Postly API is best when your app, backend, CMS, or automation is driving the publishing workflow.
Plan availability
API Access unlocks REST API and MCP access to capabilities included in your plan; it does not unlock Pro/Enterprise-only features. New activations retain their base plan limits for AI text, team members, and workspaces. Existing purchases with unlimited benefits retain those benefits. API keys and supported video upload benefits remain included.
What the API is designed for
- discovering accessible workspaces
- resolving connected publishing targets
- importing media from uploads, URLs, or base64
- creating drafts, scheduled posts, or recurring posts
- reading scheduled activity and analytics
- fitting governed publishing into a larger business system
The standard API shape
Connect all intended channels in Postly first. Your API key discovers accessible workspaces and their connected targets; it does not connect a social account. Fetch current targets after connecting or reconnecting accounts. For create/update post requests, use target_platforms with returned channel IDs for specific destinations, or platform names for all matching connected channels. On update, supply the complete desired selection to add or remove channels; omitting target_platforms keeps the existing selection.
CSV templates use platforms without a channels column. Google Sheets discovers workspaces/channels with the API key and sends reviewed destinations through the bulk import flow. Users can add or remove connected destinations in CSV preview or Sheets Review / Edit Posts before confirming. See the bulk guide.
Check character counts for each selected platform, including any platform-specific text overrides. Correct validation errors by shortening the text or supplying a platform-specific version, then validate again after text or destination changes. For X, select the intended publishing mode explicitly when using the API. An accepted or queued response is not confirmation of publication.
- Resolve the workspace.
- Fetch the connected targets or audience groups.
- Import or attach the media.
- Create or update the post.
- Schedule, publish, or store as draft.
- Read back activity or analytics as needed.
Where the API creates leverage
CMS and editorial systems
Turn approved content into scheduled social output without copy-pasting between tools.
Internal marketing tools
Let growth teams trigger publishing from launch systems, campaign builders, or reporting dashboards.
Automation platforms
Use Postly as the governed publishing layer behind low-code or no-code workflows.
AI-assisted apps
If your app generates content or media, the API can ingest it directly instead of requiring a separate hosting step first.
Important media note
One practical advantage of the API is media flexibility. It can accept:
- binary uploads
- public URLs
- base64 payloads
- data URLs
- inline media imports during create or update flows
That is especially useful for generated media or assets that already exist in memory.
If a workflow depends on temporary generated media, keep media ingestion and post creation in the same request flow. That reduces the chance of losing short-lived file references before the post is created.
When to choose MCP instead
Use MCP when an AI agent, not your app backend, is the actor that needs governed access to Postly capabilities.
Good next guides
Deletion and accidental live posts
Deleting a post in Postly is separate from removing published content. DELETE /posts/{postId} and postly_delete_post only remove the post in Postly; a successful response does not confirm live removal on any platform. In the dashboard, choose Delete on Platforms for supported destinations before removing the post, and review each result. Unsupported content needs manual action. DEV articles move to drafts rather than being permanently deleted.
Keep the post in Postly and live links until you have verified removal. Do not interpret a publishing notification or an absent post in Postly as a deletion receipt. See platform support, permissions, and the agency recovery workflow.
Custom replies
See Custom replies across CSV, Google Sheets, API and MCP for platform-specific numbered columns, attachment markers, supported destinations, and delays after parent publication.