APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) allow you to connect Social Media Management (SMM) with other tools and systems. You can use APIs to automate tasks such as exporting data, managing channels, or retrieving performance metrics without logging into the platform.

In this article, you’ll find answers to common questions about SMM APIs, including how they work, how to access them, and what limitations apply.

Note: Please be aware that we do not provide technical support for setting up APIs or integrating our data into third‑party tools or systems. You will need an in-house developer or technical resource in your organization to review our API documentation and set up and maintain the integration within your own systems.

General API FAQs

What is an API?

An API (Application Programming Interface) allows different systems to share data with each other automatically.

You can use Brandwatch APIs to:

Export data from Social Media Management
Connect the platform to other tools or workflows
Automate repetitive tasks using code

Instead of manually working in the platform, APIs allow you to perform these actions more quickly and at a larger scale using code.

What APIs don't do:

APIs are not tools with a visual interface.

Unlike the SMM platform:

APIs do not include dashboards or reports
APIs cannot be used without setup
APIs require developer knowledge to build and maintain

What does REST API mean?

Brandwatch APIs use a REST API (Representational State Transfer), which is a standard way systems communicate over the web.

The REST API offers flexibility, including:

Common API web requests (such as GET and POST)
They can be used with most programming languages
They can connect to many third‑party tools

SMM API FAQs

Can Brandwatch build an API integration for my organization?

Brandwatch does not currently offer services to build API integrations for your organization.

To use APIs successfully, you should:

Have access to a developer or technical team
Plan for ongoing maintenance of your integration

Is the data from APIs different from the data in the platform?

The data provided through Social Media Management APIs is the same as the data available in the platform.

APIs retrieve data directly from the platform’s database, so there is no difference in data quality or coverage.

Note: Please be aware that due to API limitations and many factors, there may always be data discrepancies when comparing what displays on the native networks to what displays in the platform or our APIs.

What is an API key?

An API key is a unique identifier that allows your application to access the API.

When you use an API key:

The system can identify who is making requests
Access can be controlled and secured

Warning: Always keep your API key private. If it is shared, others could use it to access your data.

How can I access Social Media Management APIs and create API keys?

To access Social Media Management APIs:

API access must be enabled by your Customer Success Manager (CSM) or Account Manager (AM)
Once enabled, you can create up to five API keys in Settings > Integrations & APIs

Note: The Benchmark API requires additional enablement. Contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) or Account Manager (AM) if you want access.

Why do I have multiple API keys?

Each API key is typically used for a different use case. For example, one API key could be used to publish content while another API key could be used for benchmarking, etc.

If you have five API keys:

You can connect up to five separate applications

Using multiple keys helps you:

Separate different integrations
Manage access more securely
Monitor usage more easily

Can I get more API keys or increase rate limits?

It is not currently possible to increase the number of API keys or rate limits by default.

If you need changes, contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) or Account Manager (AM) and they can advise on available options.

Is my API connection secure?

Brandwatch follows strict security and privacy practices to protect your data.

To keep your API connection secure:

Do not share your API key outside your team
Store your API key safely
Rotate your API keys if needed

Are there limits on API calls?

API usage is limited to ensure fair use and platform stability.

Each API key includes:

Up to 43,200 API calls per month

With five API keys, you can make up to:

216,000 API calls per month

What happens if I reach my API call limit?

If you reach your monthly API call limit:

You will not be able to make additional requests
Your limit will reset at the start of the next month

For more details, see our technical documentation on rate limits.

Can I use one API key for multiple APIs?

You can use one API key to access multiple Social Media Management APIs.

However, it is best practice to use separate API keys for different use cases (for example, one key for publishing and another for reporting).

Using separate keys helps you:

Track usage more easily
Avoid hitting limits across all integrations
Improve security by isolating access

Can I access Listen or Influence data using SMM APIs?

Social Media Management APIs do not provide access to Listen or Influence data.

To access this data:

You need to use the Consumer Research API

Engage API FAQs

Can I export Engage data into Consumer Research?

You can export Engage data and upload it into Consumer Research using the Data Upload API.

To do this:

Export Engage data using the API
Transform the data into the required format
Upload it into Consumer Research

This process requires a custom script and developer support.

Measure API FAQs

What are the data limits for the Measure API?

The Measure API can return up to two years of historical data.

However:

Data must be requested in three‑month increments

For example:

To retrieve two years of data, you must make eight separate requests (one per three months)

How can I avoid exceeding API limits when using the Measure API?

To avoid exceeding API limits:

Break large requests into smaller time ranges
Only request the data you need
Follow best practices in the Measure API guides

For more information, see:

Why am I not seeing metrics for images in Facebook carousel posts?

If you are not seeing metrics for images in Facebook carousel posts, this is expected behavior.

The Measure API:

Provides metrics at the post level
Does not provide metrics for individual images within a post

Benchmark API FAQs

Do I need to connect channels in the platform to use the Benchmark API?

You do not need to manually connect channels in the platform.

The API allows you to add and remove channels programmatically.
However, you must have available channel slots to add new channels.

Can I retrieve social handle data from different platforms?

You can retrieve social handle data from:

X (Twitter)
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube

Note: For X (Twitter), only links are available instead of post text due to X (Twitter)’s data sharing restrictions.

Can I use the Benchmark API to analyze competitors?

You can use the Benchmark API to compare your performance against competitors.