TikTok · Guide

How to run a TikTok user search

TL;DR

To run a TikTok user search, sign up for a free Captapi key, then send one GET request to /v1/tiktok/user-search with your input. You get clean JSON back in seconds for 8 credits per call — no OAuth, scraping or platform SDKs. Search TikTok programmatically and get structured, ranked results.

Get your free API key API reference

How to run a TikTok user 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 TikTok User Search API
Send an authenticated GET request to /v1/tiktok/user-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/tiktok/user-search?q=skincare" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."

What the response looks like

{
  "success": true,
  "cached": false,
  "creditsUsed": 8,
  "data": {
    "query": "khaby",
    "totalReturned": 10,
    "users": [
      {
        "username": "khabylam206",
        "displayName": "khaby lame",
        "bio": "No stress \nOnly funny 🤣 😂",
        "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@khabylam206",
        "followers": 71700,
        "verified": false,
        "profileImage": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-maliva-avt-0068/3dd8c5e3598ec508f5768144e7338d10~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:720:720.jpeg?dr=9640&refresh_token=9a9eefbd&x-expires=1780686000&x-signature=wd0lGv2zU3FtToLz2%2FEJFNeD1fg%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=81f88b70&idc=useast5"
      },
      {
        "username": "khabylam206",
        "displayName": "khaby lame",
        "bio": "No stress \nOnly funny 🤣 😂",
        "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@khabylam206",
        "followers": 71700,
        "verified": false,
        "profileImage": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-maliva-avt-0068/3dd8c5e3598ec508f5768144e7338d10~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:720:720.jpeg?dr=9640&refresh_token=9a9eefbd&x-expires=1780686000&x-signature=wd0lGv2zU3FtToLz2%2FEJFNeD1fg%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=81f88b70&idc=useast5"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Request parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
q	string	Yes	Search query or keywords (min 2 characters).
limit	integer	No	Max items to return (default 20, max 100). Billed per result.

Frequently asked questions

What does the TikTok User Search API do?

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

How many credits does the TikTok User Search API cost?

Each successful call costs 8 credits. Responses are cached for 24 hours, and cached results cost 0 credits. 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, and Rumble. We handle proxies, rate limits, retries, and authentication for you.

Is the TikTok User 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 TikTok user search?

Start free with 100 credits — no credit card required.

Get your free API key