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Gridlode
LiveSearch engines2 credits / request

Custom Search API Replacement API

A drop-in replacement for Google's Custom Search JSON API, which shuts down on 1 January 2027. Send the same parameters (q, num, start, gl, hl, lr, safe, siteSearch, siteSearchFilter; cx and key are accepted and ignored) and get the same response shape with items[]. Answers come from Google through a licensed results feed, or from Bing when that feed is not available; the gridlode.source field says which.

GEThttps://api.gridlode.com/v1/search/cse
Get an API keyReference docs

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
qrequiredstringSearch query (searchTerms).
numintegerNumber of results to return (1-10).
Default: 10
startintegerIndex of the first result (1-91).
Default: 1
glstringCountry to search from, e.g. us.
Default: null
hlstringInterface language, e.g. en.
Default: null
lrstringRestrict to documents in a language, e.g. lang_en.
Default: null
safestringSafeSearch: active or off.
Default: "off"
One of: active, off
siteSearchstringSite to include or exclude.
Default: null
siteSearchFilterstringi = only results from siteSearch (default), e = exclude them.
Default: null
cxstringAccepted for compatibility and ignored.
Default: null
keystringAccepted for compatibility and ignored (never stored or echoed). Authenticate with your Gridlode key.
Default: null
max_ageintegerAccept a cached answer up to this many seconds old, billed at 50%. Default 0 (always fresh).

Response fields

    Code

    curl "https://api.gridlode.com/v1/search/cse?q=python%20programming%20language&num=5" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $GRIDLODE_KEY"
    2 credits per request
    One credit is $0.001 on the smallest pack, from $0.0003 on enterprise plans.
    Half price for cached data
    Cached for up to 1 h. Pass max_age to use it.
    Failed requests are free
    Blocks, timeouts and target errors never cost credits.

    Market reference: Google CSE $5 per 1k (ends 1 Jan 2027); SearchAPI $4.00 → $1.00 per 1k.

    Questions

    How much does the Custom Search API Replacement API cost?

    2 credits per request. One credit costs $0.001 on the smallest pack and as little as $0.0003 on enterprise plans. Cached answers cost half and failed calls are free.

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