

Can I really name ANY color?

Yes, as long as it hasn't been named already. There are 16.7 million distinct RGB colors. Once a specific hex code is named, it is locked forever.

Is this official?

OpenColors is the largest open public registry for color names on the web. Our goal is to become the de-facto standard used by designers and developers worldwide via our open API.

What do I get for $1?

You get a permanent entry in the global registry, a digital certificate of ownership, and your chosen name will be served via our API to any application that uses OpenColors data.

Can I change the name later?

No. To ensure the integrity of the database for developers and designers who rely on it, names are permanent once registered.

Is the API really free?

Yes! The API is 100% free for read operations. Developers can search for colors, look up hex codes, and integrate our data into their apps without paying a cent.

Who owns OpenColors?

OpenColors is an independent project built to serve the creative community. We are not affiliated with Pantone, RAL, or any other color system. It is made in Canada by Roy McLaughlin.

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About OpenColors.org

The Global Color Registry

We're building the world's largest open database of named colors with a free, fast API that plugs into any product.

Name a ColorView API DocsPartner Program
16.7M
Total Colors
...
Named So Far
Global
Registry
Free
API Access

Why We Exist

Every Color Deserves a Name

Computers can display 16.7 million colors, yet only ~30,000 have official names. That's just 0.18% of the spectrum! The rest exist as cold hexadecimal codes, unloved and unnamed.

→ We're fixing that, one color at a time.

Built for the Creative Community

Designers, artists, and developers worldwide reference colors by name every single day. A named color is memorable, shareable, and human. It tells a story. #8B4789? That's just data. "Twilight Plum"? That's poetry.

→ Names make colors unforgettable.

A Free, Open API for Everyone

OpenColors.org provides a fast, free API for developers to integrate into apps, websites, and design tools. Search by name, discover by hex, build color pickers, or create the next great design tool.

→ Because color data should be accessible.

Your Color, Locked Forever

Once you name a color, it's yours permanently. No subscriptions. No renewals. No takebacks. Your contribution becomes part of design history, used by creators around the world for generations to come.

→ True digital permanence.

Problems We Solve

🧠
Colors are hard to remember
Human-readable names stick in your brain
✨
Hex codes are meaningless
Names carry emotion, context, and story
🌐
No central color registry
One global, searchable database
🎁
Difficult to share color ideas
Gift a named color with a certificate

Free API for Developers

Our API is 100% free for developers, designers, and hobbyists. Search colors by name, discover by hex, build color pickers, or ship color-aware UIs in minutes. Now supporting MCP for AI agents.

99.9% uptimeNo API keys for readJSON & CSVGlobal CDN
curl https://opencolors.org/api/v1/color/FF0055
Copy & run instantly.

Integrate our growing database into your projects. As the registry grows, so does your app's color vocabulary.

View API DocumentationPartner Program

Why $1 Per Color?

We believe in radical transparency. Here's exactly where your dollar goes:

Database hosting & reliability

PostgreSQL on Vercel, guaranteed uptime

Payment processing fees

Stripe charges ~3% per transaction

API infrastructure & bandwidth

Free tier for everyone, scaling costs

Domain, SSL, maintenance

Keeping the lights on

$1 per color keeps the registry running and accessible for everyone.

No ads. No data mining. No corporate overlords. Just colors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, as long as it hasn't been named already. There are 16.7 million distinct RGB colors. Once a specific hex code is named, it is locked forever.

OpenColors is the largest open public registry for color names on the web. Our goal is to become the de-facto standard used by designers and developers worldwide via our open API.

You get a permanent entry in the global registry, a digital certificate of ownership, and your chosen name will be served via our API to any application that uses OpenColors data.

No. To ensure the integrity of the database for developers and designers who rely on it, names are permanent once registered.

Yes! The API is 100% free for read operations. Developers can search for colors, look up hex codes, and integrate our data into their apps without paying a cent.

OpenColors is an independent project built to serve the creative community. We are not affiliated with Pantone, RAL, or any other color system.

Join the Movement

When you name a color, you're not just claiming a hex code—you're contributing to a shared creative resource that will outlive all of us. Designers, artists, and developers around the world will use your color name. Your contribution becomes part of the fabric of digital creativity.

Be a part of design history. Name your color today.

Ready to make your mark?

Start Naming Colors

Loading...Just named: "Digital Moss"

🇨🇦 Made in Canada, by Roy McLaughlin