Twitter to charge $100 per month for basic tier access to API

Microblogging platform Twitter has introduced a new paid basic tier access to its application programming interface (API) for a monthly fee of $100. Along with this, Twitter has also extended the deadline for free API access to February 13, a week after it announced that users will be charged for Twitter APIs from February 9.

We have been busy with some updates to the Twitter API so you can continue to build and innovate with us.

We’re excited to announce an extension of the current free Twitter API access through February 13. Here’s what we’re shipping then

— Twitter Dev (@TwitterDev) February 8, 2023

Further, the company said that it will also be deprecating Premium APIs from February 13. Premium Twitter APIs offer scalable access to Twitter data and enterprise-quality features, against a month-to-month contract and scaled tiers of access. Users subscribed to Premium APIs will be required to upgrade to Enterprise APIs.

However, Twitter’s February 2 announcement of stopping free access to APIs was not received well by the users.

Your api didn't update for like 3 month since the takeover, you suspended legit 3rd party app and NOW we wont be able to use it for free?? Even Facebook and youtube api are free and they are updated

— ͏ (@Raph9213) February 2, 2023

Considering the API was being used for public safety, great job guys.

— Ed Oswald (@edoswald) February 2, 2023

In the past, Twitter API has been used to share information, build public interest research work, and develop non-serious side-projects. After receiving a strong reaction, Musk tweeted on February 5 that free access to Twitter API will be provided to ‘good bots’. However, neither Musk nor Twitter clarified what would be considered a good bot.

A group of 450 activists and organisations like Mozilla wrote an open letter to Twitter against charging fees for its API. The group argued that restricting free access to Twitter APIs will significantly impact public research work in critical fields like security, health, policy, and other fields.

Meanwhile, Twitter has launched the Twitter Blue subscription service in India, Indonesia, and Brazil. In India, the service is available for a monthly fee of ₹650 (₹7,800 per year billed monthly) for the web application and ₹900 for Android and iOS devices. Users may also opt for a discounted annual plan of ₹6,800.