Starting February 9, 2023, Accessing Twitter’s Access To Its API Will No Longer Be Free

Beginning February 9, 2023, Twitter will no longer support free access to its API, and will launch a paid basic tier for developers.

Twitter will charge developers to access its API starting February 9th

Beginning February 9, 2023, Twitter will no longer support free access to its API, or “application programming interface” frameworks, including versions 1.1 and 2. API is a multi-use resource. It allows searches for data stored in digital format, most commonly used in marketing and research. It provides automated accounts that tweet out random information on a thread based upon readers content, which makes navigating sites easier.

Twitter, via its Twitter Dev account, shared that data shared via Twitter is “among the world’s most powerful data sets” and continues to be committed to “enabl[e] fast & comprehensive access so you can continue to build with us.” Some believe that Twitter is afraid that many developers using its API freely will allow them to duplicate Twitter’s core services like tweets, direct messages, lists, etc.

The move doesn’t come as a surprise. In January 2023, Twitter stopped allowing certain third-party apps access to its API, stating that they were going to start enforcing its “long standing API rules” and in doing so, some of the apps “may not work.” Some small, third-party apps continued working, but bigger ones, like Twitterrific and Tweetbot, were shut down due to alleged API violations.  Shortly after the developers were cut off, Twitter quietly updated its developer agreement to include language that bans using or accessing Twitter API, Twitter Content and Twitter Marks for the purpose of creating services similar to Twitter Applications. Both API clients acknowledged they do not know what API rules they violated but have since said they would be willing to comply in the future if Twitter would provide them information on the rules.

Charging for API use comes as a result of the many changes Twitter has undergone since Elon Musk bought the company. When he purchased Twitter, he borrowed $13 billion dollars towards the $44 billion purchase price in hopes of selling that debt to investors. That fell through and Twitter now has to pay 1.5 billion every year in interest. Since then, Twitter has been trying to figure out ways to make more money. First, Twitter starting charging for “Twitter Blue,” which gives you that little blue checkmark beside your account and is a monthly subscription offering exclusive access to customized apps and select features at the cost of $8-11 per month. Although Twitter hasn’t said how much it would charge developers to use its API, it has said that they will launch a paid basic tier and more information will be forthcoming.