Website ReadabilityWebsite Readability API

OnlineCredit Usage:5 per callLive Data
avg: 1976ms|p50: 1798ms|p75: 2095ms|p90: 2450ms|p99: 3162ms

Website Readability is a simple tool for analyzing the readability of a website. It returns the readability score of the website provided.

The Website Readability API provides reliable and fast access to website readability data through a simple REST interface. Built for developers who need consistent, high-quality results with minimal setup time.

To use Website Readability, you need an API key. You can get one by creating a free account and visiting your dashboard.

POST Endpoint

URL
https://api.apiverve.com/v1/websitereadability

Code Examples

Here are examples of how to call the Website Readability API in different programming languages:

cURL Request
curl -X POST \
  "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/websitereadability" \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key_here" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "url": "https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts"
}'
JavaScript (Fetch API)
const response = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/websitereadability', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    "url": "https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts"
})
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);
Python (Requests)
import requests

headers = {
    'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

payload = {
    "url": "https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts"
}

response = requests.post('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/websitereadability', headers=headers, json=payload)

data = response.json()
print(data)
Node.js (Native HTTPS)
const https = require('https');
const url = require('url');

const options = {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  }
};

const postData = JSON.stringify({
  "url": "https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts"
});

const req = https.request('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/websitereadability', options, (res) => {
  let data = '';
  res.on('data', (chunk) => data += chunk);
  res.on('end', () => console.log(JSON.parse(data)));
});

req.write(postData);
req.end();
PHP (cURL)
<?php

$ch = curl_init();

curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, 'https://api.apiverve.com/v1/websitereadability');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST, 'POST');
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
    'X-API-Key: your_api_key_here',
    'Content-Type: application/json'
]);

curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, json_encode({
    'url': 'https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts'
}));

$response = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);

$data = json_decode($response, true);
print_r($data);

?>
Go (net/http)
package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "io"
    "net/http"
    "bytes"
    "encoding/json"
)

func main() {
    payload := map[string]interface{}{
        "url": "https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts"
    }

    jsonPayload, _ := json.Marshal(payload)
    req, _ := http.NewRequest("POST", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/websitereadability", bytes.NewBuffer(jsonPayload))

    req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", "your_api_key_here")
    req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")

    client := &http.Client{}
    resp, err := client.Do(req)
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    defer resp.Body.Close()

    body, _ := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
    fmt.Println(string(body))
}
Ruby (Net::HTTP)
require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/websitereadability')
http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true

payload = {
  "url": "https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts"
}

request = Net::HTTP::Post.new(uri)
request['X-API-Key'] = 'your_api_key_here'
request['Content-Type'] = 'application/json'

request.body = payload.to_json

response = http.request(request)
puts JSON.pretty_generate(JSON.parse(response.body))
C# (HttpClient)
using System;
using System.Net.Http;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

class Program
{
    static async Task Main(string[] args)
    {
        using var client = new HttpClient();
        client.DefaultRequestHeaders.Add("X-API-Key", "your_api_key_here");

        var jsonContent = @"{
        ""url"": ""https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts""
}";
        var content = new StringContent(jsonContent, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json");

        var response = await client.PostAsync("https://api.apiverve.com/v1/websitereadability", content);
        response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();

        var responseBody = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
        Console.WriteLine(responseBody);
    }
}

Authentication

The Website Readability API requires authentication via API key. Include your API key in the request header:

Required Header
X-API-Key: your_api_key_here

Learn more about authentication →

Interactive API Playground

Test the Website Readability API directly in your browser with live requests and responses.

Parameters

The following parameters are available for the Website Readability API:

Analyze Website Readability

ParameterTypeRequiredDescriptionDefaultExample
urlstringrequired
The URL of the web page to analyze
Format: url (e.g., https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts)
-https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts

Response

The Website Readability API returns responses in JSON, XML, YAML, and CSV formats:

Example Responses

JSON Response
200 OK
{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "fleschReadingEase": 24.34,
    "fleschReadingEaseText": "Very Confusing",
    "fleschKincaidGrade": 19.3,
    "gunningFog": 19.62,
    "colemanLiauIndex": 13.12,
    "smogIndex": 14.37,
    "automatedReadabilityIndex": 22.6,
    "daleChallReadabilityScore": 17,
    "daleChallReadabilityScoreText": "average 13th to 15th-grade (college) student",
    "url": "https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts"
  }
}
XML Response
200 OK
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<response>
  <status>ok</status>
  <error xsi:nil="true" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"/>
  <data>
    <fleschReadingEase>24.34</fleschReadingEase>
    <fleschReadingEaseText>Very Confusing</fleschReadingEaseText>
    <fleschKincaidGrade>19.3</fleschKincaidGrade>
    <gunningFog>19.62</gunningFog>
    <colemanLiauIndex>13.12</colemanLiauIndex>
    <smogIndex>14.37</smogIndex>
    <automatedReadabilityIndex>22.6</automatedReadabilityIndex>
    <daleChallReadabilityScore>17</daleChallReadabilityScore>
    <daleChallReadabilityScoreText>average 13th to 15th-grade (college) student</daleChallReadabilityScoreText>
    <url>https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts</url>
  </data>
</response>
YAML Response
200 OK
status: ok
error: null
data:
  fleschReadingEase: 24.34
  fleschReadingEaseText: Very Confusing
  fleschKincaidGrade: 19.3
  gunningFog: 19.62
  colemanLiauIndex: 13.12
  smogIndex: 14.37
  automatedReadabilityIndex: 22.6
  daleChallReadabilityScore: 17
  daleChallReadabilityScoreText: average 13th to 15th-grade (college) student
  url: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts
CSV Response
200 OK
keyvalue
fleschReadingEase24.34
fleschReadingEaseTextVery Confusing
fleschKincaidGrade19.3
gunningFog19.62
colemanLiauIndex13.12
smogIndex14.37
automatedReadabilityIndex22.6
daleChallReadabilityScore17
daleChallReadabilityScoreTextaverage 13th to 15th-grade (college) student
urlhttps://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts

Response Structure

All API responses follow a consistent structure with the following fields:

FieldTypeDescriptionExample
statusstringIndicates whether the request was successful ("ok") or failed ("error")ok
errorstring | nullContains error message if status is "error", otherwise nullnull
dataobject | nullContains the API response data if successful, otherwise null{...}

Learn more about response formats →

Response Data Fields

When the request is successful, the data object contains the following fields:

Response fields marked with Premium are available exclusively on paid plans.View pricing
FieldTypeSample ValueDescription
fleschReadingEasePremiumnumber24.34Flesch Reading Ease score (0-100, higher is easier)
fleschReadingEaseTextPremiumstring"Very Confusing"Descriptive text interpretation of Flesch Reading Ease
fleschKincaidGradePremiumnumber19.3Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (US school grade equivalency)
gunningFogPremiumnumber19.62Gunning Fog Index (years of education needed to understand)
colemanLiauIndexPremiumnumber13.12Coleman-Liau Index (US grade level based on character count)
smogIndexPremiumnumber14.37SMOG Index (years of education to understand text)
automatedReadabilityIndexPremiumnumber22.6Automated Readability Index (US grade level estimate)
daleChallReadabilityScorePremiumnumber17Dale-Chall Readability Score (educational level)
daleChallReadabilityScoreTextPremiumstring"average 13th to 15th-grade (college) student"Descriptive interpretation of Dale-Chall Readability Score
urlstring"https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts"The analyzed URL from the request

Headers

Required and optional headers for Website Readability API requests:

Header NameRequiredExample ValueDescription
X-API-Keyrequiredyour_api_key_hereYour APIVerve API key. Found in your dashboard under API Keys.
Acceptoptionalapplication/jsonSpecify response format: application/json (default), application/xml, or application/yaml
User-AgentoptionalMyApp/1.0Identifies your application for analytics and debugging purposes
X-Request-IDoptionalreq_123456789Custom request identifier for tracking and debugging requests
Cache-Controloptionalno-cacheControl caching behavior for the request and response

Learn more about request headers →

GraphQL AccessALPHA

Access Website Readability through GraphQL to combine it with other API calls in a single request. Query only the website readability data you need with precise field selection, and orchestrate complex data fetching workflows.

Test Website Readability in the GraphQL Explorer to confirm availability and experiment with queries.

Credit Cost: Each API called in your GraphQL query consumes its standard credit cost.

GraphQL Endpoint
POST https://api.apiverve.com/v1/graphql
GraphQL Query Example
query {
  websitereadability(
    input: {
      url: "https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/concepts"
    }
  ) {
    fleschReadingEase
    fleschReadingEaseText
    fleschKincaidGrade
    gunningFog
    colemanLiauIndex
    smogIndex
    automatedReadabilityIndex
    daleChallReadabilityScore
    daleChallReadabilityScoreText
    url
  }
}

Note: Authentication is handled via the x-api-key header in your GraphQL request, not as a query parameter.

CORS Support

The Website Readability API supports Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) with wildcard configuration, allowing you to call Website Readability directly from browser-based applications without proxy servers.

CORS HeaderValueDescription
Access-Control-Allow-Origin*Accepts requests from any origin
Access-Control-Allow-Methods*Accepts any HTTP method
Access-Control-Allow-Headers*Accepts any request headers

Browser Usage: You can call Website Readability directly from JavaScript running in the browser without encountering CORS errors. No proxy server or additional configuration needed.

Learn more about CORS support →

Rate Limiting

Website Readability API requests are subject to rate limiting based on your subscription plan. These limits ensure fair usage and maintain service quality for all Website Readability users.

PlanRate LimitDescription
Free5 requests/minHard rate limit enforced - exceeding will return 429 errors
StarterNo LimitProduction ready - standard traffic priority
ProNo LimitProduction ready - preferred traffic priority
MegaNo LimitProduction ready - highest traffic priority

Learn more about rate limiting →

Rate Limit Headers

When rate limits apply, each Website Readability response includes headers to help you track your usage:

HeaderDescription
X-RateLimit-LimitMaximum number of requests allowed per time window
X-RateLimit-RemainingNumber of requests remaining in the current window
X-RateLimit-ResetUnix timestamp when the rate limit window resets

Handling Rate Limits

Free Plan: When you exceed your rate limit, Website Readability returns a 429 Too Many Requests status code. Your application should implement appropriate backoff logic to handle this gracefully.

Paid Plans: No rate limiting or throttling applied. All paid plans (Starter, Pro, Mega) are production-ready.

Best Practices for Website Readability:

  • Monitor the rate limit headers to track your Website Readability usage (Free plan only)
  • Cache website readability responses where appropriate to reduce API calls
  • Upgrade to Pro or Mega for guaranteed no-throttle Website Readability performance

Note: Website Readability rate limits are separate from credit consumption. You may have credits remaining but still hit rate limits when using Website Readability on Free tier.

Error Codes

The Website Readability API uses standard HTTP status codes to indicate success or failure:

CodeMessageDescriptionSolution
200OKRequest successful, data returnedNo action needed - request was successful
400Bad RequestInvalid request parameters or malformed requestCheck required parameters and ensure values match expected formats
401UnauthorizedMissing or invalid API keyInclude x-api-key header with valid API key from dashboard
403ForbiddenAPI key lacks permission or insufficient creditsCheck credit balance in dashboard or upgrade plan
429Too Many RequestsRate limit exceeded (Free: 5 req/min)Implement request throttling or upgrade to paid plan
500Internal Server ErrorServer error occurredRetry request after a few seconds, contact support if persists
503Service UnavailableAPI temporarily unavailableWait and retry, check status page for maintenance updates

Learn more about error handling →

Need help? Contact support with your X-Request-ID for assistance.

Integrate Website Readability with SDKs

Get started quickly with official Website Readability SDKs for your preferred language. Each library handles authentication, request formatting, and error handling automatically.

Available for Node.js, Python, C#/.NET, and Android/Java. All SDKs are open source and regularly updated.

Integrate Website Readability with No-Code API Tools

Connect the Website Readability API to your favorite automation platform without writing code. Build workflows that leverage website readability data across thousands of apps.

All platforms use your same API key to access Website Readability. Visit our integrations hub for step-by-step setup guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get an API key for Website Readability?
Sign up for a free account at dashboard.apiverve.com. Your API key will be automatically generated and available in your dashboard. The same key works for Website Readability and all other APIVerve APIs. The free plan includes 1,000 credits plus a 500 credit bonus.
How many credits does Website Readability cost?

Each successful Website Readability API call consumes credits based on plan tier. Check the pricing section above for the exact credit cost. Failed requests and errors don't consume credits, so you only pay for successful website readability lookups.

Can I use Website Readability in production?

The free plan is for testing and development only. For production use of Website Readability, upgrade to a paid plan (Starter, Pro, or Mega) which includes commercial use rights, no attribution requirements, and guaranteed uptime SLAs. All paid plans are production-ready.

Can I use Website Readability from a browser?
Yes! The Website Readability API supports CORS with wildcard configuration, so you can call it directly from browser-based JavaScript without needing a proxy server. See the CORS section above for details.
What happens if I exceed my Website Readability credit limit?

When you reach your monthly credit limit, Website Readability API requests will return an error until you upgrade your plan or wait for the next billing cycle. You'll receive notifications at 80% and 95% usage to give you time to upgrade if needed.

What's Next?

Continue your journey with these recommended resources

Was this page helpful?