Most Popular API
Most Popular API
New York Times Most Popular API returns NYT's recent most-popular articles — sorted by views, emails, Facebook shares.
Distinguishes multiple popularity signals (view vs share vs email)
Only reflects NYT readers' preferences (elite/political bias)
GET /svc/mostpopular/v2/{viewed|emailed|shared}/{period}.json?api-key=... for popular articles. Period: 1/7/30 days.
Uptime · 30-day window
About this API
Most Popular API exposes NYT's internal popularity data. More interesting than generic trending tools because it distinguishes popularity signals — "most viewed" and "most emailed" often differ (most viewed may be entertainment gossip, most emailed may be deep analysis readers think friends should see). Three endpoints: viewed (most read), emailed (most emailed to friends), shared (most Facebook-shared). 24h/7d/30d windows. Common uses: news apps' "trending" modules, newsletters auto-surfacing high-quality but easy-to-miss content, social media management bots.
What you can build
- 1News apps showing "trending" modules
- 2Social media bots auto-share hot NYT articles
- 3Newsletters auto-include trending content
- 4LLM trending context
Strengths & limitations
Strengths
- Distinguishes multiple popularity signals (view vs share vs email)
- 24h/7d/30d windows available
- Free
Limitations
- Only reflects NYT readers' preferences (elite/political bias)
- Cannot customize popularity algorithm
Getting started
GET /svc/mostpopular/v2/{viewed|emailed|shared}/{period}.json?api-key=... for popular articles. Period: 1/7/30 days.
FAQ
Which is "higher quality" — emailed or viewed?+
Generally emailed articles are higher quality — readers email friends deep content rather than clickbait entertainment.
Technical details
- Auth type
- unknown
- Pricing
- unknown
- Protocols
- REST
- SDKs
- python, javascript, go
- Response time
- 194 ms
- Last health check
- 6/26/2026, 6:23:56 AM
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