---
title: "BIN API Quickstart — First Request in 4 Steps"
description: "Get started with the BIN lookup API in minutes. Create an account, generate an API key, and make your first BIN lookup request with cURL in four steps."
section: "API"
url: "https://binlookupapi.com/docs/quickstart/"
markdown_url: "https://binlookupapi.com/docs/quickstart.md"
---
# BIN Lookup API Quickstart

Follow these steps to send your first BIN lookup.

## 1. Create an account and an organisation

You need a Google account or a Microsoft account. BINLookupAPI does not use a password.

1. Open [https://app.binlookupapi.com/sign-in](https://app.binlookupapi.com/sign-in).
2. Select Google or Microsoft.
3. Complete the sign-in steps of that provider.

On the first sign-in, the dashboard shows the Create Organisation form.

1. Enter the name of your organisation.
2. Select Create Organisation.

The new organisation starts on the free tier. The free tier includes 10 real lookups each day. You do not need a payment card.

If you have an invitation, accept it. You then join that organisation. You do not create a new one. See [Accept an invitation](/docs/support/team/#accept-an-invitation).

## 2. Create an API key

1. Open API Keys.
2. Enter a name for the key. Use 1 to 100 characters. Example: `Development`.
3. Select Create Key.
4. Copy the key and store it in a safe place.

CAUTION: The dashboard shows the full key one time only. You cannot see the full key again.

The key starts with `blapi_live_`. The dashboard then shows a curl command that contains the new key.

Only an owner or a developer can create keys. See [API keys](/docs/api-keys/).

## 3. Send the first request

The free tier returns real production data. The limit is 10 requests each day.

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.binlookupapi.com/v1/bin" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"number": 42467101}'
```

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with your key. A success response looks like this:

```json
{
  "mode": "live",
  "data": {
    "bin": "42467101",
    "scheme": "visa",
    "funding": "debit",
    "brand": "VISA",
    "category": "CLASSIC",
    "country": { "code": "PL", "name": "POLAND" },
    "issuer": { "name": "ING BANK SLASKI SA", "website": null, "phone": null },
    "currency": "PLN",
    "prepaid": false,
    "commercial": false
  }
}
```

Field definitions are in the [API reference](/docs/api-reference/#response-fields).

## 4. Confirm the request on the Usage page

1. Open Usage.
2. Find the request in the request history.

The history columns are time, BIN, API key, HTTP status, and response time. See the [dashboard page](/docs/support/dashboard/#usage-page).

## When you need more than 10 lookups

An owner or a billing manager can subscribe on the Billing page. The new daily limit is active immediately. See [Billing](/docs/subscriptions/).

## Language guides

| Language | Guide |
|----------|-------|
| curl | [curl guide](/docs/guides/curl/) |
| JavaScript | [JavaScript guide](/docs/guides/javascript/) |
| Python | [Python guide](/docs/guides/python/) |
| PHP | [PHP guide](/docs/guides/php/) |
| Java | [Java guide](/docs/guides/java/) |
| C# | [C# guide](/docs/guides/csharp/) |
| Go | [Go guide](/docs/guides/go/) |

## Related pages

- [API reference](/docs/api-reference/)
- [API keys](/docs/api-keys/)
- [Billing](/docs/subscriptions/)
- [Language guides](/docs/guides/)