Utility Estimate Cost API
Scrape Utility Estimate Cost data with one API call. Quote what a call will cost before you make it: the exact credits the API holds up front (expected_max, the most it can cost), the lowest possible charge for a successful call (expected_min; unused hold is refunded), the formula, and the params that change the price (levers). The quote comes from the same pricing the API bills with, so it never differs from the real charge. Pass the endpoint as id and its params on this same URL as you would send them (id=tiktok/post/comments&url=...&label=spam), or URL-encoded in params (a query string or a JSON object), which wins on a conflict; a batch endpoint takes its JSON body as body. Add items=N to turn N rows into pages on an endpoint with a known page size. For several calls at once, pass plan: base64url JSON of {calls:[{id, params, repeat}], fan_out:[{from, each, to}]}, or the steps of a utility/plan answer as they are, for per-call and total holds. A request the API would reject comes back valid:false at 0 credits. Nothing is fetched. Free to call.
Last updated October 2026Maintained by the SocialCrawl team
Returns the exact credits a call holds up front, the range it settles in, the formula, and the params that change the price, for one call or a whole plan with fan-out.
Use it before a paid or multi-step job to quote the cost, or to compare cheaper param choices. It runs nothing. Free to call.
Searching 68 platforms in parallel
What can you do with the Estimate Cost API?
The Estimate Cost endpoint gives you structured Utility data with computed fields in a single request. No scraping infrastructure to build or maintain.
Example Request
curl -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
"https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/utility/estimate?id=tiktok%2Fpost%2Fcomments¶ms=url%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40stoolpresidente%2Fvideo%2F7623818255903329566%26label%3Dspam"import requests
response = requests.get(
"https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/utility/estimate",
params={
'id': 'tiktok/post/comments',
'params': 'url=https://www.tiktok.com/@stoolpresidente/video/7623818255903329566&label=spam',
},
headers={"x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY"},
)
data = response.json()const response = await fetch(
"https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/utility/estimate?id=tiktok%2Fpost%2Fcomments¶ms=url%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40stoolpresidente%2Fvideo%2F7623818255903329566%26label%3Dspam",
{
headers: { "x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY" },
},
);
const data = await response.json();Parameters
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| id | No | The endpoint to price, as platform/resource (tiktok/post/comments) or its /v1 path, optionally with its query string. Provide this or plan |
| method | No | HTTP method, when the endpoint takes more than one. Defaults to GET when offered (GET | POST | PATCH | DELETE) |
| params | No | The endpoint's own params, as a URL-encoded query string (url=...&label=spam) or a JSON object. Optional: they may also be sent directly on this URL; these win on a conflict |
| body | No | A batch endpoint's JSON body, as JSON or base64url JSON (for example {"urls":[...]} for prism/post-stats) |
| items | No | Rows you want. Converted to pages with the endpoint's verified page size; warns pages_unknown when it has none |
| plan | No | Several calls at once, as base64url JSON (or JSON): {calls:[{id, params, repeat?, items?}], fan_out?:[{from, each, to}]}, or a utility/plan answer's steps. Provide this or id |
What does the Utility Estimate Cost API return?
This synthetic fixture shows the documented response shape and fields. Values are illustrative; this is not a live API response.
Example response
{
"success": true,
"platform": "utility",
"endpoint": "/v1/utility/estimate",
"data": {
"kind": "estimate",
"version": 1,
"id": "tiktok/post/comments",
"method": "GET",
"valid": true,
"hold": 5,
"expected_min": 1,
"expected_max": 5,
"unit": "credits",
"pricing": "metered",
"formula": "Metered: 5 credits held up front (the most this request can cost); the unused part is refunded, so a successful call settles between 1 and 5.",
"levers": [
{
"param": "label",
"hold": 1,
"effect": "Without label, the hold is 1 credit (now 5)."
},
{
"param": "scan_pages",
"hold": 7,
"effect": "scan_pages=3 raises the hold to 7 credits."
}
],
"cached_likely": false,
"normalized_params": {
"url": "https://www.tiktok.com/@stoolpresidente/video/7623818255903329566",
"label": "spam"
},
"notes": [
"expected_min is the lowest possible charge for a successful call of this endpoint (one item, row or page; per item on a batch); expected_max is the hold, the most it can cost.",
"A cache hit is free: the router serves it before billing and holds nothing. This quote assumes a miss.",
"A call that fails upstream is refunded in full, so it costs 0.",
"An account with a negotiated rate can pay less than this, never more."
],
"warnings": []
},
"credits_used": 0,
"request_id": "req_example000000",
"cached": false
}Synthetic fixture for the documented response shape. Values are illustrative, not a production capture.
How does the Utility Estimate Cost API work?
Send a GET request with your API key and get back clean, structured JSON in our unified schema. Supported computed fields are populated when the source provides the required inputs.
Method
GET
Response
JSON
How do you scrape social media data in seconds?
The fastest social media scraping API for developers. Scrape profiles, posts, comments, and analytics from 68 platforms covering 10B+ monthly active users.
One schema, every platform
Query 68 platforms with identical response structures. Write your integration once.
Computed fields, not just scraped
When an endpoint supports these metrics and the source provides the required inputs, the normalized record includes engagement_rate, estimated_reach, content_category, and language. Ready to use.
See your data before you code
Visual Data Explorer. Paste any URL, get rich result cards, sortable tables, CSV export.
import requests
response = requests.get(
'https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/tiktok/profile',
params={'handle': 'charlidamelio'},
headers={'x-api-key': 'sc_YOUR_API_KEY'}
)
data = response.json(){
"success": true,
"platform": "tiktok",
"data": {
"author": {
"username": "charlidamelio",
"followers": 152400000
},
"engagement": {
"likes": 12400000000,
"engagement_rate": 0.087
},
"metadata": {
"language": "en",
"content_category": "lifestyle"
}
}
}Ready to scrape Utility Estimate Cost data?
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