# Free alternatives to the X (Twitter) API

Page: https://free-web-services.com/alternatives/x-twitter-api/

The X API, formerly the Twitter API, is paid per use: you buy credits before you can read or post. These social networks have open APIs that are free to use, and public posts can be read without a key.

| Service | Category | API key | Formats | Free use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Bluesky API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/communication/social-media/bluesky-api.md) | Social media | Not needed | JSON | Free, no key needed for public data. |
| [Mastodon API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/communication/social-media/mastodon-api.md) | Social media | Not needed | JSON | Free, no key needed for public data; posting needs an OAuth token from the server. |
| [Lemmy API](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/communication/social-media/lemmy-api.md) | Social media | Not needed | JSON, RSS | Free, no key needed for reading. |