The problem
Every new front‑end project hits the same wall:
You need a place to drop files, but the back‑end isn’t ready.
You don’t want to force users through a sign‑up flow just to test an upload.
You spend 15‑20 minutes spinning up a temporary server (json‑server, Express, etc.), fiddling with CORS headers, status codes, and delays.
That “setup ritual” eats valuable dev time and introduces friction for anyone who just wants to try a quick upload or demo.
The solution – INeedStorages
INeedStorages removes all that boilerplate.
Zero sign‑up – just generate a 16‑character user ID and you’re ready.
Instant public API – paste a file (or JSON payload) and get a live endpoint in seconds.
Fully documented cURL, fetch, axios & Python snippets – copy‑and‑paste ready to run.
Built‑in authentication via x‑user‑id header – no passwords, no email, no credit‑card.
Free tier – 500 MB storage, files auto‑expire after 7 days.
Premium tiers – 50 GB for $6 / mo, 100 GB for $12 / mo, with 30‑day retention and unlimited storage for higher plans.
All of this lives behind a sleek dark‑mode UI and a clean API that developers love.
How it works
Generate a user ID – one‑click on the Overview page or via the API:
Access & manage – fetch a list of your files, delete or update metadata, all with the same x-user-id header.
Automatic expiry – free‑tier files vanish after 7 days, premium files stay for 30 days (or forever with unlimited plans).
Real‑world example
Need a /profile-pic endpoint for a demo UI, but the back‑end isn’t ready?
Testing error states & latency
The API lets you:
Set any HTTP status code (100‑599).
Simulate delay up to 10 seconds to test spinners or timeout handling.
Stack & Architecture
Interesting decisions
Password‑less identity **– a 16‑character UUID stored in localStorage. This removes signup friction and eliminates any personally‑identifiable data.
**Unified header for auth – the same header works for upload, list, delete, and download endpoints, simplifying client code.
Rate limiting – Cloudflare + express-rate-limit reads the real client IP (CF-Connecting-IP) to avoid Docker‑bridge mis‑reports.
Automatic expiry – a small background job checks expiresAt fields and purges files, keeping storage lean.
Roadmap (what’s coming next)
Try it now
👉 https://ineedstorages.com
No account, no credit‑card – just a quick click and you’re uploading.
Feedback wanted
Is the x-user-id header flow obvious the first time you use it?
Which premium tier size and price point best fits your workflow?
What extra API features (e.g., batch upload, versioning) would make INeedStorages a daily tool for you?
Drop a comment below or open an issue on the GitHub repo (linked from the Developers page). I’m happy to answer any questions about the stack, design decisions, or the roadmap.
Quick copy‑and‑paste snippets (for the page)
cURL (upload) – already available via the “Copy” button on the Developers page.
**
INeedStorages** = instant, password‑free file storage + a clean, developer‑friendly API. Free 500 MB tier, affordable premium plans, and no‑signup onboarding. Perfect for rapid prototyping, demos, or production‑grade uploads.
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