graph.tips

What It Is

graph.tips is a free, open-source web tool for Facebook search, created by @sowdust. Its goal is to provide users with a simpler interface for understanding and using the newer Facebook search features after the old Graph Search was shut down. The site clearly reminds users to read and comply with the Facebook Terms of Service, and the author disclaims responsibility for misuse. As such, it is better understood as a research and search-assistance tool rather than a standard enterprise SaaS platform.

Core Features and Usage

The tool supports multiple Facebook search entry points, including Posts, People, Photos, Pages, Places, Videos, Events, and Top. Post search can be filtered by recency, public post keywords, specific entities, groups, location tags, and other criteria. People search supports filters such as city, school, employer, and friendship relationships. Photos, videos, events, and pages also provide filters such as publisher, location, date, and page type. Some queries require a FB ID, and the tool provides a FIND ID helper.

Pricing, Trial, and Integrations

The page explicitly states that the tool is completely free and open, so there are no traditional subscription plans, enterprise editions, or trial limitations. In terms of third-party integrations, it only mentions that users can submit issues, bugs, suggestions, and contributions through the project’s GitHub page. There is no mention of APIs, SDKs, webhooks, or integration capabilities with enterprise systems. It also does not offer common SaaS features such as team permissions, role management, or audit logs.

Pros and Cons

Its advantages are that it is free, open-source, lightweight, and covers multiple types of Facebook search targets. It is useful for quickly constructing search queries and can be valuable for journalists, researchers, and OSINT practitioners. The drawbacks are also clear: the tool is still experimental and under development, and its effectiveness depends on Facebook’s search mechanisms and access restrictions. Some searches require an understanding of FB IDs. It also lacks data security compliance features, service SLAs, enterprise support, and permission management, making it unsuitable for direct procurement as an enterprise-grade intelligence platform.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is suitable for people who need to search public Facebook content, such as investigative journalists, public opinion researchers, and open-source information researchers. The page does not provide information about access from China, and Facebook itself is generally subject to access restrictions in mainland China, so actual usability may depend on the user’s network environment. Alternatives may include Facebook’s native search, Henk van Ess–related search methods, or other OSINT tools.