Yelp Fusion API outrageous new pricing

The Yelp Fusion API enables access to extensive local content and user reviews from millions of businesses worldwide. In a recent letter sent to developers using the previously free Yelp API, Yelp declared that all free accounts had been automatically converted to a paid licensing structure.

"We've been contacting all active users to inform you that we've converted to a paid licensing structure. You will need to obtain a license with us in order to continue your usage of the API.

You can always sign up for a free trial on our website if you need more time to make a decision. 

If you are interested in a license, please review the attached program and pricing overviews." - Yelp

While it's not out of the ordinary to see a platform that wants to charge for data access, what is crazy is the pricing.

Yelp Fusion API outrageous new pricing

Yelp's Starter plan offers a 30-day free trial with a daily quota of 300 API calls, providing base attributes and search filters at $7.99 per 1000 calls. The Plus plan, also with a 30-day free trial, increases the daily quota to 500 API calls and includes enhanced attributes, up to three photos per business, and a reviews endpoint, priced at $9.99 per 1000 calls. The Enterprise plan offers the same free trial and daily quota as the Plus plan, but includes premium attributes, search filters, more than three photos per business, and a Review Highlights endpoint, at $14.99 per 1000 calls.

Comparing Yelp Fusion API pricing with similar APIs

While Yelp charges a per-call fee across its plans, Google and Facebook offer free tiers with premium features incurring additional costs. Yelp's structured pricing is higher than the often free or ad-based models of Google and Facebook.

The Yelp Fusion API offers three plans: Starter at $7.99 per 1000 API calls, Plus at $9.99, and Enterprise at $14.99. The Google My Business API offers free basic access, with additional features available for a fee, such as $5 per 1000 extra requests. Facebook's API is generally free, though costs may apply for advertising or premium features. Foursquare provides a free Basic Plan with 1,000 requests per hour, a Pro Plan at $599/month for up to 100,000 requests, and custom pricing for the Enterprise Plan based on specific needs.

Yelp Fusion premium plans

Yelp's new API pricing changes may deter smaller developers and businesses

The new pricing structure for Yelp's Fusion API is significantly higher than its competitors, making it less accessible for many developers. While Yelp charges $7.99 to $14.99 per 1000 API calls, platforms like Google and Facebook offer free tiers or much lower costs for similar services. This stark contrast highlights the steep nature of Yelp's fees, which may deter smaller developers and businesses from utilizing their API. The shift to a paid model marks a notable increase in cost, setting Yelp apart from more competitively priced alternatives.

Yelp's sudden policy shift ends decade-long app partnership

In his blog post titled "After 10 Years, Yelp Gave My App 4 Days," David Kopec discusses his journey developing the macOS app "Restaurants" and the challenges he faced using the Yelp API. He created the app in 2014 to offer a quick, macOS-integrated way to search for restaurants, leveraging the Yelp API. Kopec received permission from Yelp to use their API and even received an unusually high API call limit. Over the years, he continually updated the app, adding features like Apple Maps integration and categorizing restaurants with unique emojis, an idea credited to his wife. Despite its niche appeal and consistent sales, Kopec found value in the app both as a user and a developer.

However, the journey took an unexpected turn when Kopec received an abrupt email from Yelp, informing him that the Yelp Fusion API had transitioned to a paid model and threatening to disable his API key within four days if he did not comply. This sudden shift, with minimal notice and no prior warning, left Kopec with little choice but to remove "Restaurants" from sale. He expressed frustration with Yelp's handling of the situation, particularly the lack of communication and the short timeframe given to adjust to the new terms. Kopec's experience highlights the risks developers face when relying on third-party APIs, as they are ultimately at the mercy of the service providers' policies. He also reflected on the challenges of monetizing apps reliant on such services, especially when they follow an up-front payment model. David Kopec's candid account serves as a cautionary tale for developers about the potential pitfalls of integrating third-party APIs into their products.