# How to Automate Twitch Follower Reports using the API

- Tool: API Automations
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Fix time: 30-60 minutes
- Compatibility: Free Twitch developer account. User access token from the broadcaster or a moderator required. Public HTTPS URL needed for EventSub webhook transport.
- Last updated: May 2026

## TL;DR

Automate Twitch follower reports using GET /helix/channels/followers with a user-access token carrying the moderator:read:followers scope — without it you only get total count, not the follower list. The old GET /users/follows endpoint is completely removed. For real-time new-follower tracking, subscribe to channel.follow EventSub v2 (v1 is dead, PubSub decommissioned April 14, 2025). Rate limit: 800 points/minute Helix bucket. Every Helix request needs both Authorization: Bearer and Client-Id headers.

## Best practices

- Always include both Authorization: Bearer and Client-Id headers — omitting either returns 401
- Validate user tokens hourly — users can revoke access silently, causing silent report failures
- Use EventSub channel.follow v2 for real-time alerts instead of polling GET /channels/followers
- For large channels, store only the delta (new/lost followers) rather than full snapshots to keep storage manageable
- Use the total field in the response as a progress indicator during pagination rather than counting items
- Request quota increase via dev.twitch.tv if you regularly hit the 800 points/minute limit with multiple channels
- Never use the deprecated GET /users/follows endpoint — it is completely removed and returns 404

## Frequently asked questions

### Is the Twitch API free?

Yes, the Twitch Helix API is free with no monthly cost. You need a free developer account at dev.twitch.tv to register an app and get credentials. There are no paid API tiers — rate limits (800 points/minute) apply equally to all developers.

### Why does GET /channels/followers only return the total count and not the actual list?

Full follower list access requires the moderator:read:followers scope from the broadcaster or one of their moderators. Without this scope, the endpoint intentionally returns only the total count. The restriction was enforced September 12, 2023 to protect follower privacy. Re-authorize the user with the correct scope to get the full list.

### What happened to GET /users/follows?

GET /users/follows is completely removed. It no longer exists in the Helix API. Any code using this endpoint will get a 404. Use GET /channels/followers (broadcaster perspective) or GET /channels/following (user perspective) instead.

### What happens when I hit the rate limit?

You receive HTTP 429. Check the Ratelimit-Reset header which contains a Unix timestamp for when your 800-point bucket resets (typically within 60 seconds). Wait until that time plus 1 second, then retry. Implement exponential backoff for repeated 429s.

### Can I get real-time new-follower notifications instead of polling?

Yes — subscribe to EventSub event type channel.follow version 2 with the moderator:read:followers scope. This is the recommended approach. PubSub (the old real-time system) was fully decommissioned on April 14, 2025 and can no longer be used.

### Do App Access Tokens work for follower reports?

App Access Tokens (from Client Credentials flow) return only the total follower count, not the individual follower list. For the full list, you must use a User Access Token from the broadcaster or a moderator with the moderator:read:followers scope.

### Can RapidDev help build a Twitch analytics dashboard?

Yes — RapidDev has built 600+ integrations including Twitch automation tools and analytics dashboards. We can build a complete follower tracking system with EventSub real-time alerts, weekly reports, and milestone notifications. Book a free consultation at rapidevelopers.com.

### How do I track follower growth without paginating millions of records?

Use EventSub channel.follow v2 for real-time new-follower events and only store deltas. For the total count, check the total field in a single GET /channels/followers?first=1 request (1 quota point) rather than paginating the entire list.

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Source: https://www.rapidevelopers.com/api-automations/how-to-automate-twitch-follower-reports-using-the-api
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