Every second counts when developers evaluate your API. Time-to-first-call (TTFC) measures how long it takes from initial signup to making a successful API request. The right onboarding process lets developers reach a working request in under two minutes. More complicated setups often push that first successful call past the ten-minute mark.
Ready to discover where your API stands? Run this three-step benchmark to get your TTFC score and identify exactly what's slowing down your onboarding process.
Before you run the three-step API onboarding benchmark, read how cutting a minute from your TTFC can improve adoption and developer experience.
Understanding the Importance of API Onboarding Speed
API onboarding speed directly impacts developer adoption and long-term success. Surveys place the early-stage quit rate between 50% and 70% when friction appears. Lack of documentation tops the list of blockers for 52% of developers in Postman’s 2023 State of the API report, while API.market warns that up to 50% of developers walk away when docs fail to answer first questions.
Real-World Proof That Seconds Matter
Postman’s experiment reduced API time-to-first-call; the previous baseline was seventeen, giving a 1.7x acceleration produced by a ready-to-run Postman Collection. Some APIs in the test improved by as much as 56x. Faster first calls translate into higher activation rates and lower support load.
Impact of TTFC on User Experience
Developers decide whether to keep or scrap an API before writing production code. A sub-three-minute TTFC delivers an immediate “aha” moment, lowers cognitive load, and sparks curiosity to explore advanced endpoints. A ten-minute wait erodes trust, triggers context-switching, and raises doubts about long-term support. Fast first calls create positive momentum that carries through the rest of the build.
Slow onboarding does more than frustrate users; it drains resources. Support tickets rise, documentation bounce rates climb, and negative word-of-mouth circulates through developer communities. Stripe’s seven-line quick-start and Twilio’s interactive docs became growth engines precisely because they removed those early hurdles.
Ready to see how your onboarding compares? Gather the simple tools below and run the five-minute test.
Prep: Gather Your Tools
Set up a clean test environment so the benchmark mirrors a first-time visit. Have these items ready:
- Fresh browser window in incognito mode
- Stopwatch or timer app
- Notepad for timestamps
- Link to the API quick-start guide
- cURL or Postman installed
- Email address for account creation
Skip code builds or environment tweaks. The goal is to time the out-of-the-box path a developer follows.
The 5-Minute API Onboarding Challenge
A five-minute test shows how long developers need to reach their first successful call. Use a stopwatch and follow the three checkpoints below. Write down each timestamp; the gaps reveal exactly where onboarding slows.
Step 1: Start the Clock (≈ 45 s)
Open the API home page and click Sign Up or Get API Key. Note the moment the registration form appears. Fill in the fields, complete any email verification, and wait for credentials. Stop the timer when a sandbox or production key appears. Label this moment credentials-obtained time.
Step 2: Make the First Call (≈ 3 min)
Open the quick-start guide. Choose a basic endpoint such as /status or /ping. Copy the sample request, add your key, set any required parameters, and send the call. Keep the stopwatch running through authentication errors, parameter edits, or endpoint searches so the measurement reflects a real developer path.
Step 3: Record First Success (≈ 75 s)
When the response shows 200 OK and returns data, stop the timer. Mark this moment as first-success time.
Calculate TTFC
TTFC = first-success time – credentials-obtained time
Compare your result with the benchmark tiers to determine whether onboarding scores as Champion, Competitive, Needs Work, or Red Flag.
Where Your API’s TTFC Onboarding Stands
Comparing your onboarding benchmark to industry standards starts with your TTFC (Time to First Call) score. Check the table below to find out how your current onboarding speed measures against common benchmarks.
Time to First Call (TTFC) Performance Benchmarks
| TTFC Score | Performance Level | What It Means |
| Under 2 minutes | Champion | Onboarding moves quickly and removes obstacles. |
| 2–5 minutes | Competitive | Most developers get started with minimal delay. |
| 5–10 minutes | Needs Work | Friction in the flow causes drop-offs. |
| Over 10 minutes | Red Flag | Major blockers keep developers from making progress. |
Champion-level TTFC scores attract developer adoption at rates three to four times higher than Red Flag APIs. Even moving from Needs Work to Competitive TTFC often brings a 40-60% jump in conversion rates.
With your TTFC benchmark in hand, focus next on where delays occurred. Documenting friction points prepares you for targeted improvements.
Where Your TTFC Breaks Down
Once you’ve recorded your TTFC score, the next step is reviewing exactly where the delays occurred. Most onboarding friction follows a predictable sequence. Each time range aligns with a specific category of blockers that slow developers down. Use your benchmark timestamps to match slow points with the table below.
TTFC Friction Categories by Time Range
| Time Range | Friction Category | Common Symptoms | Root Causes | Fixes That Work |
| 0–2 min | Signup Delays | Long forms, email wait times, manual account reviews | Excessive validation, slow email systems, approval queues | Reduce forms to three fields, offer instant sandbox access, enable auto-verification |
| 2–4 min | Authentication Trouble | Confusing key setup, vague instructions, failed attempts | Hidden keys, complex auth flows, token handling issues | Auto-generate keys, surface credentials early, simplify auth steps |
| 4–8 min | Documentation Gaps | Missing samples, unclear steps, broken links | Outdated content, buried quick-starts, unrealistic examples | Add visible quick-starts, real code samples, test all guides regularly |
| 8+ min | Tooling Barriers | SDK installs, environment setup, platform restrictions | Locked-in tools, no browser test, heavy dependencies | Add cURL examples, offer a browser-based explorer, support multiple stacks |
Most APIs show signs of friction in more than one category. Start by addressing the stage with the highest drop-off rather than attempting to improve all areas simultaneously. Teams that address signup and authentication friction early often see the biggest improvements in developer success and onboarding speed.
Top Tips to Improve API Onboarding Speed
Focus on these high-impact improvements to reduce your TTFC score:
Auto-Generate API Keys: Eliminate manual approval steps by providing instant sandbox credentials. Let developers start testing immediately while background verification completes.
Runnable Code Blocks: Replace static code examples with interactive snippets that developers can execute directly in their browser. Include pre-populated API keys and realistic sample data.
Copy-Paste Snippets: Provide one-click copying for all code examples. Include complete, working commands that require minimal modification.
Explore our API documentation services in Alpharetta for comprehensive onboarding strategies and detailed implementation guides that reduce time-to-first-call delays and accelerate developer integration.
All three tactics rely on strong documentation. Most onboarding slowdowns trace back to gaps or confusion in your documentation. Next, see how well-written docs can push TTFC scores even lower.
How Documentation Accelerates API Onboarding
Strong documentation sits at the heart of every fast onboarding experience. Clear, well-organized guides give developers everything needed to make their first call within minutes. When documentation walks through each step, confusion drops and support tickets decrease. Every gap in instructions or missing example adds unnecessary delays.
Key Practices for API Documentation
- Place a quick-start guide where developers will find it first
- Include tested code samples in major programming languages
- Provide realistic sample requests and responses for each endpoint
Pitfalls That Slow Down API Onboarding
- Hiding authentication details in long or scattered guides
- Leaving placeholders without clear replacement instructions
- Omitting error-handling examples for common failure scenarios
Each improvement made to your documentation lowers time-to-first-call and helps developers succeed on the first attempt. Standardized quick-start flows and prominent authentication details speed up onboarding for every user. For teams ready to update their process or in need of a proven foundation, the following OpenAPI Starter Template offers a clear place to begin.
Level Up with the OpenAPI Starter Template
Accelerate your API onboarding improvements with our proven OpenAPI starter template. The template includes pre-built sections for quick-start guides, authentication flows, and interactive examples that typically reduce TTFC scores by 40-70%.
The template unifies code examples across multiple programming languages and eliminates redundant explanation steps. Instead of scattered documentation, developers follow a single, streamlined path from signup to first successful API call.
Download the complete template package and implementation guide to transform your API onboarding experience.
Improve Your API's First Impression
TTFC reveals more than speed to first call; the number shows where your API sits in the market and how far it can grow. Teams that streamline onboarding win higher adoption, lower support load, and faster revenue gains.
The five-minute benchmark you just ran sets a clear baseline. Whether the score calls for a quick tune-up or a full rebuild, the priorities stay the same: reduce friction, simplify authentication, and give developers an effortless first experience.
Tackle the quick wins from your friction log, then move on to deeper fixes. Each second trimmed from TTFC lifts conversion rates and strengthens relationships with your developer community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the average time-to-first-call for APIs?
Most APIs fall between three and eight minutes. The best-in-class consistently stay under two.
How can I speed up my API onboarding?
Start with instant API key generation, clear quick-start docs, and runnable code samples that work out of the box.
What tools help measure time-to-first-call?
A browser stopwatch, network timing in developer tools, or a simple test script all reveal real onboarding speed.
Why does API onboarding speed matter?
A fast start keeps developers engaged, drives more activations, and sets the tone for long-term adoption.
How does my API’s speed compare to others?
Under two minutes puts you in the top tier. Over ten minutes signals major friction.
What are the biggest blockers for onboarding speed?
Waiting for key approvals, confusing authentication, buried docs, and missing examples slow everything down.
Ongoing API Onboarding Improvements
Regular benchmarking gives teams a clear view of how developers interact with an API. The five-minute benchmark exposes the true onboarding experience. High scores confirm that the fundamentals are in place. Lower scores make it easy to spot exactly where friction slows progress.
Focus on quick wins early. Auto-generate keys to remove signup barriers. Include runnable code samples to answer developer questions immediately. Simplify authentication so developers start using the API with fewer obstacles.
Every second counts during onboarding. Developers who run into delays often choose another platform. Teams that reduce time-to-first-call achieve better conversion rates, more positive feedback, and a user base that continues to grow.
Benchmarking works best as an ongoing practice. Monthly or quarterly check-ins allow teams to spot new friction points before they become larger issues. Improvements made at the start of onboarding support long-term adoption and developer satisfaction.
Getting Help and Next Steps
For support with your onboarding flow or to set up a TTFC benchmark, schedule a free TTFC walkthrough. Young Copy will review your process and deliver recommendations tailored to your environment.
