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Use API Direct in your n8n workflows with our community node — search social media, news, and the web as a native workflow step, no code required.

The node is published on npm as n8n-nodes-apidirect and covers 58 operations across Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Threads, Truth Social, and Google (web search, AI Mode, news, forums, and Maps/Places).

Install

On self-hosted n8n (version 1.94 or later):

  1. Open Settings → Community nodes.
  2. Click Install a community node.
  3. Enter n8n-nodes-apidirect, tick the acknowledgement, and click Install.

The API Direct node then appears in the nodes panel like any built-in node.

Set up credentials

  1. Get your API key from the API Keys page — new accounts include $5 of free credit plus 50 free requests per endpoint per month.
  2. In n8n, add the API Direct node to a workflow and choose Create new credential.
  3. Paste your key (starts with ak_live_) and save.

n8n tests the connection automatically — you should see “Connection tested successfully”.

Usage

Pick a Resource (the platform) and an Operation, fill in the required fields, and execute. Optional parameters — page counts, sort order, date filters, sentiment analysis — live under Additional Fields → Add Field.

List operations return one n8n item per result (20 tweets become 20 items), so you can feed results straight into filters, spreadsheets, Slack messages, or any other node. Detail operations return a single item.

A few things worth knowing:

  • Pagination uses Page or Pages fields rather than cursors. Where the API fetches multiple pages server-side in one call, each page is billed as one request — the field description tells you when that applies. See Pagination.
  • Pricing is pay-as-you-go, $0.001–$0.01 per request — each operation’s description shows its price. No subscriptions. See Pricing.
  • Search operations support boolean search syntax.

Use with AI Agents

The node is flagged as an AI Agent tool. Attach API Direct to an n8n AI Agent as a tool, and the agent can search any platform on demand — ask it “What are people saying about our brand on Twitter this week?” and it will pick the operation, run the search, and summarize the results.

Troubleshooting

“Authorization failed - please check your credentials” — Double-check your API key in the dashboard. Keys start with ak_live_.

“Payment required” — Your credit balance is empty and the endpoint’s free-tier allowance is used up. Top up on the billing page.

“Service unavailable” — The endpoint is temporarily suspended; check the status page.

Node not in the panel after install — Refresh the browser tab; on older n8n versions, restart the instance.

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