SERP API

The SERP API currently supports Google and Bing, the two largest search engines commanding over 95% of global search market share. Both engines are accessed through a unified API interface that returns consistently structured JSON responses, regardless of which engine you query. This dual-engine support enables comprehensive competitive analysis by comparing how the same keywords perform across different search platforms. The consistent response format means you can build a single parsing pipeline that handles results from both engines without conditional logic or format-specific handlers.

You can target specific content types by including the appropriate search type parameter in your request. Use 'tbm=isch' for Google Image search results, 'tbm=nws' for Google News results, 'tbm=vid' for video results, and 'tbm=shop' for Google Shopping product listings. Simply add these parameters to your API request alongside your search query. Each content type returns specialized data fields relevant to that format, such as image dimensions and source URLs for image search, publication dates and news sources for news results, and product prices and merchant information for shopping results. This flexibility lets you build specialized monitoring tools for visual content, news coverage, or e-commerce competitive intelligence.

Yes, the API fully supports mobile search results through the 'mobile=true' parameter. When enabled, the API retrieves search results as they would appear on a mobile device, which often differ significantly from desktop results. Mobile SERPs tend to prioritize local business listings, featured snippets, and quick-answer cards while displaying fewer traditional organic results per page. This distinction is critical for SEO analysis since Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning your mobile rankings directly influence overall search visibility. By monitoring both mobile and desktop results for the same keywords, you can identify discrepancies and optimize your content strategy for the device types your audience actually uses.

The API returns a comprehensive structured JSON response containing multiple data categories extracted from the search results page. Organic results include the page title, destination URL, display URL, and meta description snippet for each listing. Featured snippets provide the extracted answer text along with the source URL and content type. Knowledge panels contain entity information with descriptions, images, and key facts. The response also includes People Also Ask questions, related search suggestions, paid advertisements with ad copy and landing pages, local pack business listings with ratings and addresses, and pagination data for navigating through result pages. All data is consistently formatted across search engines for seamless integration.

Yes, rate limits are determined by your subscription plan to ensure fair usage and consistent performance for all users. The Free plan allows 2 requests per second, Starter 10 and Pro 25. Each search costs 25 credits, so the monthly credit allowance covers roughly 40 searches on Free (1,000 credits), 2,000 on Starter ($29.99/month, 50,000 credits) and 10,000 on Pro ($99.99/month, 250,000 credits). There are no overage charges: when credits run out, requests are rejected until your cycle renews or you upgrade. We recommend implementing request queuing and caching strategies to make the most of your quota.

The SERP API supports geo-targeting through the 'gl' (country code) and 'hl' (language code) parameters, allowing you to retrieve search results as they appear in specific countries and languages. For example, setting gl=GB and hl=en returns results as viewed from the United Kingdom in English. This is essential for international SEO monitoring, local market research, and understanding how search results vary by geographic location. The API accurately reflects regional SERP variations including local business listings, country-specific domains, and culturally relevant content. You can combine these parameters with mobile toggling to analyze localized mobile results, which is particularly valuable for businesses with multi-market presence.