30 APIs To Look At When Planning Your API

by Kin Lane on 08/08/2012

When planning an API, I always tell people to go look at as many of the top APIs as they can before crafting their own API strategy. I'm always surprised how many API owners I talk to don't actually use other APIs. They can usually reference the main ones like Twitter and Facebook, or the usual rockstar Twilio--but very few can cite 10 or more APIs they like.

Recently I spent some time looking through all of ProgrammableWeb's APIs, and I made a list of the 30 APIs I like, and would reference when designing an API strategy. Since I'm more about the Business of APIs and not just the finer, technical points, these I feel are unique because of their business approach to delivering their API.

Here are 30 of the best APIs I think you should look at when planning your own API strategy:

	Amazon Web Services - Cloud Computing
	Bitly - URL Shortening
	Box.net - Cloud Storage
	Compete - Web Analytics
	Constant Contact - Small Business Marketing
	Datasift - Data Marketpalce
	Disqus - Comments and Discussions
	Dwolla - Payments
	Ebay - Products and Online Auctions
	Etsy - Handmade Marketplace
	EventBrite - Event Management
	EverNote - Memory and Notetaking
	Factual - Data Marketplace
	Flickr - Images
	Foursquare - Locations and Check-Ins
	Full Contact - Contact Intelligence
	Google Maps - Mapping
	Google+ - Social Network
	Instagram - Photos
	LinkedIn - Business Social Network
	RapLeaf - Email Contact Intelligence
	Salesforce - CRM and Sales
	SendGrid - Email
	Stripe - Payments
	The EchoNest - Music
	Twilio - VoIP and SMS
	Twitter - Micro Blogging
	Wolfram Alpha - Computational Knowledge Engine
	Xero - Accounting
	Zappos - Shoes and Clothing

Not all of these APIs do it perfectly, but each of them have something we can learn from when planning, deploying and managing our own APIs. All of these APIs have an active presence, so I recommend reaching out to them and ask questions about what made them successful or follow their blog and Twitter accounts.

If there is an API you feeling strong about that is not on this list, please let me know. Or if you feel one of these APIs doesn't do something right, either technical or otherwise, also let me know as well (except if its Twitter).