Most social scheduling tools that expose a public API gate it behind a paid or enterprise tier, use a different auth model, and cover a different set of platforms. Here's what each of the better-known ones actually offers as of September 2026 — sourced from their own developer docs where available.
Developer API access, by vendor#
| Tool | API access | Auth | Gating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffer | Public REST/GraphQL API + MCP server | API key or OAuth | Available on every plan, including Free (Free: 1 key, 3,000 requests/30 days) |
| Hootsuite | Publish REST API ("Hootsuite Platform") | OAuth 2.0 only | App registration is free; the underlying Hootsuite plan for real production use is effectively Team/Enterprise |
| Ayrshare | API-first product (built for this, not bolted on) | Bearer API key, or JWT for multi-user apps | No free tier for API access — starts at $149/mo (Premium, 1 profile) |
| Postiz (open source) | Public REST API; self-hosted or hosted | API key header | Self-hosted: free, your own infra. Hosted: rate-limited to 30 req/hour on the free tier |
| Publer | REST JSON API | API key + workspace-id header | Business and Enterprise plans only — not available on lower tiers |
| SocialPilot | Developer API (developer.socialpilot.co) | OAuth 2.0 | Reported as custom-priced Enterprise-tier only (not independently confirmed on SocialPilot's own pricing page) |
| SkedCast | Versioned /v1 REST API + MCP server | API key or OAuth 2.1 | Included from the plan tier documented on Scopes and permissions |
What makes a best social media API pick, in practice#
Platform coverage, auth model (a plain API key is simpler to integrate than OAuth-only), whether API access requires an enterprise sales conversation or is self-serve, and whether the same account also gives you an AI-agent path (MCP) or you're building that integration yourself.
apicomparisondevelopers
FAQ
- Which social media scheduler has a free API tier?
- Buffer's API is available on its Free plan (1 API key, 3,000 requests per 30 days). Most others (Ayrshare, Publer, SocialPilot) require a paid or enterprise plan for API access.
- Does Hootsuite have a public API?
- Yes, a Publish REST API under its developer platform, OAuth 2.0-only. Registering a developer app is free, but using it against a production Hootsuite account in practice needs a Team or Enterprise plan.
- What are the best social media APIs for scheduling across platforms?
- The ones sourced on this page — Buffer, Hootsuite, Ayrshare, Postiz, Publer, SocialPilot, and SkedCast — since each has a real, checkable developer API; which is "best" for you comes down to auth model, platform coverage, and whether API access is gated behind an enterprise plan.