Pinterest's v5 API requires a business account — personal accounts can't use it. Once connected, post mate works as a pin scheduler tool: each pin needs a board target, so the editor surfaces a board picker next to every Pinterest connection. Image and standard video pins are supported; Idea Pins are not exposed on the public API.
Connect Pinterest in 5 steps
- Confirm a business Pinterest account
The v5 API only works with business accounts. Convert in pinterest.com/business/convert if you are still on a personal profile — it is free and reversible.
- Open /app/connections and click "Connect Pinterest"
post mate redirects to Pinterest's OAuth screen. Sign in with the email tied to the business account.
- Approve the scopes
Pinterest requests boards:read, pins:read and pins:write. boards:read is required so the board picker can list your boards in /app/compose; pins:write covers publishing.
- Pick a default board (optional)
On /app/connections you can pin a default board to the Pinterest connection. New posts in /app/compose pre-select it — handy if you mostly post to one board.
- Compose a pin and schedule it
Attach an image or video, write a title and description, pick a destination URL, choose a board. At publish, post mate calls POST /v5/pins and stores the pin ID. Errors (most often: image too small or board archived) surface on the post detail page.
Once you're back inside post mate the account shows up on /app/connections with a green connection dot. From there it's available as a target in every composer.
What you can post to Pinterest from post mate
- ✓Image pin — PNG/JPG, 2:3 aspect recommended.
- ✓Video pin — MP4/MOV, up to 2 GB.
- ✓Title + description
- ✓Destination link — Optional but useful for traffic.
- ✓Board assignment — Required — every pin lives on one board.
- ×Idea Pins (story pins) — Not exposed on the v5 API.
- ×Carousel pins — Not exposed on the v5 API at scale.
Pinterest API capabilities — the honest list
What works
- Image pins
- Standard video pins
- Title, description, alt text
- Destination link
- Board selection
- Scheduled publish via post mate's queue
What the API doesn't expose
- Idea Pins (multi-page story pins)
- Tagging products in pins (no public endpoint)
- Editing a pin's board after publish (the API requires a new pin)
- Personal-account posting
- Bulk pin import beyond the rate limit
FAQs
Can I schedule Idea Pins?
No. The v5 API does not expose the Idea Pin endpoint to third parties. post mate sticks to image and standard video pins.
Do I need a different connection per board?
No. One Pinterest connection covers all your boards. The board is picked per pin in /app/compose.
Why was my pin rejected?
Most common reasons: image below 600px on the short side, broken destination URL, or a board that was archived after you started composing. Pinterest returns the reason in the error body — post mate surfaces it verbatim.
Does post mate store my Pinterest password?
No. OAuth tokens only, revocable from pinterest.com/settings/apps.
Can I connect multiple Pinterest accounts?
Yes. Run the OAuth flow once per account; each becomes a separate row.
Ready to schedule your first post?
Sign up for post mate, connect Pinterest from /app/connections, and start cross-posting from a single composer. 14-day free trial, cancel anytime — no credit card to start the trial when you sign up with Google.