Apollo to shut down June 30 due to Reddit's new API policy

Third-party Reddit app Apollo will be a victim of the platform's new API policy.

MacRumors
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Reddit recently introduced a major change to its API policy, revoking free access and introducing a paywall. As a result, it’s become harder for third-party apps that operate on that API to function. This includes Apollo, a popular third-party app that adds quality-of-life features and a visual redesign. The app’s creator has announced that Apollo will cease operations at the end of the month.

Apollo creator Christian Selig announced in a Reddit post that Apollo will be shutting down on June 30, 2023. This comes as a result of Reddit’s decision to put access to its API behind a paywall. “Reddit’s recent decisions and actions have unfortunately made it impossible for Apollo to continue. Thank you so, so much for all the support over the years.” He explains that given the rate of $0.24 per 1,000 API calls, as things currently stand, it would cost $20 million a year to keep operating the app.

Selig first created the Apollo app back in 2015. In 2021, the app received an Editor’s Choice award on the iOS App Store. Reddit first announced the changes to its API in April this year, though Selig states that the pricing information was not shared until weeks later. He states that he has been in communications with Reddit, but those talks have “deteriorated to an ugly point.”

The whole ordeal echoes what happened at Twitter following the Elon Musk takeover. After paywalling its API, several third-party apps ceased operations, including Tweetbot. It’s currently unclear what Christian Selig plans to do next, but we’ll keep an eye out for his next endeavor, as well as how Reddit’s new API model effects other applications and services.

News Editor

Donovan is a young journalist from Maryland, who likes to game. His oldest gaming memory is playing Pajama Sam on his mom's desktop during weekends. Pokémon Emerald, Halo 2, and the original Star Wars Battlefront 2 were some of the most influential titles in awakening his love for video games. After interning for Shacknews throughout college, Donovan graduated from Bowie State University in 2020 with a major in broadcast journalism and joined the team full-time. He is a huge Scream nerd and film fanatic that will talk with you about movies and games all day. You can follow him on twitter @Donimals_

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