ColdMail API Is Now in Developer Preview
The ColdMail API has moved to Developer Preview with a new pricing model, updated benchmark ranges, and site-wide copy improvements. Here is what changed and what it means for you.
What changed
- Developer Preview status — The API is now in Developer Preview, not general availability. Access is by request, not instant self-serve.
- New pricing — Four credit packs: Developer Preview (free, 100 credits), Starter Pack ($29 USD — 1,000 credits), Growth Pack ($79 USD — 5,000 credits), and Scale Pack ($199 USD — 20,000 credits).
- Updated benchmarks — Reply rate ranges now reflect realistic cold email and DM performance with credibility caveats.
- Refined CTAs — All calls-to-action changed from "Get Free API Key" to "Request API Access" to match the Developer Preview model.
Why Developer Preview
The ColdMail API started as a programmatic endpoint for the Cold Email ROI Calculator — a way for sales tools, agencies, and CRM dashboards to forecast replies, meetings, clients, revenue, and ROI without building their own model.
During early testing, we learned that the API works well for its core use cases, but the self-serve instant-access model created mismatched expectations. Users expected production-grade SLAs, real-time data streaming, and human support at free-tier volumes — none of which were part of the original plan.
Moving to a Developer Preview model lets us control access, gather focused feedback from actual integration teams, and build toward a general-availability launch with proper support, monitoring, and documentation.
New Pricing Tiers
The old pricing offered flat credit packs (100, 1,000, 10,000, 100,000 requests) with no clear upgrade path. The new model aligns with how developers actually consume forecasting APIs:
ColdMail API Pricing (USD)
| Pack | Price | Credits | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developer Preview | $0 | 100 | Evaluation, testing, personal projects |
| Starter Pack | $29 | 1,000 | Solo operators, small teams, early-stage tools |
| Growth Pack | $79 | 5,000 | Growing agencies, CRM integrations, dashboards |
| Scale Pack | $199 | 20,000 | High-volume platforms, white-label, multi-client |
1 forecast credit = 1 API forecast request. Credits do not expire. All prices in USD.
Developer Preview access includes 100 free forecast credits for testing. When you are ready to scale, paid tiers unlock higher limits, rate priority, and dedicated integration support.
Updated Benchmark Ranges
The benchmarks page now shows more realistic ranges with clear caveats about data quality and campaign variability:
- Cold audiences: 3–12% reply rate (was 1–3%)
- Targeted B2B: 8–20% reply rate (was 3–8%)
- Warm/ICP audiences: 20–40% reply rate (was 8–15%+)
These ranges better reflect actual campaign data while acknowledging that averages hide wide variance by industry, offer, list quality, and timing. Benchmark cards on the page now include detailed scenario tables and assumption footnotes.
CTA Changes Across the Site
Every call-to-action on the site now reads "Request API Access" instead of "Get Free API Key." This change reflects the Developer Preview model — access is available by request, with approval focused on integration teams and active development use cases.
The change affects all pages: homepage CTAs, blog post inline promotion cards, the API landing page, pricing page, documentation, and navigation buttons. If you are integrating the API into a sales tool, CRM widget, or AI agent, the process starts at /api/get-key/.
What This Means for Current Users
If you previously requested a free API key, your access is unchanged. You are now part of the Developer Preview program with 100 active forecast credits. When you are ready to move to a paid tier, the upgrade path is available from your dashboard.
If you have an active integration, we are still refining the API surface and documentation. Breaking changes before general availability are possible but will be communicated in advance with migration guidance.
Get started with the Developer Preview
Request API access and receive 100 free forecast credits for testing. Integrate forecasting into your sales tool, agency dashboard, or automation workflow.
Roadmap Ahead
The Developer Preview phase will focus on three areas before general availability:
- API stability and monitoring — Uptime tracking, rate-limit visibility, and status page
- SDK and integration polish — Python and JavaScript SDK improvements, more examples, and partner integrations
- Documentation depth — Expanded API reference, error code documentation, and migration guides for future versions
If you are building a cold email forecasting tool or integrating campaign intelligence into a CRM or dashboard, request API access and let us know what you are building.