Twitter says low-level use of its API will cost $100 per month. The announcement comes after it blocked the use of apps like Tweetbot and Twitterrific.
- Twitter has announced a $100 monthly charge for low-level use of its API.
- Last week, Twitter's CEO Elon Musk proposed a charge but did not specify the level of usage.
Twitter has announced a $100 monthly subscription charge for "low-level" use of its application program interface (API).
Last week, Twitter's CEO Elon Musk floated the $100 monthly charge for API access, saying the interface was being "abused badly" by "bot scammers & opinion manipulators." At the time, he didn't specify what level of access the subscription would allow.
The company said last week it would prevent free access to the API and planned to start charging from February 9. That deadline has been extended to February 13.
Popular third-party services, including Tweetbot and Twitterrific, relied on the use of Twitter's API. Some of these services were forced to shut down after Twitter blocked access in mid-January.
Some Tweetbot and Twitterrific users told Insider's Kate Duffy they were considering leaving Twitter after their access to third-party apps was revoked.
Responding to feedback from users, Elon Musk said the company would provide a free "write-only" API for bots posting "good," free content.
Since taking over the company in October, Musk has been on a mission to cut Twitter's operating costs and boosts its revenue. He previously said the company was losing $4 million a day.
Twitter didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside normal working hours.