Frequently Asked Questions

What is mediastack?

mediastack is a free, powerful and easy-to-use REST API interface collecting news and blog articles from thousands of sources worldwide and delivering it within milliseconds in lightweight, programmatically usable JSON format. News data is gathered every minute from more than 7,500 popular sources across a variety of categories, including business, sports, education, and many more. The mediastack API is free to use for a limited number of monthly API requests, get started now and give it a try.

Who runs the API?

The mediastack API is a product built and operated by apilayer, a global leader in microservice APIs running more than 15 data APIs, including interfaces for currency conversion, IP address geolocation, aviation data, stock market data, and many more. Visit www.apilayer.com for more information.

Where is mediastack's news data coming from?

Every minute, the mediastack API interface is automatically collecting news articles from 7,500+ global news sources and blogs worldwide, parsing it and converting it into a standardized programmatic format for the purpose of ease of use. In order to ensure the highest possible level of accuracy and data consistency, each of the sources used is monitored closely and around the clock for technical or content anomalies. Additional news sources are added continously as they become available. Do you have a suggestion? Feel free to get in touch with our team.

How scalable is this service?

This API service is hosted on the apilayer cloud, a rock-solid, scalable and highly available technical infrastructure capable of dealing with millions of API requests per minute. No matter which volume you are looking to process, our system has got you covered.

How are API requests counted?

Each time the API is used to access or search news data, a minimum of 1 API request is counted towards your monthly allowed API request volume. Depending on the options you use, some qeries may consume more than 1 API request. For more information, please refer to our API documentation.

What happens if I exceed my API Request volume?

Users will be automatically notified via e-mail and on their Account Dashboard once at least 75%, 90%, and 100% of their monthly API Request allowance has been reached. After reaching 100% of the allowance, overages fees will apply so we make sure you won’t experience any disruptions and your website/application will keep running smoothly. You can learn more about overages billing here.

What is the API's uptime?

The mediastack API is built on top of a highly available cloud infrastructure, leading to an uptime of nearly 100%. For more information, feel free to take a quick look at our dedicated API status page, available at: status.mediastack.com.

Which subscription plan is the right one for me?

Your subscription plan requirements primarily depend on the monthly volume of API requests you would like to process through the mediastack API. If you are able to stay below 100 monthly API requests, you are fine staying on the Free Plan. If you require more advanced features, such as real-time news data and historical articles, the Standard or Professional Plan will be the way to go. In case you need a higher volume than what is offered on the website, you can always reach out to get a quote.

Which payment methods are supported?

Payments can be made using any major credit card, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diner's Club, Discover. For large contracts with annual billing, payment via bank transfer is offered as well.

Can I also pay yearly?

Yes. If you choose annual billing, the total price of your subscription plan will be up to 15% lower than the total amount you would pay with a monthly payment frequency.

How do I cancel/downgrade?

You can initiate a cancellation or downgrade by selecting a new plan and providing at least one reason for your decision. The customer service team will cancel or downgrade your plan. Downgrades are not effective immediately; your premium subscription will remain active until the end of the current billing period.

How do I change between monthly and yearly billing?

To change your subscription from monthly to yearly billing, submit a request on the Contact Us page on the website following these steps:

Step 1: Sign in to your account

Step 2: Go to Contact Us page

Step 3: Fill out the form and choose the “Sales” category for this request.

Step 4: In the text box, include your specific request for example “Change from Monthly to Yearly subscription.”

What is included in Platinum Support?

Platinum Support includes dedicated account management, priority bug fixes, and access to exclusive support resources. It ensures you receive top-tier assistance for any issues you encounter, helping you maintain and optimize your system performance.

How much does Platinum Support cost?

The cost of Platinum Support varies depending on your subscription plan:
- Standard Plan: $479.88 billed annually
- Professional Plan: $599.88 billed annually
- Professional Plus Plan: $719.88 billed annually
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing billed annually

How do I select Platinum Support when purchasing a plan?

When you select a pricing plan, the Platinum Support option is automatically checked. You will see a checkbox next to “Include Platinum Support” with the corresponding annual price. You can uncheck this box if you do not wish to include Platinum Support.

How does Platinum Support appear on my invoice?

When you select Platinum Support, your invoice will display “Selected: [Your Plan] + Platinum Support.” The total amount charged will include the cost of your chosen plan and the annual fee for Platinum Support. For example, if you select the Professional Plan, your invoice will read “$59.99/month + $599.88/year for Platinum Support.”

Can existing customers upgrade to include Platinum Support?

Yes, existing customers can upgrade their plans to include Platinum Support. The option will be automatically checked when viewing available plans, showing the respective annual fee for Platinum Support. You can select or unselect this option as needed.

How is the billing period for Platinum Support handled?

The billing period for Platinum Support is annual. When you purchase Platinum Support, the renewal date will be one year from the purchase date. Your invoice will show the purchase date, renewal date, and the total annual amount for Platinum Support.

Can I opt out of Platinum Support during the purchase process?

Yes, Platinum Support is an optional service, you can uncheck the Platinum Support box during the purchase process if you prefer not to include it.

Can I switch back to standard support after upgrading to Platinum Support?

Yes, you can switch back to standard support at any time. However, the change will take effect at the start of your next billing cycle. Contact our support team to adjust your plan.

What is an overage?

An overage occurs when you go over a quota for your API plan. When you reach your API calls limit, we will charge you a small amount for each new API call so we can make sure there will be no disruption in the service we provide to you and your website or application can continue running smoothly.

Prices for additional API calls will vary based on your plan. See the table below for prices per call and an example of an overage billing.

Note: For complete details, please refer to the overages documentation here.

Why does APILayer have overage fees?

Overage fees allow customers to continue using an API once a quota limit is reached. We want to make sure your website or application continues running at all times, so charges will apply if you go over your monthly quota limit. If you notice you are going over your quota limit each month, look on your dashboard for an upgraded plan to help with larger request limits.

How do I know if I will be charged for overages?

When you are close to reaching your API calls limit for the month, you will receive an automatic notification (at 75%, 90%, and 100% of your monthly quota). You can keep track of your quota usage to prevent overages by tracking the number of API calls you make and checking the dashboard for up-to-date usage statistics.

How will I be charged for my API subscription?

You will be charged for your monthly subscription plan, plus any overage fees applied. Your credit card will be billed after the billing period has ended.

What happens if I don't have any overage fees?

In this case, there will be no change to your monthly invoice. Only billing cycles that incur overages will see any difference in monthly charges. The Business Continuity plan is an insurance plan to be used only if needed and guarantees your end users never see a drop in coverage from you.

What if I consistently have more API calls than my plan allows?

If your usage consistently surpasses the set limits each month, you may face additional charges for the excess usage. Nevertheless, as your monthly usage reaches a certain threshold, it becomes more practical to consider upgrading to the next plan. By doing so, you ensure a smoother and more accommodating experience for your growing customer base. Find out about our pricing plans here.

I would like to upgrade my plan. How can I do that?

You can easily upgrade your plan by going to your Dashboard and selecting the new plan that would be more suitable for your business needs. Additionally, you may contact your Account Manager to discuss a custom plan if you expect a continuous increase in usage.