Associated Press (AP Media API)
- Free allowance
- A sandbox mode lets a key holder try the API before a contract with demo content, no main renditions and no billing.
- Verdict
- paidno free allowance; listed for its price
- Cost
- no price stated
- Identity
- institutionno card, no phone
- Binding limit
- write-gatedan API key and the content rights come from a contract with AP sales or licensing
- Evidence
- documented14 sources; a first-party page was read and the sentence quoted
- Freshness
- stale on 2026-12-04checked 2026-11-03 (live); stale on 2026-12-04
| Free tier | a sandbox mode lets a key holder try the API before a contract with demo content, no main renditions and no billing. unit none; metered on unstated; Content item prices come from the plan of the contract and are returned on request; a plan meters downloads in meter ticks or credits. The sandbox mode serves demo content only and the same API key opens every mode the account may use; how a key is obtained before a contract is unverified: behind a sales contact. |
|---|---|
| Price | none stated |
| Limits | |
| Binding | write-gated Nothing is served without a key that a contract provides, so the contract gate binds before any rate. |
| Identity | institution Access follows a contract with AP sales or licensing for B2B use; the pages describe no self-serve sign-up, so the exact registration steps are unverified: behind a sales contact. |
| Egress | not applicable to the API answers; a content item has a price or a count against the plan meter |
| Per-object cap | not stated; search reaches 30 days of content and the feed up to the last 72 hours, depending on the contract |
| Retention | search covers 30 days of content plus the archive of pictures, video, audio and graphics the contract allows; the feed and the agent reach back 72 hours (30 days) |
| Interface | rest REST over HTTPS at api.ap.org/media (content feed, search, item, account plans and quotas) with an OpenAPI file and an API explorer; the key goes in the x-api-key header; an AP Media Agent downloads a continuous feed endpoint: https://api.ap.org/media/v/content/feed |
| Tooling | any HTTP client; the AP Media Agent |
| Composes with | Text, picture, graphic, video and audio items with AP metadata and curated links; the delivery is B2B into a content ingestion system or CMS. |
| Reliability | A keyless call answered HTTP 401 Supply a valid apikey; over the quota the API answers 429 and content can be delayed. |
| Notes | Storage: no general storage or caching figure is on the pages read; each item carries its own usage restrictions in its metadata. Bulk path: the feed and the AP Media Agent deliver a continuous stream of the last 72 hours, and search reaches 30 days, both within the contract. Free option: none found. |
| Evidence note | documented Key, quota and delivery facts are read from first-party help pages; the price, any trial and the quota sizes are behind a sales contact and unverified. |
| Parsed numbers |
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Evidence 14
| date | source | what it proved |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-02 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/Getting_Started_API.htm | the content available depends on the contract |
| 2026-11-02 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/Getting_Started_API.htm | content item pricing follows the contract |
| 2026-11-02 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/Getting_Started_API.htm | requests are subject to per-minute and per-day quotas |
| 2026-11-02 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.htm | search covers 30 days of content plus the archive, depending on the contract |
| 2026-11-02 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.htm | the feed reaches back up to 72 hours |
| 2026-11-02 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.htm | the API is designed for B2B integration with content ingestion systems |
| 2026-11-02 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.htm | an API key is required for every call |
| 2026-11-02 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/Quota_Limits.htm | going over the quota answers HTTP 429 |
| 2026-11-02 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/Pricing_Information.htm | a content item can be included in the plan or priced at an extra charge |
| 2026-11-03 | probe: https://api.ap.org/media/v/content/feed | a keyless call answers HTTP 401 Supply a valid apikey |
| 2026-11-03 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/Access_Modes.htm | a sandbox mode exists for trying the API before a contract is signed |
| 2026-11-03 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/Access_Modes.htm | sandbox downloads are not billed |
| 2026-11-03 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/Access_Modes.htm | sandbox gives no main renditions, only demo content |
| 2026-11-03 | api.ap.org/media/v/docs/Access_Modes.htm | one API key opens every mode the account is permitted |