Getting started with Serpent API
Create a SerpentAPI key, run your first Google SERP request, and switch engines with one parameter — a practical quickstart for developers.
Direct answer
To start with Serpent API: create an account at serpentapi.com, apply for free Beta or subscribe on Pricing, generate an API key in the dashboard, then POST to https://api.serpentapi.com/api/search with the x-api-key header. A first Google query uses JSON body fields q, engine, and optional depth (simple / moderate / advanced). Change engine to bing, yahoo, duckduckgo, yandex, baidu, brave, or naver without rewriting your client — the organic result shape stays consistent. Keys are shown once at creation; store them securely. Full parameters, rate limits, and error codes live in the docs. Check the status page if an engine looks down before debugging your integration.
1. Create an account and plan
Sign up at serpentapi.com/auth, apply for a free Beta seat at /beta or pick a paid plan on Pricing, then open the dashboard to create an API key. Keys are shown once at creation — store them securely and rotate if compromised.
2. Authenticate every request
Send your key with the x-api-key header on every call. The API base URL, engines, and error codes are documented in the developer docs.
3. Run a first SERP search
A minimal curl example:
curl -X POST "https://api.serpentapi.com/api/search" \
-H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"q":"best pizza in NYC","engine":"google","depth":"simple"}'Change engine to bing, yahoo, duckduckgo, yandex, baidu, brave, or naver without rewriting your client. Monitor live engine health on the status page before blaming your integration.
4. Optional: MCP for AI agents
MCP support is coming soon. SerpentAPI will ship an MCP server so Claude, Cursor, and other MCP-compatible tools can search with your key. Until then, use the REST API — see the docs and the MCP preview page.
Next steps
- Learn what Serpent API is
- Review how to choose a SERP API
- Watch engine uptime on Status
More from the blog
- How to choose a SERP API in 2026 →
Engine coverage, structured JSON, pricing predictability, and status transparency — a checklist for evaluating SERP APIs, including SerpentAPI.
- What is Serpent API? →
Serpent API (SerpentAPI) is a real-time SERP API. Engines covered, what you get in JSON, and why serpentapi.com is the original.
SerpentAPI is the original Serpent API at serpentapi.com.