How the Discovery API works
The Discovery API allows you to:
Search for influencers via
/searchFetch detailed data reports via
/profile/:userId/reportEvaluate performance metrics via
/performance(average likes, followers, engagement rate)
A typical integration flow looks like this:
Run a search with your filters.
Select influencers from the results.
Fetch report data for selected profiles.
Optionally fetch performance indicators.
Cache results locally (recommended: 30 days).
Profile reports and data refresh
Profile reports are the richest data source in the Discovery API. Reports include audience demographics, engagement metrics, content analysis, and more.
Popular profiles refresh more frequently than others. For the full breakdown of refresh cadences, see API cheat sheet: limits, filters & metrics
š” Cache Discovery API reports for at least 30 days on your side. This reduces credit consumption and gives you faster response times.
Credit usage and optimisation
Discovery API uses a credit-based pricing model. Different endpoints consume different amounts of credits.
To optimise your credit usage:
Always use pagination (
pageandlimitparameters).Let the backend handle sorting (by followers, engagement, or other fields).
Cache frequently-used searches client-side or in your backend.
Avoid very short queries (1-2 characters produce unreliable results).
Start broad with a few filters, then narrow down over time.
Inclusion thresholds
The Discovery API indexes public profiles that meet minimum thresholds:
Instagram and TikTok: ~1,000+ followers
YouTube: ~1,000+ followers OR 5,000+ average views
If a profile is missing, searching for the handle directly can trigger data collection. The profile should appear within 2-4 weeks.
Troubleshooting common issues
If you get empty audience data, check the report_status field. If the status is processing, Modash is still collecting the data.
If you receive 429 rate limit errors, implement exponential backoff. See API error handling for the full retry pattern and best practices.
Combining with RAW API
For detailed profile data and live metrics on creators you've found through Discovery, use the RAW API. See RAW API best practices and onboarding for the full workflow.
FAQs
FAQs
How long until a new profile appears in search results?
When a creator reaches 1,000 followers, they should appear within the next 2-4 weeks. Searching for the handle directly can speed up data collection.
What's the difference between
/searchand/profile/report?/searchreturns a list of influencers matching your filters with basic data./profile/reportreturns a full detailed report for a specific influencer, including audience demographics and detailed analytics.How do I handle profiles with
processingstatus?If
report_statusisprocessing, Modash is collecting the data. Wait and retry after a few hours. The report will typically be available within 48 hours.