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TikTok · Guide

How to run a TikTok top search

TL;DR
To run a TikTok top search, sign up for a free Captapi key, then send one GET request to /v1/tiktok/top-search with your input. You get clean JSON back in seconds for ~14 credits (0.7/result) per call — no OAuth, scraping or platform SDKs. Search TikTok's top mixed results for a keyword — videos and related hits ranked the way TikTok's search ranks them.
Get your free API keyAPI reference

How to run a TikTok top search (step by step)

  1. 1

    Get a free API key

    Create a free Captapi account (100 credits, no card) and generate an API key from the dashboard.

  2. 2

    Call the TikTok Top Search API

    Send an authenticated GET request to /v1/tiktok/top-search with your input. No OAuth, no scraping setup.

  3. 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/top-search?q=skincare" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."
# or: -H "x-api-key: capt_live_..."

What the response looks like

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "query": "skincare",
    "totalReturned": 3,
    "results": [
      {
        "platform": "tiktok",
        "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@promakeuppro/video/7652684315989462290",
        "id": "7652684315989462290",
        "caption": "The key is the 5% niacinamide concentration. A lot of people think 10% is better — but for Filipino skin, 5% is the sweet spot. It's strong enough to deliver real results, yet gentle enough for long-term use.#Niacinamide #5PercentNiacinamide #DarkSpots #DullSkin #Pores #SkincarePH #TikTokShopPhilippines #GlowUp #BreakoutNoMore#teashell#Philippine#philippinesYXAJH145-CYX",
        "description": "The key is the 5% niacinamide concentration. A lot of people think 10% is better — but for Filipino skin, 5% is the sweet spot. It's strong enough to deliver real results, yet gentle enough for long-term use.#Niacinamide #5PercentNiacinamide #DarkSpots #DullSkin #Pores #SkincarePH #TikTokShopPhilippines #GlowUp #BreakoutNoMore#teashell#Philippine#philippinesYXAJH145-CYX",
        "publishedAt": "2026-06-18T10:43:42.000Z",
        "durationSeconds": 31,
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-alisg-p-0037/osA0WBPuIylBYAupFvaaKEstkjz5yiizzQrdG~tplv-tiktokx-origin.image?dr=9636&x-expires=1783267200&x-signature=LOMsWtwAfKr4wuKhPER4S49PeOs%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=81f88b70&shcp=43f4a2f9&idc=useast5",
        "author": {
          "username": "promakeuppro",
          "displayName": "ProMakeupPro",
          "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@promakeuppro",
          "followers": 84800,
          "verified": false,
          "profileImage": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-alisg-avt-0068/5210f334310430d66bce7a5ff2211c00~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:720:720.jpeg?dr=9640&refresh_token=74e973ee&x-expires=1783267200&x-signature=OWXO6TGMIenpPwIHh%2BpJMq137qg%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=81f88b70&idc=useast5"
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": 1000000,
          "likes": 6253,
          "comments": 16,
          "shares": 566,
          "saves": 1160
        },
        "hashtags": [],
        "musicName": "原声 - ProMakeupPro"
      },
      {
        "platform": "tiktok",
        "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.health888/video/7652317428352830733",
        "id": "7652317428352830733",
        "caption": "Triple Collagen Cream helps hydrate and refine skin from the inside out for radiance. It also increases skin elasticity for a firm, plumped and youthful look. #medicube #collagencream #moisturizer #antiaging #over40 *Limited time offer. Prices and promotions may vary and are subject to change at any time*",
        "description": "Triple Collagen Cream helps hydrate and refine skin from the inside out for radiance. It also increases skin elasticity for a firm, plumped and youthful look. #medicube #collagencream #moisturizer #antiaging #over40 *Limited time offer. Prices and promotions may vary and are subject to change at any time*",
        "publishedAt": "2026-06-17T11:00:57.000Z",
        "durationSeconds": 32,
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-p-0068-tx/o8IIkLUJPEAYHnGbQelhAkAAIyfUIZeNzBzAjm~tplv-tiktokx-dmt-logom:tos-useast5-i-0068-tx/oUAQgEpAR5dIqAffkAiMBnmxsk0DECFiSpKDAl.image?dr=9634&x-expires=1783267200&x-signature=HBYQuso88OhBcXWzfwjTeKX5ETI%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=81f88b70&shcp=43f4a2f9&idc=useast5",
        "author": {
          "username": "dr.health888",
          "displayName": "Dr.Health888",
          "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.health888",
          "followers": 126,
          "verified": false,
          "profileImage": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-avt-0068-tx/bfd0795351a86eb5ba4a987fc5bf9970~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:720:720.jpeg?dr=9640&refresh_token=9dd3cf87&x-expires=1783267200&x-signature=uQZH9GHe3L3Yf7%2FmWsaqs1%2BJMq8%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=81f88b70&idc=useast5"
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": 116900,
          "likes": 630,
          "comments": 35,
          "shares": 278,
          "saves": 177
        },
        "hashtags": [
          "medicube",
          "collagencream",
          "moisturizer",
          "antiaging",
          "over40"
        ],
        "musicName": "original sound"
      },
      {
        "platform": "tiktok",
        "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@manelparletrop/video/7656065157168237857",
        "id": "7656065157168237857",
        "caption": "it’s been a whileeee since i did a full face of @SKIN1004 US \nProducts: \nCentella Light Cleansing Oil\nCentella Ampoule Foam\nCentella Quick Calming Pad\nCentella Ampoule\nProbio-Cica Enrich Cream\nProbio-Cica Bakuchiol Eye Cream\nHyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum\n#grwm #SKIN1004 #Centella #Koreanskincare #kbeauty",
        "description": "it’s been a whileeee since i did a full face of @SKIN1004 US \nProducts: \nCentella Light Cleansing Oil\nCentella Ampoule Foam\nCentella Quick Calming Pad\nCentella Ampoule\nProbio-Cica Enrich Cream\nProbio-Cica Bakuchiol Eye Cream\nHyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum\n#grwm #SKIN1004 #Centella #Koreanskincare #kbeauty",
        "publishedAt": "2026-06-27T13:23:03.000Z",
        "durationSeconds": 126,
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast2a-p-0037-euttp/oc3f0U6EA6R2AQTItCFqAzBDQ6mAADErf8PE3q~tplv-tiktokx-origin.image?dr=9636&x-expires=1783267200&x-signature=owCd6rbtE1tGdmXFLqgzoE09DxA%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=81f88b70&shcp=43f4a2f9&idc=useast5",
        "author": {
          "username": "manelparletrop",
          "displayName": "manel",
          "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@manelparletrop",
          "followers": 1400000,
          "verified": false,
          "profileImage": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-maliva-avt-0068/b56edd497a2fa4269f437a5f98cfcea1~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:720:720.jpeg?dr=9640&refresh_token=abbf5f23&x-expires=1783267200&x-signature=FY0hRYdxNS9DNWn7lEvswfhbxc4%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=81f88b70&idc=useast5"
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": 3000000,
          "likes": 163500,
          "comments": 1368,
          "shares": 6539,
          "saves": 6773
        },
        "hashtags": [
          "",
          "grwm",
          "skin1004",
          "centella",
          "koreanskincare",
          "kbeauty"
        ],
        "musicName": "original sound"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Billing metadata (credits charged, cache hit/miss) is returned in the X-Captapi-Credits and X-Captapi-Cache response headers.

Request parameters

NameTypeRequiredDescription
qstring YesSearch query or keywords (min 2 characters).
limitintegerNoMax items to return (default 20, max 200). Billed per result.
cachebooleanNoSet true to serve from the 24h response cache. Default false — always fetch fresh data.

Frequently asked questions

What does the TikTok Top Search API do?

The TikTok Top Search API lets you search and return matching results from a public TikTok query using one GET request to /v1/tiktok/top-search. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or infrastructure setup required.

How many credits does the TikTok Top Search API cost?

At the default limit this endpoint costs 14 credits (0.7 per result). Billing scales with how many results you request. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h shared cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. 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.

Is the TikTok Top Search 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 shared cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. Use it for analytics, monitoring, and content automation.

Ready to run a TikTok top search?

Start free with 100 credits — no credit card required.

Get your free API key