X Squeezes Developers with New API Fees on Top of $42K/Month

Since acquiring Twitter, Elon Musk has made significant changes to the platform's API, which allows third-party developers to integrate X into their apps. The most notable change was the introduction of substantial fees for API access, which was previously free for most developers.

Under Musk's leadership, many app developers found themselves facing a staggering $42,000 per month fee to continue using X's API. This change led to some companies, like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, removing X integration from their apps, while others had no choice but to pay the exorbitant monthly fee.

 

Additional Per-Account Fees Introduced

Now, it appears that X is implementing yet another fee for third-party apps. According to Publer, a social media management app, companies that are already paying tens of thousands of dollars per month for API access will be charged an additional $1 per month for each account connecting to X's API through their app.

This new monthly fee is in addition to the $42,000+ per month that companies are already paying for the lowest-priced tier of X's Enterprise API plan. Publer's founder and CEO, Ervin Kalemi, announced that due to these additional costs, they can no longer support X for free users.

 

The Impact on Third-Party Developers

To put these fees into perspective, consider a social media management company like Publer, which reportedly had a monthly revenue between $125,000 and $140,000 at the beginning of the year. With the $42,000 per month API cost, X already takes more than one-third of Publer's revenue.

If Publer has 14,000 paying customers, and each user connects just one X account, the new per-account fees could cost Publer an extra $14,000 per month or $168,000 per year. This is on top of the $504,000 per year the company already pays X for the lowest tier of API access.

 

The Decline of X's App Ecosystem

Before Musk's acquisition, Twitter was known for its thriving third-party app ecosystem. Developers created apps that provided users with additional functionality, encouraging content creation, engagement, and overall platform usage. However, since the introduction of API fees, many of these apps have shut down, and the once-active developer community has become a ghost town.

As X continues to squeeze developers for more money, it remains to be seen how many will continue to put up with these increasing costs. In contrast, other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube provide API access at no cost to developers.

 

Boost Your X Presence with TopTierSMM

Despite the challenges faced by third-party developers, businesses and individuals can still establish a strong presence on X by leveraging the services of a reliable SMM panel. TopTierSMM offers a wide range of services, including likes, follows, and comments, to help users effectively promote their content and grow their audience on X and other social media platforms.

By utilizing an SMM panel like TopTierSMM, users can maximize their reach and engagement on X, ensuring their content stands out in an increasingly competitive landscape. Whether you're a business owner, influencer, or content creator, TopTierSMM has the tools and expertise to help you achieve your social media goals on X and beyond.