/tiktok/search/topSearch Top
Search TikTok's "Top" tab which combines the best results across videos, users, sounds, and hashtags for a keyword.
Overview
Returns the top-ranked TikTok results across users, videos, hashtags, and sounds for a given search query. This is the API equivalent of typing a query into the TikTok search bar and reading the "Top" tab — the cross-format results page.
Use this when you want to understand what TikTok itself is surfacing for a topic, not just one specific format. For format-specific searches, use search-users, search-hashtag, or search-keyword instead.
Quick Start
curl "https://creatorcrawl.com/api/tiktok/search/top?keyword=cooking%20recipes" \
-H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
keyword | string | Required | Search keyword or phrase |
cursor | string | Optional | Pagination cursor |
Response
{
"results": [
{
"type": "video",
"id": "7345678901234567890",
"desc": "Easy 5 minute recipe"
},
{
"type": "user",
"uniqueId": "chef_creator"
}
],
"cursor": "10",
"hasMore": true
}Every request costs 1 credit. Response data is live -- never cached.
What you can build
Search-result tracking
Track how a brand, topic, or campaign hashtag ranks on TikTok search over time. Run the same query daily and diff the top results to see which creators and posts are gaining or losing visibility.
Topic discovery dashboards
Combine search-top with get-trending to surface what's emerging across a topic area. Used by trend-watching teams and content strategists.
Cross-format competitive analysis
For a competitor brand, pull search-top results to see the full surface of TikTok content associated with their name: official accounts, fan content, criticism, sponsored creators.
Use Cases
Comprehensive search
Get the best results across all content types for a keyword in one call.
SERP analysis
Understand what TikTok shows first for specific search queries.
Content gap analysis
Analyze top results to find content opportunities in underserved areas.
Code Examples
import requests
resp = requests.get(
"https://creatorcrawl.com/api/tiktok/search/top",
params={"keyword": "cooking recipes"},
headers={"x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY"},
)
for result in resp.json()["results"]:
print(f"[{result['type']}] {result.get('desc', result.get('uniqueId', ''))}")const resp = await fetch(
"https://creatorcrawl.com/api/tiktok/search/top?keyword=cooking%20recipes",
{ headers: { "x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY" } }
)
const { results } = await resp.json()
results.forEach(r => console.log(`[${r.type}] ${r.desc || r.uniqueId || ''}`))Troubleshooting
Different results from what I see in the app
TikTok personalises in-app results based on the viewer's history. The API returns the de-personalised baseline ranking, which is closer to what a logged-out browser sees.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from search-keyword or search-hashtag?
Search-keyword returns videos only. Search-hashtag returns hashtag pages only. Search-top returns the cross-format mix that TikTok surfaces in its main search experience: top users, top videos, top hashtags, top sounds.
Can I get TikTok search results without an API?
In the app, yes. Programmatically, no — TikTok does not expose its search to the web. This endpoint is the only sustainable way to get the cross-format search results page in code.
How does ranking work?
We return whatever TikTok ranks first. Ranking is TikTok's algorithm — we don't reorder.