Hive gives you a few different ways in, depending on whether you already know who you are looking for.
If you know the creator
Search their handle directly. As well as their own profile, you will be offered lookalikes, which are creators with a similar audience. This is often the fastest way to build a shortlist: start from one creator you already like and work outwards.
If you are starting from scratch
Use the filters. The ones that make the most difference are:
Audience location. Where the followers actually are, not where the creator is.
Follower count. Set a range rather than a floor. Smaller creators often have better engagement.
Engagement rate. A useful sanity check against follower count.
Audience credibility. Shows what proportion of the following looks real.
The bio filter
You can search the text of a creator's own bio. It is more powerful than it sounds, because creators describe themselves in words a category filter will never capture. Searching for a specific word that your ideal creator would use about themselves often surfaces people no amount of category filtering will find.
Playbooks
If you are not sure where to start, playbooks are ready-made searches built around a goal, such as competitor analysis, growth, UGC or audience targeting. They set sensible filters for you and you adjust from there.
AI discovery
You can also search using a description in plain language, or by uploading an image, and Hive will find creators whose content matches. This works on Instagram and TikTok.
What it costs
For exactly what each action costs and how many credits your plan includes, see Understanding the Credit System.