Need To Know About Google Search API

If you want to extract data at scale from the world’s largest search engine, the Google Search API is the way to go.

Today, there are many APIs available in the market. Choosing the right one depends entirely on your needs and technical requirements.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Google Search APIs — what they are, how they work, and what you should consider before using one as a customer.

Let’s get started.

You Cannot Extract 100 Results in One Go Now

In September last year, Google removed the num=100 parameter. This move was primarily aimed at limiting large-scale data usage by LLMs, but it also affected tools like rank trackers and platforms that rely on SERP data for analysis.

As a result, any tool that needs more than 10 search results now has to make multiple API calls. Naturally, this increases overall costs.

Third-party APIs, which were already positioned at the higher end of pricing, are likely to become even more expensive. This makes choosing the right Google SERP API more important than ever — especially if cost is a key factor in your decision.

We’ve covered this change in detail in a recent blog, which you can read here.

The Official API Costs More Than using 3rd Party APIs

Official API Costs

The official Google APIs can become expensive very quickly. Pricing is based on usage. Even a small mistake, like an extra loop or missing limits, can push costs far beyond what most teams expect.

The image above is not an exception. Similar stories appear often in developer communities. A developer runs a test or ships a small feature. Within a few days, the API usage crosses thousands of dollars. In most cases, this is not due to abuse. It happens because requests scale fast and billing grows silently.

This is one of the main reasons developers explore alternatives to the official Google APIs. When the use case involves scraping or large scale data extraction, cost predictability becomes critical. Third party Google SERP APIs usually offer clearer pricing. You know how much each request costs. You can plan usage. You can avoid sudden billing shocks.

That does not mean third party APIs are always the right choice. The decision depends on how accurate the data needs to be and how closely it must match Google’s official output. But for many tools like rank trackers and research platforms, using a third party Google Search API is often a safer and more practical option.

Some Common Use Cases For Using Google Search API

Google Search APIs are used anywhere search data needs to be collected, analysed, or monitored at scale. Below are some of the most common and proven use cases.

Rank tracking and keyword monitoring
SEO tools rely on Google Search APIs to track keyword positions over time. This includes daily ranking checks, location based results, and device specific tracking. Doing this manually is not possible at scale.

Competitor analysis
Teams use search data to see which domains rank for specific keywords. This helps identify competitors, content gaps, and ranking opportunities. It is widely used by SEO agencies and in house growth teams.

SERP feature analysis
Search results are no longer just links. APIs are used to track featured snippets, People Also Ask, local packs, and shopping results. This data helps teams understand visibility beyond organic rankings.

Market and content research
Publishers and marketers use search data to analyse trends. This includes understanding what topics are gaining traction and how intent changes over time. It helps guide content planning and editorial strategy.

Brand monitoring
Companies track brand mentions on Google Search. This helps monitor reputation, discover reviews, and identify unauthorised use of brand terms. It is especially useful for large brands and marketplaces.

Ad and paid search insights
Search data is also used to support paid campaigns. Teams analyse organic results alongside ads to understand competition and bidding pressure. This helps optimise ad spend.

Data products and internal dashboards
Many SaaS products use Google Search data as a core input. This data is fed into dashboards, reports, and automated workflows. It powers insights for customers without manual intervention.

Using Autom Search API for Scraping Google Search Results

Using Autom Search API

When you sign up for the first time, you get 1000 free credits to test the API.

You will land on the documentation with the methods and endpoint to use the API.

You can test the API from here only, let’s try it for keyword “Google SERP API”

Simply to test the API, go to “Google Search”: -

API go to Google Search

Then click on “Try It” button

You will have the playground to test the API.

Playground to test the API

On the right side you can see the response in the body.

Note: — You can simply build a new API key. In the dashboard go to API and create your API_KEY. Now then you can copy this key in your project. Can have different API KEY created for different projects.