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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 2 credits 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=nasa" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."
# or: -H "x-api-key: capt_live_..."

What the response looks like

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "query": "nasa",
    "totalReturned": 5,
    "results": [
      {
        "platform": "tiktok",
        "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@latinus_us/video/7667344380310670599",
        "id": "7667344380310670599",
        "caption": "Video obtenido por la NASA muestra la verdadera forma de la Tierra según su gravedad. Para que las diferencias sean visibles, fueron exageradas 10 mil veces y se elaboró con información recopilada por 19 satélites durante 15 años. #Latinus #InformaciónParaTi",
        "description": "Video obtenido por la NASA muestra la verdadera forma de la Tierra según su gravedad. Para que las diferencias sean visibles, fueron exageradas 10 mil veces y se elaboró con información recopilada por 19 satélites durante 15 años. #Latinus #InformaciónParaTi",
        "publishedAt": "2026-07-27T22:52:21.000Z",
        "durationSeconds": 47,
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-alisg-p-0037/owknk3giAYK0AIIE0Bi1A4BBwVUmAgNJvfMB7x~tplv-tiktokx-origin.image?dr=9636&x-expires=1785517200&x-signature=bnHCVenSGV0TB7nhxBq8lfWKVe0%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=81f88b70&shcp=43f4a2f9&idc=useast5",
        "author": {
          "username": "latinus_us",
          "displayName": "Latinus",
          "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@latinus_us",
          "followers": 22700000,
          "verified": true,
          "profileImage": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-maliva-avt-0068/9b1bc4bbfedb3bd917a27ff590234ca0~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:1080:1080.jpeg?dr=9640&refresh_token=97b8bbe5&x-expires=1785517200&x-signature=1ZGx4llDfPF1ly3oJa0XsXinyoY%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=81f88b70&idc=useast5"
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": 8400000,
          "likes": 810400,
          "comments": 19000,
          "shares": 145400,
          "saves": 65900
        },
        "hashtags": [
          "latinus",
          "informaciónparati",
          "Latinus",
          "InformaciónParaTi"
        ],
        "musicName": "original sound - Latinus"
      },
      {
        "platform": "tiktok",
        "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@missionartemisnasa/video/7628631080752450849",
        "id": "7628631080752450849",
        "caption": "ARTEMIS II Edit #nasa #artemis2 #fy #fyp #fyptt",
        "description": "ARTEMIS II Edit #nasa #artemis2 #fy #fyp #fyptt",
        "publishedAt": "2026-04-14T15:04:52.000Z",
        "durationSeconds": 13,
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast2a-p-0037-euttp/oAmD8QOCEOzBQ5FQpRIAuVlfpcnRBWE3eIDjrC~tplv-tiktokx-origin.image?dr=9636&x-expires=1785517200&x-signature=JK5MGls0OQFL2ENmqkVKSBo3ajU%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=81f88b70&shcp=43f4a2f9&idc=useast5",
        "author": {
          "username": "missionartemisnasa",
          "displayName": "MissionArtemis",
          "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@missionartemisnasa",
          "followers": 69,
          "verified": false,
          "profileImage": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast2a-avt-0068-euttp/fbdd74ed519afa76388646251f24ded1~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:1080:1080.jpeg?dr=9640&refresh_token=6f41b39b&x-expires=1785517200&x-signature=vpJCW3%2B4khpTq%2FDSdGTddKAFRPk%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=81f88b70&idc=useast5"
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": 14800,
          "likes": 375,
          "comments": 9,
          "shares": 11,
          "saves": 150
        },
        "hashtags": [
          "nasa",
          "artemis2",
          "fy",
          "fyp",
          "fyptt"
        ],
        "musicName": "sonido original"
      },
      {
        "platform": "tiktok",
        "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7665775952454061326",
        "id": "7665775952454061326",
        "caption": "Mission accomplished.     On April 10, 2026, the Artemis II crew safely returned to Earth after a 10-day journey around the Moon, splashing down off the California coast. 🌎",
        "description": "Mission accomplished.     On April 10, 2026, the Artemis II crew safely returned to Earth after a 10-day journey around the Moon, splashing down off the California coast. 🌎",
        "publishedAt": "2026-07-23T17:26:20.000Z",
        "durationSeconds": 36,
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-p-0068-tx/ok5iHxgYfAI772ZXADRqcrBpTEDSFEK3fk8IY1~tplv-tiktokx-origin.image?dr=9636&x-expires=1785517200&x-signature=9L4vadOW5auReX39p9TTdHmWw%2Fw%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=81f88b70&shcp=43f4a2f9&idc=useast5",
        "author": {
          "username": "nasa",
          "displayName": "NASA",
          "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa",
          "followers": 305800,
          "verified": true,
          "profileImage": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-avt-0068-tx/e5143212a59c09a008bf50f487d54d1f~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:1080:1080.jpeg?dr=9640&refresh_token=573cc2c1&x-expires=1785517200&x-signature=VsELKHyBLl0thL%2FtAwlBnrOsPzQ%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=81f88b70&idc=useast5"
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": 127200,
          "likes": 5846,
          "comments": 139,
          "shares": 61,
          "saves": 539
        },
        "musicName": "original sound"
      },
      {
        "platform": "tiktok",
        "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@astrokobi/video/7667293385178270998",
        "id": "7667293385178270998",
        "caption": "China’s Rocket just got STRUCK BY LIGHTNING #space #nasa #china #rocket #astrokobi",
        "description": "China’s Rocket just got STRUCK BY LIGHTNING #space #nasa #china #rocket #astrokobi",
        "publishedAt": "2026-07-27T19:34:20.000Z",
        "durationSeconds": 68,
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-no1a-p-0037-no/oATsrBh419CRTg1nA6iiwyBUCMAIR4cIIVv4ye~tplv-tiktokx-dmt-logom:tos-no1a-i-0068-no/o8BiksDrEh0CSzMBWntBfCLIldAiAA9wA5G1I4.image?dr=9634&x-expires=1785517200&x-signature=xnwkLDp1%2FMiV5%2FZEL%2Bu5DMqGS0c%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=81f88b70&shcp=43f4a2f9&idc=useast5",
        "author": {
          "username": "astrokobi",
          "displayName": "AstroKobi",
          "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@astrokobi",
          "followers": 3100000,
          "verified": false,
          "profileImage": "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-alisg-avt-0068/975e8c09236aff1c5b7d93b89c178a37~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:1080:1080.jpeg?dr=9640&refresh_token=340fcfa3&x-expires=1785517200&x-signature=1YbxI2murKyQ6YRmBU0KewhMWL4%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=81f88b70&idc=useast5"
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": 228900,
          "likes": 42900,
          "comments": 283,
          "shares": 1104,
          "saves": 3558
        },
        "hashtags": [
          "space",
          "nasa",
          "china",
          "rocket",
          "astrokobi"
        ],
        "musicName": "Everything In Its Right Place"
      },
      {
        "platform": "tiktok",
        "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7665725247332601118",
        "id": "7665725247332601118",
        "caption": "You’re listening to one of the sounds the Artemis II crew heard on the eve of splashing down on Earth. That steady knocking isn’t a problem, it’s Orion’s reentry thrusters firing in short, precise bursts to keep the spacecraft on the correct path at nearly 25,000 mph through Earth’s atmosphere.",
        "description": "You’re listening to one of the sounds the Artemis II crew heard on the eve of splashing down on Earth. That steady knocking isn’t a problem, it’s Orion’s reentry thrusters firing in short, precise bursts to keep the spacecraft on the correct path at nearly 25,000 mph through Earth’s atmosphere.",
        "publishedAt": "2026-07-23T14:09:41.000Z",
        "durationSeconds": 16,
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast8-p-0068-tx2/os18qBiPEAUIRAiIwiKI0KdBTMCAAWfhkBIBiI~tplv-tiktokx-origin.image?dr=9636&x-expires=1785517200&x-signature=7Ebgeeo8FYL58CUHPtyylYnVMPY%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=81f88b70&shcp=43f4a2f9&idc=useast5",
        "author": {
          "username": "nasa",
          "displayName": "NASA",
          "url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa",
          "followers": 305800,
          "verified": true,
          "profileImage": "https://p19-common-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com/tos-useast5-avt-0068-tx/e5143212a59c09a008bf50f487d54d1f~tplv-tiktokx-cropcenter:1080:1080.jpeg?dr=9640&refresh_token=573cc2c1&x-expires=1785517200&x-signature=VsELKHyBLl0thL%2FtAwlBnrOsPzQ%3D&t=4d5b0474&ps=13740610&shp=a5d48078&shcp=81f88b70&idc=useast5"
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": 5900000,
          "likes": 367800,
          "comments": 3883,
          "shares": 6882,
          "saves": 25400
        },
        "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?

Each successful call costs 2 credits. 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