ToolRankBest AI marketing tools with an API
Updated 20 Oct 2026 · Prices from vendor pages only · How we rank →
The short answer
Each of these AI marketing tools offers an API, so you can build it into your own product or workflow. Typefully comes first: clean writing and scheduling for threads with a free plan and an API. The cheapest verified paid plan here is Buffer Essentials ($5/month per channel ($60 billed yearly)). 3 of the 4 have a free plan we could confirm. Every price below is from the vendor’s own page, checked 20 Oct 2026.
Ranked shortlist
- Typefully: Clean writing and scheduling for threads with a free plan and an API. Plan: Not yet verified
- Apollo.io: B2B contact database and sales engagement with AI-written outreach. Plan: Not yet verified
- Buffer: Free plan with AI Assistant and API access; paid plans from $5 per channel. Plan: Essentials: $5/month per channel ($60 billed yearly)
Unlimited posts, advanced analytics - Surfer: Combines a content editor with AI visibility tracking, with MCP and API on higher plans. Plan: Discovery: $49/month
Content drafting and optimisation
Order follows ToolRank’s editorial ranking in Marketing & Sales, filtered to tools that fit this page. Anything we couldn’t confirm on a vendor page says “Not yet verified”.
Side by side
| Rank | Tool | Relevant plan | Starting price | Free plan | Best for | Main limitation | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Typefully | Not yet verified | Not yet verified | 1 social set, 1 user, 10 posts/month | Creators growing on X and LinkedIn | Free: 1 social set, 1 user, 10 posts/month. | 20 Oct 2026 |
| #2 | Apollo.io | Not yet verified | Not yet verified | Free plan with no time limit (light usage; Gmail only for sending) | Prospecting database and outbound email | Paid prices not verified | 20 Oct 2026 |
| #3 | Buffer | Essentials: $5/month per channel ($60 billed yearly) Unlimited posts, advanced analytics | $5/month per channel (Essentials, billed yearly) | Free plan: $0 forever, 10 scheduled posts per channel, AI Assistant | Creators and small teams scheduling posts on several social networks on a budget | Free plan allows 10 scheduled posts per channel and 1 user | 20 Oct 2026 |
| #4 | Surfer | Discovery: $49/month Content drafting and optimisation | $49/month (Discovery) | ✕ None listed | Content teams who want to rank in Google and get cited in AI answers | No free plan; API access is on the top Peace of Mind plan | 20 Oct 2026 |
Prices as listed by each vendor on the last-checked date, USD, before tax. Plans and limits change, so follow the sources below.
Who should pick which
Pick Typefully for creators growing on X and LinkedIn (free plan: 1 social set, 1 user, 10 posts/month); think twice if you need a full social media suite. Pick Apollo.io for prospecting database and outbound email (free plan: Free plan with no time limit (light usage; Gmail only for sending)). Watch out: paid prices not verified. Pick Buffer for creators and small teams scheduling posts on several social networks on a budget (Essentials: $5/month per channel ($60 billed yearly)). Watch out: free plan allows 10 scheduled posts per channel and 1 user. Pick Surfer for content teams who want to rank in Google and get cited in AI answers (Discovery: $49/month). Watch out: no free plan; API access is on the top Peace of Mind plan.
FAQ
Which of these is cheapest?
Buffer Essentials ($5/month per channel ($60 billed yearly)) is the lowest paid price we verified on this list (https://buffer.com/pricing, checked 20 Oct 2026). Check the vendor page for tax, billing period and usage limits.
Which of these have a free plan?
Typefully: 1 social set, 1 user, 10 posts/month; Apollo.io: Free plan with no time limit (light usage; Gmail only for sending); Buffer: Free plan: $0 forever, 10 scheduled posts per channel, AI Assistant.
How were these tools chosen?
They are the tools in ToolRank's rankings with an API listed by the vendor, confirmed on the vendor's own website on 20 Oct 2026. Tools we could not verify are left out rather than guessed, and anything unconfirmed is marked Not yet verified.
Sources
- Typefully: Typefully pricing checked 20 Oct 2026
- Apollo.io: Apollo.io pricing and FAQ checked 20 Oct 2026
- Buffer: Buffer pricing checked 20 Oct 2026
- Surfer: Surfer pricing checked 20 Oct 2026
Related comparisons
Profiles: Typefully · Apollo.io · Buffer · Surfer
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