In a bid to rebuild trust with the app-building community, X has opened the beta phase of its pay-per-use API model to a wider pool of developers two years after restructuring its developer programme.
Selected developers will receive a $500 voucher to build with the X API and gain early access to a revamped Developer Console, which aims for a more flexible and transparent experience. “We are expanding a closed beta to both new & power users who want to ship amazing apps on X,” the platform’s developer account posted.
The new model breaks away from X’s previous flat-rate structure by introducing granular pricing for various request types, including reading posts, sending direct messages, accessing trends, and pulling bookmarks.
A built-in calculator now allows developers to estimate costs based on projected usage, a move the company says will help teams manage their spending with greater precision.
Unlike the old tiered system, which offered Basic ($200 per month), Pro ($5,000 per month), and Enterprise ($42,000 per month) plans, the pay-per-use framework is designed for a wider spectrum of developers, from startups to large-scale enterprises.
Many in the community had previously criticised the old model for being unaffordable and inflexible, particularly after X ended free API access in 2023.
That decision led to the shutdown of several popular third-party apps such as Tweetbot and Twitterrific, further affecting relations between X and its developer base. In a bid to ease some of that tension, the company later introduced top-up packs for developers who exceeded their usage limits.
Now, with this usage-based system, X appears keen to reposition itself as a platform that supports innovation rather than restricts it. Developers selected for the beta will be among the first to test the updated tools and pricing structure before a wider rollout.
Analysts say the pay-per-use API beta could help revive developer engagement on the platform, allowing X to compete more effectively with companies like Reddit, Discord, and Mastodon, all of which offer comparatively accessible API frameworks.
