Tavily Search API
Checked on 17 Oct 2026Free tier: 1,000 free API credits every month, no credit card.
- Auth: API key (Bearer)
- Serving public users: Yes.
- Source: docs.tavily.com
Free web search APIs for AI agents (2026)
Search APIs you can give an agent, with free monthly searches. 6 providers, each with the free-tier text from its official pricing page and the date we checked it.
6 free web search APIs for AI agents compared
Exa Search API
Checked on 17 Oct 2026Free tier: Starter (Free): $10 credits every month plus a $10 onboarding bonus, no payment method required.
- Auth: API key (x-api-key)
- Serving public users: Yes.
- Source: exa.ai
Brave Search API
Checked on 17 Oct 2026Free tier: "Up to $20 in free calls every month"; prepaid credits, no subscription.
- Auth: API key (X-Subscription-Token)
- Serving public users: Yes.
- Note: Exact per-request price/plan split not captured: see page.
- Source: brave.com
Serper (Google SERP API)
Checked on 17 Oct 2026Free tier: 2,500 free queries, no credit card required (one-time vs monthly not stated: assume one-time; unknown).
- Auth: API key (X-API-KEY)
- Serving public users: Yes.
- Source: serper.dev
SerpApi
Checked on 17 Oct 2026Free tier: Free plan $0/month: 250 searches per month, 50 throughput per hour.
- Auth: API key (query param)
- Serving public users: Yes.
- Source: serpapi.com
Linkup
Checked on 17 Oct 2026Free tier: "Run 4,000 queries for free" (period not stated: unknown).
- Auth: API key (Bearer)
- Serving public users: Yes.
- Note: Startup credits up to $5,000 by application.
- Source: www.linkup.so
Each free tier was read from the provider’s official pricing or limits page on 17 Oct 2026 and is linked as the source. Anything the page does not state is written as unknown. Free tiers change often, so confirm before you build on one.