Follower counts on X are still the shorthand for reach, and still the number every brand tracker, journalist tool, and social dashboard wants first. Metrika returns it for any public X account from its handle, without an X developer account or an access tier decision.
One handle in, four datapoints back
$ curl -X POST https://metrika.run/api/v1/resources/search \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"resources": [{"platform": "x", "type": "account", "identifier": "nasa"}]}'The response carries the follower count, following count,
and post count under metrics, and the verified flag under
attributes. The post total is the figure the profile
shows, which on X includes replies and reposts. As
everywhere in Metrika, each value has its own status and
collected_at timestamp; a first-seen handle returns
pending while collection starts, and known accounts
refresh daily.
Watching handles in bulk
Most X tracking is list-shaped: a brand and its competitors, a beat's worth of newsmakers, a portfolio of client accounts. Up to ten accounts fit in one call, and one call counts as one request against your quota, so a daily sweep of a watchlist stays comfortably inside the free tier. On X specifically, note that the verified badge has meant different things over the years; Metrika reports the flag the profile currently shows, without interpreting it.
Where the official API stands
The X API is the right tool when you need timelines, posting, streams, or anything belonging to an account you manage. For reading a handful of public numbers, its registration and tier model is heavier than the job. That trade-off is the subject of our X API comparison.
Worth knowing
Metrika reads public profile numbers only: no tweets, no engagement metrics, no audience data, and the current value rather than a queryable history. If you want growth curves, store the daily values on your side.
Getting started
Create an account, generate an API key from your dashboard, and you get up to 500 requests per month at no cost, no credit card required. The docs cover authentication and response formats.
Get started with Metrika
Create a free account and start pulling social media datapoints in minutes. The free tier includes 500 requests per month, no credit card required.