How to choose a social media API

Choosing a social media API is a decision you'll live with for years. Here's what to look for.

1. Platform coverage

The most basic question: which social networks are supported?

| Platform | pepe.business | Zernio | Ayrshare | Postiz | |---|---|---|---|---| | Twitter/X | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Instagram | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Facebook | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | LinkedIn | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | TikTok | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | YouTube | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | WhatsApp | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | | Discord | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | | Pinterest | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Reddit | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Bluesky | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | | Telegram | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |

2. Pricing model

This is where most platforms differ significantly.

Per account (pepe.business, Zernio): Pay for each connected social account. Best for teams with many accounts.

Per profile (Ayrshare): Pay for each workspace/client. Best for agencies.

Per channel (Buffer): Pay for each social channel. Simple but scales poorly.

Per user (Hootsuite): Pay for each team member. Worst for growing teams.

3. AI features

Does the platform generate content for you, or do you still write everything?

pepe.business: Full AI suite (Generate, Rewrite, Sentiment, Translation) + Auto-Pilot (generates from URL)

Ayrshare: Generate suite (text, alt-text, sentiment, translate)

Postiz: AI image + video generation

Buffer/Zernio: Basic or none

4. Developer experience

API design: REST? GraphQL? Webhooks?

SDKs: Official SDKs in your language?

Documentation: Comprehensive? Interactive?

MCP server: Can AI agents use it natively?

5. Self-hosting

Can you run it on your own infrastructure?

pepe.business: Yes (AGPL-3.0)

Postiz: Yes (open-source)

Others: No (SaaS only)

Conclusion

For most developers and teams, pepe.business offers the best balance: 15+ platforms, Auto-Pilot, AI suite, marketplace, self-hostable, and usage-based pricing starting at free.

Start free →

How to choose a social media API in 2026: A complete guide