Google · not the Custom Search JSON API

Google Search API

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Google: live · not GA

Many searches for a Google Search API are looking for Google's own Custom Search JSON API, which queries a Programmable Search index you configure. This is a third-party API that returns organic rows parsed from the Google results page. Compare both before you build.

Get API key Compare with Custom Search

Python · Google organic, rank and url only

import requests
r = requests.post("https://kieapi.com/v1/serp/google/organic",
                  headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {KEY}"},
                  json={"q": "site reliability engineering book"})
for item in r.json()["organic"]:
    print(item["rank"], item["url"])

Returns SerpOrganicResponse; this sample prints two columns only.

Custom Search JSON API or a results-page API?

Google Custom Search JSON API

Google's official API. Queries run against a Programmable Search Engine you create and identify with cx; you configure which sites it searches.

Google's Custom Search JSON API overview

SpideyData Google organic

A third-party API. POST /v1/serp/google/organic fetches the Google results page for q and returns parsed organic rows. No search engine ID to configure.

Migration snippet: CSE parameters to this API

Custom Search parameters mapped to SerpGoogleOrganicRequest
Custom Search	Here	Notes
q	q	1–512 characters.
cx	—	No equivalent; there is no Programmable Search Engine to reference.
key (query string)	Authorization: Bearer <api_key>	The key moves into a header.
gl / hl	country / hl	country defaults to US, hl to en.

q

Here: q

Notes: 1–512 characters.

cx

Here: —

Notes: No equivalent; there is no Programmable Search Engine to reference.

key (query string)

Here: Authorization: Bearer <api_key>

Notes: The key moves into a header.

gl / hl

Here: country / hl

Notes: country defaults to US, hl to en.

Launch status for this page

Check engine availability before choosing an endpoint. Google also supports News, Images and asynchronous tasks.

GoogleLiveGoogle is callable today with a Bearer API key.

SERP searches are charged per successful search at a display rate of 2 Credits per search; failed searches are not charged. Polling task status is free. The current rate is on Pricing.

What this is not

Not an official Google product and not affiliated with Google.
No Programmable Search configuration or site restriction.
Organic rows only on this endpoint; News and Images have their own paths.
Structured JSON only.

Frequently asked questions

Is this Google's official Search API?

No. It is a third-party API that returns organic JSON parsed from the Google results page.

What fields come back?

organic[] with rank, title, url, display_url and snippet, plus organic_count.

Do I need a Programmable Search Engine ID?

No. Only q is required; country and hl are optional.

What auth is used?

Authorization: Bearer <api_key>.

Pick the right Google API

If you need your own site index, use Custom Search. If you need the public results page as rows, get an API key here.

Get API key SERP API overview Read the SERP docs