Hi folks!
I’m thinking about putting my custom API on the RapidAPI platform and wondering if it’s actually beneficial for developers like me.
My situation:
- Independent developer who created several APIs
- Looking for ways to make money from my work or get user feedback
- Not sure if RapidAPI helps with visibility or if it’s too competitive
What I want to know:
- Did anyone upload their API to RapidAPI before?
- How simple was the setup process for pricing and security?
- Did you manage to get paying customers or make decent income?
- Are there any surprise costs or restrictions I should watch out for?
- Does it help with getting discovered, or should I just build my own website and market directly?
I’m looking for honest opinions from people who tried it. Please share your experiences, whether positive or negative.
Appreciate any insights!
Been using RapidAPI for 18 months with three APIs. It’s decent but don’t expect miracles. Revenue’s all over the place - my weather API barely scrapes $50/month while text processing hits $800. The real win? Enterprise clients found me through the platform and reached out for custom deals. That’s where the real money is. Their docs are pretty good and the testing interface cuts down on stupid support tickets. Downside is you’re just another API in a sea of thousands. If you solve a real problem and don’t overprice, it works. Just don’t put all your eggs in one basket - use it while you build your own marketing.
I put mine up there last year, and honestly it’s been kinda hit or miss. The setup was fine, but they take a big cut, like 20%. Got a few users but not as many as I hoped. There’s def a lot of competition now.
Been using RapidAPI for 8 months - it’s a mixed bag. Setup’s easy, took me 2 hours to configure everything including docs and pricing. But discovery’s tough. You’re fighting thousands of other APIs, so you need something that actually stands out. I’m pulling about $300/month from two APIs, though one crushes the other. The trick is hitting specific niches instead of trying to do everything. RapidAPI handles billing and basic analytics, which is nice, but their support’s painfully slow when things break. Heads up - most users want free tiers, so plan for that. And some enterprise folks won’t buy through marketplaces, so keep your own site in the mix too.