Elon Musk’s X is reportedly introducing another fee for developers of third-party applications, as indicated by statements from affected businesses.
Since Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, significant alterations have been made to the platform’s API, which lets external developers integrate X into their applications. The most notable change is the introduction of exorbitant fees, with some developers facing charges of thousands of dollars per month for API access that was previously free.
Many app developers are now confronted with a staggering $42,000 monthly fee just to maintain integration with X’s API. As a result, several prominent companies have opted to remove X from their applications, while others reliant on X’s API have been forced to close down. However, some businesses continue to pay the $42,000 monthly fee to access the lowest tier of X’s Enterprise API plan.
New Fees Add Financial Pressure on Developers
In a recent update, developers who are already incurring costs of tens of thousands of dollars monthly to X are now being asked to pay an additional monthly fee of $1 for each account connecting to X’s API through their applications. This new fee adds to the existing burden of $42,000 or more that companies are already required to pay.
Social media management tool Publer was among the first to disclose these latest changes to X’s API pricing structure. The company’s founder revealed that starting November 1st, they would be required to pay an additional $1 for each connected X account on top of the API Enterprise fee.
The impact of these fees on third-party app creators is significant. Reports indicate that Publer initially generated between $125,000 and $140,000 monthly; thus, X’s fees currently consume over one-third of its revenue. If Publer charges users $10 per month, this suggests a customer base of around 14,000. With the new per-account fees, Publer could face an additional $14,000 charge each month, resulting in an annual increase of $168,000. This amount comes on top of the existing annual fee of $504,000 for API access.
In stark contrast to X’s pricing, other social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube provide API access at no cost, maintaining a more developer-friendly environment.
The Decline of X’s App Ecosystem
The decision to impose steep fees for API access has sparked controversy and contributed to the decline of X’s once-vibrant app ecosystem. Before Musk’s acquisition, Twitter boasted a plethora of innovative third-party applications that enriched user experience. Developers thrived by leveraging Twitter’s free API, encouraging user engagement and fostering a dynamic platform.
Since the takeover, however, a wave of app closures has ensued, leading to the demise of once-active forums where developers exchanged tips and strategies related to Twitter’s API. Those who can afford to continue face escalating costs, raising questions about the future of their applications under Musk’s fee structure.
