What Happens When Your API Provider Shuts Down

The email arrives on a Tuesday afternoon. "Dear valued customer, after careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue our API service effective [date 60 days from now]." Your stomach drops. That API is in production. Real users depend on it. And now you have 60 days — if you're lucky — to find an alternative, rewrite the integration, test everything, and deploy without breaking the features your customers expect. This happens more often than you'd think. And it will probably happen to you at least once in your career. Here's what actually happens when an API provider shuts down, and how to survive it. The Shutdown Timeline Not all shutdowns are equal. The timeline tells you a lot about what you're dealing with. The Good Shutdown (3-6 months notice): A professional company is winding down responsibly. You'll get email notifications, documentation updates, and usually a recommended alternative. This is manageable. Stressful, but manageable. The Bad Shutdown (30