Google · Guide

How to run a Google search

TL;DR

To run a Google search, sign up for a free Captapi key, then send one GET request to /v1/google/search with your input. You get clean JSON back in seconds for 42 credits per call — no OAuth, scraping or platform SDKs. Search Google programmatically and get structured, ranked results.

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How to run a Google search (step by step)

1
Get a free API key
Create a free Captapi account (100 credits, no card) and generate an API key from the dashboard.
2
Call the Google Search API
Send an authenticated GET request to /v1/google/search with your input. No OAuth, no scraping setup.
3
Read the JSON response
Parse the clean JSON response. Results are cached for 24 hours, so repeat calls are free.

Code example

curl "https://api.captapi.com/v1/google/search?q=skincare" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."

What the response looks like

{
  "success": true,
  "cached": false,
  "creditsUsed": 42,
  "data": {
    "total": 2,
    "results": [
      {
        "title": "Top result",
        "url": "https://example.com/1",
        "author": "@creator",
        "views": 530120
      },
      {
        "title": "Second result",
        "url": "https://example.com/2",
        "author": "@maker",
        "views": 210430
      }
    ]
  }
}

Request parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
q	string	Yes	Search query or keywords (min 2 characters).
country	string	No	Two-letter country code (default us).
language	string	No	Google language code (default en).
limit	integer	No	Max items to return (default 10, max 100). Billed per result.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Google Search API do?

The Google Search API lets you search and return matching results from a public Google query using one GET request to /v1/google/search. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or scraping setup required.

How many credits does the Google Search API cost?

Each successful call costs 42 credits. Responses are cached for 24 hours, and cached results cost 0 credits. Failed or empty results are never charged.

Do I need a Google API key or OAuth?

No. A single Captapi key works across every platform Captapi supports — YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, Reddit, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Rumble. We handle proxies, rate limits, retries, and authentication for you.

Is the Google Search API suitable for production use?

Yes. It is a stable REST endpoint with predictable JSON, automatic retries, and a shared 24-hour cache. Use it for RAG pipelines, analytics, monitoring, and content automation.

Ready to run a Google search?

Start free with 100 credits — no credit card required.

Get your free API key