How to run a TikTok search users
GET request to /v1/tiktok/search/users with your input. You get clean JSON back in seconds for 1 credit per call — no OAuth, scraping or platform SDKs. Search TikTok users — id, secUid, followers/following, verified, and sample videos, with cursor pagination.How to run a TikTok search users (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 TikTok Search Users API
Send an authenticated GET request to /v1/tiktok/search/users with your input. No OAuth, no scraping setup.
- 3
Read the JSON response
Parse the clean JSON response. Pass cache=true for a free 24h cache hit; default is always fresh.
Code example
curl "https://api.captapi.com/v1/tiktok/search/users?q=khaby" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."
# or: -H "x-api-key: capt_live_..."What the response looks like
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"query": "khaby",
"totalReturned": 5,
"hasMore": true,
"nextCursor": 30,
"users": [
{
"id": "127905465618821121",
"secUid": "MS4wLjABAAAAwAg0rSzO65WQfz4RzQgGv2Xdv108BgPXhRrrmNVIHQZ9PO8-flwwRtEppYTS0OjA",
"username": "khaby.lame",
"displayName": "Khabane lame",
"bio": "Se vuoi ridere sei nel posto giusto😎 If u wanna laugh u r in the right place😎",
"url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@khaby.lame",
"followers": 162476412,
"following": 81,
"likes": 2650481169,
"verified": true,
"profileImage": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast8-avt-0068-tx2/08987e23b94057953fd4f1738694bf5f~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:1080:1080.jpeg?dr=9640&refresh_token=ef0e9f02&x-expires=1786006800&x-signature=7Mx8iglAOcSlnXlc8QyIBifQV0M%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=81f88b70&idc=useast8"
},
{
"id": "6663294979903422470",
"secUid": "MS4wLjABAAAAbq-1Yqpp1a6u5KbV_sMg93_FK7AN3d6MJeZ3H0Yj3vZXOtqFXXjc2TIkMW7flCxX",
"username": "espn",
"displayName": "ESPN",
"bio": "Serving Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.",
"url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@espn",
"followers": 60100768,
"following": 657,
"likes": 5769632093,
"verified": true,
"profileImage": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-maliva-avt-0068/7310257743653240837~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:1080:1080.jpeg?dr=9640&refresh_token=7e4745a7&x-expires=1786006800&x-signature=cJrkoOAcA8KBqdaAWgBgeaE6f6w%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=81f88b70&idc=useast8"
}
]
}
}Billing metadata (credits charged, cache hit/miss) is returned in the X-Captapi-Credits and X-Captapi-Cache response headers.
Request parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| q | string | Yes | Search query matched against usernames, display names and bios (min 2 characters). |
| limit | integer | No | Max items to return (default 20, max 100). Flat 1 credit per call. |
| cursor | integer | No | Pagination offset. Leave at 0 (or omit) for the first page; then pass the nextCursor value returned in the previous response. A null nextCursor means the end of the results. |
| cache | boolean | No | Set true to serve from the 24h response cache (0 credits on hit). Default false — always fetch fresh. Envelope includes cached + cachedAt on hits. |
Frequently asked questions
What does the TikTok Search Users API do?
The TikTok Search Users API lets you search and return matching results from a public TikTok query using one GET request to /v1/tiktok/search/users. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or infrastructure setup required.
How many credits does the TikTok Search Users API cost?
Each successful call costs 1 credit. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. Hits include cached + cachedAt. Selected profile endpoints also accept cacheMaxAge=1d|3d|7d|14d|30d. Failed or empty results are never charged.
Do I need a TikTok 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, Rumble, Spotify, Kwai, and more. We handle proxies, rate limits, retries, and authentication for you.
Why do I need secUid if I already have the @handle?
Handles change; id and secUid do not. TikTok's follower lists, video lists, and many internal calls require secUid. Prefer id/secUid for CRM joins and chaining — use username for display.
Is the TikTok Search Users API suitable for production use?
Yes. It is a stable REST endpoint with predictable JSON and automatic retries. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. Hits include cached + cachedAt. Selected profile endpoints also accept cacheMaxAge=1d|3d|7d|14d|30d. Use it for analytics, monitoring, and content automation.
Ready to run a TikTok search users?
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