---
title: "TikTok Transcript API: Text With Timestamps · SocialToAI"
canonical: https://socialtoai.com/tiktok-transcript-api/
updated: 2026-11-06
---

# TikTok transcript API

Get what is said in a public TikTok video by its link or ID: the whole text, and every segment with its start and end time. It is TikTok's detail call with `include=transcript`, 2 credits a video (≈ $0.004–$0.0067); failed calls are free. Call it over HTTP or let your AI call it over MCP.

- Page: https://socialtoai.com/tiktok-transcript-api/
- Last updated: 2026-11-06

## What you get

One object per video. The language of the transcript is not given, so ask your AI to tell it from the text if you need it.

| Field | Type | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `fields.text` | string | The full text. |
| `fields.segments` | array | Timed segments: start, end and text. |

## The request

**cURL**

```
curl https://api.socialtoai.com/v1/detail \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SOCIALTOAI_API_KEY" \
  -H "Idempotency-Key: $(uuidgen)" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "platform": "tiktok",
    "id": "7665840565958872333",
    "include": "transcript"
  }'
```

**Python**

```
import os
import uuid
import requests

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.socialtoai.com/v1/detail",
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['SOCIALTOAI_API_KEY']}",
        # A new key for each request; the same one again retries it without paying twice.
        "Idempotency-Key": str(uuid.uuid4()),
    },
    json={
        "platform": "tiktok",
        "id": "7665840565958872333",
        "include": "transcript",
    },
)
print(response.json())
```

**A recorded answer (names and text removed)**

```
{
  "request_id": "req_00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000001",
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "fetched_at": "2026-10-12T18:47:26.000Z",
  "action": "detail",
  "platform": "tiktok",
  "status": "ok",
  "items": [
    {
      "platform": "tiktok",
      "id": "…",
      "ref": "…",
      "approx": [],
      "type": "entry",
      "entry_type": "transcript",
      "title": null,
      "url": null,
      "rank": null,
      "heat": null,
      "fields": {
        "lang": null,
        "text": "…",
        "segments": [
          {
            "start": 1.14,
            "end": 2.76,
            "text": "…"
          },
          {
            "start": 3.06,
            "end": 4.98,
            "text": "…"
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  ],
  "unavailable": ["fields.lang"],
  "warnings": [],
  "applied_params": {
    "id": "7665840565958872333",
    "include": "transcript"
  },
  "cost_credits": 2,
  "billing": {
    "cost_credits": 2,
    "balance_credits": 98,
    "today_spend_credits": 2,
    "daily_limit_credits": null,
    "daily_remaining_credits": null,
    "display": "This call: 2 credits (≈ $0.0067). Balance: 98 credits (≈ $0.33)."
  },
  "replayed": false
}
```

## What TikTok's own APIs give

TikTok's Research API is for approved academic and non-profit researchers, and its Display API shows what the people who signed in to your app allow. What each offers, with its source, is below.

| Official API | Who can use it | Cost | Limits | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Research API | Approved academic and not-for-profit researchers in eligible regions, for non-commercial research. | TikTok's page states no price; access is by application. | Reads public content at scale, but not for business use. | [developers.tiktok.com](https://developers.tiktok.com/products/research-api/), checked 2026-10-17 |
| Display API | Apps whose users log in and authorise them. | TikTok's page states no price. | Reads only the profile and public videos of the users who authorise the app. | [developers.tiktok.com](https://developers.tiktok.com/products/research-api/), checked 2026-10-17 |

## In your AI client

Connect SocialToAI once over [MCP](https://socialtoai.com/mcp.md), then give your AI the link and ask for the transcript or a summary.

| Ask | Credits |
| --- | --- |
| Read this TikTok video: 7665840565958872333 | 2 |

## What it costs

2 credits a video: $0.0067 at the first pack, so a thousand videos are $6.67. A failed call costs nothing; estimate a batch with the [cost estimator](https://socialtoai.com/free-tools/api-cost-estimator.md). 100 free credits on sign-up, no card.

## FAQ

### Can I get the transcript of any public TikTok video?

By its link or ID, 2 credits a video (≈ $0.004–$0.0067). A video with no speech has nothing to return, and a call that fails costs nothing.

### Does it give timestamps?

Yes: every segment has its start and end time, beside the whole text.

### Do I need a TikTok account or research approval?

No. You need one SocialToAI key, or sign-in from your AI client; no TikTok account of yours is used.

### Can Claude or ChatGPT read a TikTok video's transcript?

Yes, once SocialToAI is connected over MCP: give it the link and ask for the text or a summary.

- [TikTok detail API](https://socialtoai.com/tiktok-detail-api.md): The whole call, every parameter and field.
- [Transcript API, every platform](https://socialtoai.com/transcript-api.md): Which platforms give a transcript, and at what price.
- [YouTube transcript API](https://socialtoai.com/youtube-transcript-api.md): The full transcript of any public YouTube video.
- [TikTok MCP server](https://socialtoai.com/mcp/tiktok.md): Let your AI read TikTok.