When building applications with Post for Me, managing how frequently your application makes API requests is crucial for maintaining performance and stability. We have implemented rate limits to ensure fair usage and prevent system abuse.
Here is a breakdown of how our API rate limits work, how to handle them, and best practices for avoiding them.
Default Rate Limits
Definition: Rate limits restrict the number of API requests your application can make within a specific timeframe.
How it works
By default, all requests to the Post for Me API are strictly limited to 5 requests per second and 40 requests per minute. These baseline limits are designed to accommodate standard traffic while protecting the infrastructure from abuse.
Handling Rate Limit Errors
Definition: When your application exceeds the allowed request volume, the API will temporarily reject further requests to prevent server overload.
How it works
If your request is rate-limited, you will receive an HTTP 429 Too Many Requests response code. The response will also include a Retry-After header, which indicates exactly when your application can safely make another request.
The User Experience: Instead of surfacing these errors directly to the end-user, we recommend that your automated systems handle 429 responses by implementing a retry mechanism that pauses execution until the Retry-After duration has passed.
Avoiding Limits with Webhooks
Definition: Webhooks provide a way for your server to receive real-time, asynchronous notifications when specific events occur within your Post for Me project.
How it works
To avoid consuming your rate limit allowance, we highly recommend using webhooks instead of actively polling endpoints for updates. By subscribing to events (such as social.post.created or social.post.result.created), your application automatically receives the necessary data precisely when it happens, drastically reducing your overall API request volume.
Requesting Limit Increases
Definition: While our default limits are designed to prevent abuse, we recognize that high-volume or enterprise applications may naturally require more capacity.
How it works
We do not want rate limits to act as a bottleneck for your platform's growth. If your application requires higher request limits, we are more than happy to increase them for your account.
Requirements: Simply reach out to our support team with details about your application and anticipated volume, and we will update your limits to meet your needs.