Threads API direct vs a tool like Buffer

Threads API direct vs a tool like Buffer

For developers deciding whether to build. I wired up both for a week.

Direct API
— Pros: free, full control, post programmatically, no per-seat fees at scale
— Cons: two-step publish (create container, then publish), aggressive rate limits (~250 posts/day), OAuth refresh pain

Buffer/Metricool wrapper
— Pros: handles tokens, retries, media hosting for you
— Cons: monthly fee, you inherit their feature gaps and their rate-limit budget

Verdict: build direct only if posting is your product (Worth it at scale). Otherwise a tool is cheaper than your dev time (Worth it). Annoying limitation: the API gives no webhook for replies, so any direct build still polls for engagement.