Skip to content

ChatterAPI vs the official X API

The official X API is X's own product. It bills pay per use from prepaid credits, needs a developer account and an app, and comes with streaming, full archive search and its own MCP server. ChatterAPI is an independent API for X and Reddit with one key, no X developer app and a fixed number of credits per call. If you need the filtered stream, full archive search or account activity webhooks, use X's API.

What the official X API is

  • X bills pay per usage from credits bought in the Developer Console. There is no contract or minimum spend. source
  • As listed on Oct 17, 2026, reads cost $0.005 per post and $0.010 per user returned. Creating a post costs $0.015 per request. source
  • Pay per use is capped at 3 million post reads per billing cycle. Above that, X points to Enterprise. source
  • You need a developer account at console.x.com and an app, which issues the keys. X says credentials are only displayed once. source
  • Auth options are an app-only Bearer token for reads, OAuth 2.0 or OAuth 1.0a. source
  • Rate limits are usually per 15 minutes. Recent search allows 450 requests per 15 minutes per app. source
  • X runs a hosted MCP server that uses your own X app. source
  • The API includes a filtered stream and full archive search back to 2006. source

Choose the official X API when

  • You need the filtered stream, full archive search or account activity webhooks.
  • You want data straight from X under X's own developer agreement.
  • You read large volumes and plan for an Enterprise agreement.
  • You only need X and don't mind managing an app, keys and OAuth.

Choose ChatterAPI when

  • You need X and Reddit in one API with one key and one credit balance.
  • You don't want a developer account, an app or OAuth tokens.
  • You want to know the cost of a call before you make it: 3 credits per X read or page of about 20.
  • You want X actions from accounts you connect once in a dashboard.

Feature by feature

  • What it is
    the official X API
    X's own API for X data and actions (source)
    ChatterAPI
    A hosted API for Reddit and X data, plus free browser tools
  • Platforms
    the official X API
    X (source)
    ChatterAPI
    Reddit and X
  • How you call it
    the official X API
    REST (v2), with official SDKs (source)
    ChatterAPI
    REST at api.chatterapi.com/v1, or the hosted MCP server
  • Authentication
    the official X API
    App-only Bearer token, OAuth 2.0 or OAuth 1.0a, from your own app (source)
    ChatterAPI
    One Bearer API key for both platforms
  • MCP server for agents
    the official X API
    Yes, hosted by X, using your own X app (source)
    ChatterAPI
    Yes, hosted, on the same key and credit balance
  • Write actions
    the official X API
    Yes: posts, DMs and interactions, billed per request (source)
    ChatterAPI
    Reddit is read-only. On X: DMs, follows, likes and posts from accounts you connect in the dashboard
  • Rate limits
    the official X API
    Per 15 minutes per endpoint, e.g. 450 recent searches per app (source)
    ChatterAPI
    10, 25 or 50 requests per second, depending on the plan
  • Pricing model
    the official X API
    Pay per resource from prepaid credits, e.g. $0.005 per post read, as listed on Oct 17, 2026 (source)
    ChatterAPI
    Credits per call, from $19 a month for 25,000 credits. 100 free credits on signup
  • Setup needed
    the official X API
    A developer account, an app and its keys (source)
    ChatterAPI
    Sign in with Google and create a key. No Reddit or X developer account
  • Who it suits
    the official X API
    Teams building directly on X who want first-party data and streaming
    ChatterAPI
    Developers and AI agents that need X and Reddit through one key

Last checked . Sources: X API pricing, X API: getting access, X API rate limits, X MCP server docs, X API introduction.

The same search on ChatterAPI

A tweet search with X's search operators, called with one Bearer key. The response below is a real recorded call.

curl "https://api.chatterapi.com/v1/x/tweets/search?q=%22crm+recommendation%22" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CHATTERAPI_KEY"
response, first 2 rows
{
  "data": [
    {
      "id": "2099495333231288346",
      "text": "meta ads: how important is the “connect to your crm” recommendation?\n\nthis essentially will tell meta if the lead was good or bad (ie converted), any experience how how is actually helps?\n\nthis particular client doesn’t …",
      "url": "https://x.com/HesomParhizkar/status/2099495333231288346",
      "createdAt": "2026-09-14T13:47:48.000Z",
      "lang": "en",
      "likes": 2,
      "retweets": 0,
      "replies": 2,
      "quotes": 0,
      "views": 138,
      "bookmarks": 0,
      "isReply": false,
      "inReplyToId": null,
      "conversationId": "2099495333231288346",
      "isRetweet": false,
      "quotedTweetId": null,
      "author": {
        "id": "35363135",
        "handle": "HesomParhizkar",
        "name": "Hesom",
        "bio": "Startup Founder/Executive, investor, nba fan",
        "followers": 584,
        "following": 2010,
        "tweets": null,
        "verified": false,
        "blueVerified": true,
        "canDm": true,
        "protected": null,
        "location": "Marietta, GA",
        "url": null,
        "avatarUrl": "https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1871033188081942528/comvGkRg_normal.jpg",
        "createdAt": "2009-04-26T01:18:19.000Z"
      },
      "media": []
    },
    {
      "id": "2040879100261458222",
      "text": "Here's a live audit on what happens when buyers ask AI for a CRM recommendation. You can't miss it...",
      "url": "https://x.com/apoorvshrm/status/2040879100261458222",
      "createdAt": "2026-04-05T19:47:49.000Z",
      "lang": "en",
      "likes": 4,
      "retweets": 0,
      "replies": 1,
      "quotes": 0,
      "views": 145,
      "bookmarks": 0,
      "isReply": false,
      "inReplyToId": null,
      "conversationId": "2040879100261458222",
      "isRetweet": false,
      "quotedTweetId": "2040878095415304308",
      "author": {
        "id": "1459048370371137542",
        "handle": "apoorvshrm",
        "name": "Apoorv Sharma | SEO and GEO for B2B SaaS",
        "bio": "SEO + GEO for B2B SaaS. I help SaaS brands rank on Google and get recommended by Claude, Gemini, and Google AI.\nCo-Founder, DerivateX",
        "followers": 2316,
        "following": 519,
        "tweets": null,
        "verified": false,
        "blueVerified": true,
        "canDm": true,
        "protected": null,
        "location": "Bengaluru",
        "url": null,
        "avatarUrl": "https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/2069124654112149504/AWTErF4d_normal.jpg",
        "createdAt": "2021-11-12T06:40:23.000Z"
      },
      "media": []
    }
  ],
  "page": {
    "nextCursor": "AcWN…",
    "hasMore": true
  }
}

Recorded from a live call on . Long text is shortened and the cursor is cut. A live key is charged 3 credits for this call. A test key returns this same sample for 0 credits.

Questions

Is the X API free?
As listed on Oct 17, 2026, X bills pay per use from prepaid credits, and its pricing page shows no free tier. Check that page for current rates.
Do I need an X developer account for ChatterAPI?
No. You sign in with Google and create a ChatterAPI key. For X actions you connect your X account in the dashboard.
Is ChatterAPI part of X?
No. ChatterAPI is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by X Corp.
Does ChatterAPI have streaming?
No. There is no stream or webhook yet. You can poll search or mentions on a schedule.

Other comparisons

Try ChatterAPI with one key

Sign up and get 100 free credits. No card required.

Get API keyRead the docs