Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the SERP Search API. Can't find what you're looking for? Reach out through our live chat.

What is the SERP Search API?

SERP Search is an API for scraping Google search results. You send a search query and get back structured JSON with organic results, featured snippets, knowledge graph data, related searches, and more. No browser automation, no CAPTCHA handling — just an HTTP request.

How do I authenticate my API requests?

Every request needs a valid API key sent as a Bearer token in the Authorization header: Authorization: Bearer mk_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. You can generate keys from the API Keys page in your dashboard.

What endpoints are available?

The API covers web search, images, videos, news, autocomplete, translation, maps search, place details, distance, and reviews. All endpoints follow the same authentication and error format.

What are the rate limits?

Rate limits depend on your plan: Starter allows 15 requests/second, Pro allows 50 requests/second, Business allows 150 requests/second, and Enterprise plans have custom limits. Exceeding the rate limit returns HTTP 429 with a Retry-After: 1 header.

What happens if I exceed my monthly quota?

Requests return a QUOTA_EXCEEDED error (HTTP 429) once your monthly limit is used up. Your quota resets at the start of each billing period. You can top up mid-month from the billing dashboard or upgrade your plan to avoid hitting the limit.

Is there a free tier?

Yes. The Free tier includes 1,000 requests per month at no cost - no credit card required. It's enough to test the API and build a proof of concept. Paid plans start at $40/month. Or you can just top up and start with only a $10 top-up.

Can I top up without changing my plan?

Yes. You can buy extra requests from the billing dashboard at any time without switching plans. Top-ups start at 20,000 requests. Pro and Business plans get better per-request rates on top-ups than Starter.

Can I change my plan at any time?

Yes, you can upgrade or downgrade from your dashboard. Changes take effect immediately and billing is prorated.

What response formats are available?

The default is structured JSON. You can also request raw HTML, both JSON and HTML together, or a correlated format that links JSON fields back to their source HTML elements. For almost every use case, JSON is what you want.

Do you support geo-targeting?

Yes. Pass a location string (e.g. "New York, NY, US") or lat/lng coordinates with your request to get localized results. The location parameter works across web search, images, news, maps, and reviews.

What is your uptime guarantee?

All plans include a 99.9% uptime SLA. Check the status page for real-time system health.

How do I get support?

Starter plan users get email support. Pro users get priority support. Business and Enterprise users get dedicated support. You can also reach the team anytime through the live chat widget on the site.

Is there an Enterprise plan?

Yes. Enterprise includes custom request volumes, custom rate limits, dedicated support, and tailored SLAs. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Still have questions?

Check our full API documentation or get in touch with our team.