Twitter plans to end free access to its API starting February 9, shuttering support for both v1.1 and v2, and will launch a “paid basic tier” instead

Twitter will discontinue offering free access to the Twitter API starting February 9 and will launch a paid version …

TechCrunch 2023-02-02

Context & Ripple Effects

Twitter's planned cutoff turns API access from a broadly available developer tool into a paid product. The move follows its earlier premium API offering for higher-volume search and analytics, but extends monetization to the access developers had used at no charge.

Related coverage shows the initial deadline was softened by a proposed free write-only API for useful bots and then formalized into limited free, Basic, and Enterprise access tiers. That progression makes the announcement the opening step in a sharper segmentation of Twitter's developer ecosystem.

First-order effects

Developers using v1.1 or v2 must migrate to the paid basic tier or lose API-dependent products when the free tier is withdrawn.
Useful automated accounts identified in related coverage, including quote, alert, and weather bots, face an immediate operating-cost hurdle rather than continued free access.

Second-order effects

Twitter can sort developers by willingness to pay and usage level; the later Free, Basic, and Enterprise tier structure makes rate limits and product scope part of its commercial leverage.
Bot operators and third-party tools must either absorb recurring API costs, narrow their activity to any limited free allowance, or discontinue services, reducing the range of independently maintained Twitter utilities.

Third-order effects

If access pricing remains the governing model, Twitter's developer ecosystem shifts from open experimentation toward a smaller set of paid, higher-value integrations controlled through tiering and limits.
The episode reinforces an industry pattern in which platforms treat APIs less as universal developer infrastructure and more as a monetized gatekeeper for data and distribution.

The trend: Social platforms are recasting API access from a free ecosystem-building tool into a tiered commercial control point for developers and automated services.

Discussion

@twitterdev @twitterdev on x
Starting February 9, we will no longer support free access to the Twitter API, both v2 and v1.1. A paid basic tier will be available instead 🧵
@twitterdev @twitterdev on x
Twitter data are among the world's most powerful data sets. We're committed to enabling fast & comprehensive access so you can continue to build with us. We'll be back with more details on what you can expect next week.
@connollyebooks James Connolly on x
Due to this decision, as this account operates on Cheap Bots Done Quick, it is likely this account will cease functioning on February 9th. The tweets posted will remain up as an archive, and the account will continue posting for as long as it is able to. https://twitter.com/...
@renfamous @renfamous on x
“We're having a problem generating ad revenue, but what if we were to kneecap all the third party applications keeping people on Twitter? Advertisers love that, right?” https://twitter.com/...
@godlessbot @godlessbot on x
hello dearest readers. apologies, but i do not plan on paying twitter for any of their services upon the new update this coming february 9th. this bot will continue to stay up after the fact, of course, but i'm afraid this may be where we have to say goodbye ): https://twitter.co…
@aliceavizandum Donna Respirator on x
100% this is because Elon doesn't know the difference between the kind of Twitter bot that spams replies and the kind that posts a picture of a cute seal every hour https://twitter.com/...
@migueldeicaza Miguel de Icaza on x
Public service announcement: You have until February 9th to run the free programs to transport your social graph to Mastodon and help others follow you there. Update your bio with your mastodon account, and then access https://www.movetodon.org/ https://twitter.com/...
@helenkennedy @helenkennedy on x
When he said he was getting rid of the bots, it turns out he meant the useful and fun ones. No more thread unroll. No more hourly wombats or daily Sondheim lyrics. No more make it a quote or colorize this. New Twitter: now with fewer tools and whimsy but more neo-Nazis. https://t…
@_restaurant_bot @_restaurant_bot on x
rip https://twitter.com/...
@solomonmg Sol Messing on x
This will do serious harm to the research community, particularly if academic access is also restricted https://twitter.com/...
@kimzetter Kim Zetter on x
Wondering if there is anyone else who charges developers for this access and/or if this is going to start a trend or if Twitter will be alone in this https://twitter.com/...
@craigsilverman Craig Silverman on x
End of an era, truly. Really hope the new paid tier is reasonably priced. https://twitter.com/...
@luca Luca Hammer on x
Next week, there won't be a free Twitter API anymore. As a result, I will stop any work on non-commercial projects that use the API and will have to re-evaluate which commercial projects are still feasible. This change will destroy research, activism and commercial projects. http…
@enichan @enichan on x
so uh, you have ONE WEEK to set up your Mаstօԁοո account in a way where you can reconnect with people you knew on twitter, because i'm pretty sure this will kill services like movetodon, fedifinder, and debirdify which let you find your friends from twitter on Mаstօԁοո https://tw…
@ow Owen Williams on x
“we cut everyone off with no notice but now we would like you to pay us instead” 😂 https://twitter.com/...
@twitterdev @twitterdev on x
Over the years, hundreds of millions of people have sent over a trillion Tweets, with billions more every week.
@tante @tante on x
They are really trying to bury this platform. https://twitter.com/...
@geoffwithasword @geoffwithasword on x
api bots provide some of the most easily accessible public information on the internet so it makes sense that elon musk's “global public square” is obstructing and disincentivizing their creation and maintenance https://twitter.com/...
@jamesrbuk James Ball on x
The two tweets after this in the thread are total non-sequiturs. But this is quite a major shift with a very short notice period. https://twitter.com/...
@martinsfp @martinsfp on x
Wow. Sad, shortsighted end of an era. RIP free access to the Twitter APIs. https://techcrunch.com/...
@namgoreng Namie on x
just a heads up to bind your game accounts/ socials to stuff other than twitter asap https://twitter.com/...
@splatoon3ink @splatoon3ink on x
This is incredibly sad news for Twitter and its users. This change will kill thousands of bots that people enjoy and engage with every single day. I haven't made a final decision, but I have no desire to pay money so I can continue adding value to this platform. https://twitter.c…
@jeffseibert Jeff Seibert on x
Ahh yes, just the news you would normally announce at 10pm at night, with a week's notice, without details, after summarily shutting off API access to well-known developers a few weeks before. The desperation is palpable. https://twitter.com/...
@phineyes Phineas on x
@TwitterDev charging developers for creating features for your own product? lol you should be paying them
@dimensionmedia David Bisset on x
On the plus side, Twitter is at least telling people in advance by a few days vaguely before they make bad decisions like this. That's an improvement! Mastodon is already what early Twitter was, and that's where all the fun bots are appearing. Guessing that trend will continue. h…
@tabitasurge Tabitha McIntosh on x
No more automated feeds? No daily gothic or Victorian queerbot or Shirley Jackson or English country garden or or or? Ugh https://twitter.com/...
@fart @fart on x
this is going to break so many things that people rely on twitter for lol. a completely unforced error, i love it https://twitter.com/...
@chetfaliszek Chet Faliszek on x
Musk and his advisors like @jason continue to not understand how to capture the value created by the platform This is like charging modders to make mods for your game or paying to software unlock batteries already in your car.... oh wait, idiots Tesla owners did that last one. ht…
@frankdegods Frank III on x
Hot Take: I'm happy Twitter API is going to be paid. The current API is so limited at least they'll be incentivized to make it better. https://twitter.com/...
@acecourtbot2 @acecourtbot2 on x
I'm still considering making a Patreon and if there are backers then go ahead and pay for the Twitter API, but I won't pay it out of my pocket because 1. Paying hosting is logical, I'm spending their machine times and power. Paying for API is stupid, I'm making Twitter content
@mild_sunrise Alba on x
after inadvertently stripping 3rd party clients from the API, Twitter is discontinuing it entirely (replacing it with a paid version) on Feb 9 https://techcrunch.com/...
@thekenyeung Ken Yeung on x
Welp now to see how many app developers will pay for access...if the bridge wasn't burned before, it's definitely been disintegrated. https://techcrunch.com/...
@stampsbot @stampsbot on x
RIP this bot had a good run. Suck my dick @elonmusk https://twitter.com/...
@marshallk Marshall Kirkpatrick on x
If there are people who hoped the free tier of the Twitter API would be used to change the world as much as I hoped for that, we should meet up and figure out Plan B together https://www.techmeme.com/...
@tier10k @tier10k on x
Twitter enterprise API: $1m/yr+, idk what new basic tier limits/price will be Elon in his bag rn fr https://twitter.com/...
@wabetainfo @wabetainfo on x
@TwitterDev I've read all other replies to this tweet. You should at least consider offering: 1. a very limited free basic plan. 2. a discount for students. 3. a discount for those already paying a subscription for Twitter Blue. 4. more time to prepare for this change. cc @elonmu…
@chrisapplegate Chris Applegate on x
A surprising number of good things on Twitter run on automation via the API and this is going to kill off a lot of reasons why people come here. Idiocy https://twitter.com/...
@ninstatusbot @ninstatusbot on x
[Note] We regret to inform you that due to upcoming Twitter API changes, we may no longer post to this account in the near future. We will make a Mastodon account for those who are on the Fediverse. We are also working on a website that will list the latest maintenance info. http…
@pixeldesu Andy on x
In any case: If you have a website or app that uses “Sign in with Twitter” check if you can get an alternate login method ASAP things will break https://twitter.com/...
@ivanontech @ivanontech on x
.@elonmusk will be trillionaire if all bots start buying the API access 😂 scammers definitely have budget https://twitter.com/...
@kisu_morrow @kisu_morrow on x
Man really just ignored this and kept making worse decisions as payback https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@theessem @theessem on x
okay yeah the API changes are the final nail in the coffin way to screw over all the devs, enthusiasts, and students who use twitter and practically provide free content
@psmith Patrick Smith on x
I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of [Twitter bots] suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. https://twitter.com/...
@tree_of_alpha @tree_of_alpha on x
Lmfao Elon even charging people to use the API now? Incredible job. https://twitter.com/...

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