Reddit Seeks High Fees for API Access from App Developers
The tech industry is experiencing the influence of Twitter, as Reddit follows suit and plans to charge developers for API access, similar to Elon Musk’s company. Developers may be required to pay a significant sum of $20 million annually, according to API pricing details. Reddit has already notified developers that the charges will take effect on June 19.
The update did not sit well with developers, who understand that the platform’s growth is contingent upon their participation. The company shared the pricing for Reddit API with Christian Selig, an Apollo developer who relayed the information.
Just got off a call with Reddit about the API and new pricing. Bad news unless I come up with 20 million dollars (not joking). Appreciate boosts.https://t.co/FliuNCinpZ— Christian Selig (@ChristianSelig) May 31, 2023
Sharing details in this post, Selig claims that Reddit charges $12,000 (roughly Rs. 9.87 lakh) for 50 million requests. He noted that Apollo makes 7 billion apps at a cost of nearly $20 million to the developer each year.
Developers usually get an initial deal on subscription, and if they have to pay such a high fee just to get access to the APIs, it will be difficult for platforms like Reddit to get off the ground and get new developers to sign up with the company. Selig’s post was met with a lot of criticism on Reddit, with some arguing that Reddit should pay him instead for all the free work developers have done over the years.
Twitter went through a similar trick recently where companies and developers pay to use its APIs, and following Reddit, it’s setting a bad precedent that could mean more platforms start charging developers who use their APIs to run the service. .
