# Threads Search API: Search Threads Posts by Keyword (`sauliusautomatesit/threads-search-api`) Actor

Search public Meta Threads posts by keyword and get text, author, likes, replies, reposts, images and links. Also public profiles with followers and latest threads. No login. $2 per 1,000 posts.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/sauliusautomatesit/threads-search-api.md
- **Developed by:** [Saulius AutomatesIT](https://apify.com/sauliusautomatesit) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Marketing, AI
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.70 / 1,000 posts

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Threads Search API: search Threads posts by keyword

Search [Threads](https://www.threads.com) by keyword and get every public post Threads shows for it: text, author, likes, replies, reposts, quotes, shares, images, videos, links and post date. Add profiles to get followers, bio and links plus their latest threads.

No Threads or Instagram account, no cookies of yours, no browser. **$2 per 1,000 posts.**

### What you can use it for

- **Brand and competitor monitoring**: schedule a run for your brand, product and competitor names and see what people post about them on Threads.
- **Trend research**: what is being said about a topic right now, with engagement numbers to sort by.
- **Influencer research**: who posts about your niche, with their follower counts from a profile lookup.
- **Social listening for AI agents**: give an agent or LLM pipeline fresh Threads posts through the API or the Apify MCP server.

### How to use it

1. Put one keyword or phrase per line in **Search keywords**.
2. Optional: add **Profiles** (`@name` or profile URLs).
3. Run it and download the results as JSON, CSV or Excel, or read them through the API.

#### Input example

```json
{
  "searchQueries": ["web scraping", "openai", "nike running"],
  "usernames": ["@mosseri"]
}
```

### Output

One item per post:

```json
{
  "type": "post",
  "id": "3570811367353526702",
  "code": "DGOEgUHCKmu",
  "url": "https://www.threads.com/@theaiagents/post/DGOEgUHCKmu",
  "text": "Web scraping is dead.\n\nNo more messy code.\n\nNo more Selenium nightmares. ...",
  "publishedAt": "2025-02-18T15:52:34.000Z",
  "username": "theaiagents",
  "fullName": "Zahir Aftab | Ai Agents & Automation",
  "isVerified": true,
  "authorId": "66989702635",
  "likes": 1166,
  "replies": 53,
  "reposts": 131,
  "quotes": 8,
  "shares": 347,
  "mediaType": "video",
  "imageUrls": ["https://scontent-ord5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.71878-15/..."],
  "videoUrls": ["https://scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com/o1/v/t16/....mp4"],
  "linkUrl": null,
  "mentions": [],
  "topic": null,
  "isReply": false,
  "threadId": "3570811367353526702",
  "positionInThread": 0,
  "source": "search",
  "searchQuery": "web scraping",
  "searchTab": "top",
  "position": 1,
  "scrapedAt": "2026-10-03T17:19:20.318Z"
}
```

And one item per profile:

```json
{
  "type": "profile",
  "username": "mosseri",
  "url": "https://www.threads.com/@mosseri",
  "fullName": "Adam Mosseri",
  "biography": "Father of three boys, married to an amazing woman, head of Instagram and supporter of Threads.",
  "followers": 1046062,
  "isVerified": true,
  "isPrivate": false,
  "bioLinks": ["http://mosseri.net/"]
}
```

- `mediaType` is `text`, `image`, `video` or `carousel`. `topic` is the Threads topic tag on the post, if any.
- A search result can be a short thread: `threadId` and `positionInThread` (0 for the first post) keep them together.
- `searchTab` says which Threads search view the post came from (`top`, `recent` or `tags`).

The run summary (posts and profiles delivered, keywords without posts, profiles not found, failures) is saved as `OUTPUT` in the run's key-value store. Results are in the dataset's **Posts** and **Profiles** views.

### Pricing

Pay per result, no subscription:

| Event | Price |
|---|---|
| Post | $0.002 ($2 per 1,000 posts) |
| Profile | $0.002 |
| Actor start | $0.00005 |

A keyword with 50 posts costs $0.10. 100 keywords a day cost about $10. Keywords that find nothing cost nothing. Bronze, Silver and Gold Apify plans get 5%, 10% and 15% off. Proxy and compute are included.

### Use it from code

#### API (cURL)

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/sauliusautomatesit~threads-search-api/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"searchQueries": ["web scraping"]}'
```

#### Python

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("sauliusautomatesit/threads-search-api").call(run_input={"searchQueries": ["openai", "anthropic"]})
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item["likes"], item["username"], item["text"][:80])
```

#### JavaScript

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: 'YOUR_TOKEN' });
const run = await client.actor('sauliusautomatesit/threads-search-api').call({ searchQueries: ['web scraping'] });
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
console.log(items.map((p) => `${p.likes} ${p.url}`));
```

#### MCP (Claude, Cursor, any MCP client)

Add `https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=sauliusautomatesit/threads-search-api` as a remote MCP server and your agent can search Threads as a tool.

### Limits, honestly

- **Threads shows visitors who are not logged in about 15 to 20 posts per search view, with no next page.** The Actor asks three views (top, recent, tags) and merges them, so a keyword usually returns 30 to 60 posts. For more, use several related keywords. Scheduled runs pick up new posts as Threads surfaces them.
- Results are what Threads search returns, and Threads matches loosely: a short or unusual keyword can bring posts that only resemble it.
- Profiles return the profile and the 4 latest threads Threads shows on the profile page. Private profiles show the profile only.
- Public posts only. No login, so no private accounts, likes lists or follower lists.

### Related Actors

- [Telegram Channel Scraper](https://apify.com/sauliusautomatesit/telegram-channel-scraper): messages, views and reactions from public Telegram channels.
- [Bing Search API](https://apify.com/sauliusautomatesit/bing-search-api): Bing web results for any list of queries.
- [Google Trends API](https://apify.com/sauliusautomatesit/google-trends-api): search interest over time, by region, related and rising queries.

### FAQ

**Do I need a Threads or Instagram account?** No. The Actor reads what Threads shows any visitor.

**Can I monitor a brand every day?** Yes. Save the input as a task and schedule it; each run returns the posts Threads shows at that moment, with fresh engagement numbers.

**How fast is it?** A few seconds per keyword, 5 keywords in parallel by default (up to 20).

**Is it legal?** It collects publicly visible posts. You are responsible for how you use the data and for complying with the laws that apply to you, including data protection laws for personal data.

# Actor input Schema

## `searchQueries` (type: `array`):

One keyword or phrase per line: your brand, a product, a topic, a hashtag word. Each keyword returns the posts Threads search shows a visitor, usually 30 to 60.

## `maxPostsPerQuery` (type: `integer`):

Most posts to keep for each keyword.

## `usernames` (type: `array`):

Threads usernames or profile URLs, such as `@zuck` or `https://www.threads.com/@mosseri`. Returns the profile (followers, bio, links) and its latest threads.

## `concurrency` (type: `integer`):

How many keywords or profiles run at the same time.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Apify Proxy is used by default and is included in the price. Change only if you know you need to.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "searchQueries": [
    "web scraping"
  ],
  "maxPostsPerQuery": 100,
  "concurrency": 5,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

Post items (type post) and profile items (type profile). Download as JSON, CSV or Excel, or read it from this API endpoint.

## `summary` (type: `string`):

Posts and profiles delivered, keywords without posts, profiles not found and failures.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "searchQueries": [
        "web scraping"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("sauliusautomatesit/threads-search-api").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "searchQueries": ["web scraping"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("sauliusautomatesit/threads-search-api").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "searchQueries": [
    "web scraping"
  ]
}' |
apify call sauliusautomatesit/threads-search-api --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,sauliusautomatesit/threads-search-api"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/214RRgWzyhSn8cb3v/builds/7pmxw3FVhbtBA1rno/openapi.json