Does Twitter (X) have an API?
Yes. X (formerly Twitter) offers official developer APIs with paid tiers, app review, and scopes for posting, elevated reads, and compliance products. Public-data APIs return public profiles, posts, replies, communities, and search without an X developer app or elevated access.
Official X / Twitter APIs
X's developer platform is the right path when you need write access, elevated historical data, or products tied to X's own contracts and compliance tooling.
Pricing and packaging change often enough that teams treat access as a procurement problem, not an engineering one. Many products only need a public profile card, recent posts, or keyword search. Official tiers are heavy for that job.
Public-data X APIs
Social Fetch exposes X under /v1/twitter/... in the same 17-platform catalog (137 marketplace operations). Start with GET /v1/twitter/profiles/{handle}; add post, reply, community, and search routes as needed.
One API key, credit metering, and the shared { data, meta } envelope next to TikTok and Instagram. No X developer app required for those public lookups.
Why X API pricing pushes teams elsewhere
The X-specific quirk is that official tier cost and access rules shift faster than most product roadmaps. If your only requirement is public enrichment (bio, follower count, a status permalink, or keyword search), paying for elevated X access is optional. On Social Fetch, search and list routes may cost more than a single profile GET; read each operation page and reconcile against meta.creditsCharged.
Try a handle on /tools/twitter-profile-viewer before you wire a monitor. Need posting, elevated access, or X compliance products? Use X's official API. Need public enrichment without rebuilding auth wrappers? Use a public-data API such as Social Fetch.
FAQ
Does X have an API?
Yes. Same platform, rebranded. Official X developer APIs and third-party public-data APIs both exist. This page covers both.
Is Social Fetch the same as the X API?
No. Social Fetch is a third-party public-data API. Official X APIs are X's products with their own tiers and contracts.
Where do I try X without writing code?
Use /tools/twitter-profile-viewer, then /platforms/twitter and /docs/api for production routes.
Do X lookups cost credits on Social Fetch?
Yes on metered routes. Search and list routes may cost more than a single profile GET. Check each operation page and meta.creditsCharged.