Updated 9 Nov 2026
SearchAPI alternative: half the price, credits that never expire
SearchAPI.io is a developer SERP API with a very large engine catalog (196 engines). Gridlode targets the same developers with lower prices at every tier, packs that never expire, and bulk jobs, plus places and domain data on the same key.
| SearchAPI | Gridlode | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $40/month for 10,000 searches ($4.00 per 1,000) | $2.00 per 1,000 full Google pages, $1.00 for Light |
| At 1M searches/month | $1,500 | About $800 |
| Payment model | Monthly subscription only | Never-expiring packs or cheaper subscriptions |
| Free tier | 100 requests, one time | 1,000 credits + 500/month |
| Faster responses | "Enhanced speed" costs 2× | Included |
| Hourly cap | 20% of monthly credits per hour | None, only your rate limit |
| Bulk jobs and webhooks | No | Yes (Q1 2027) |
| Poisoned-results check | No | Verified mode with a confidence score |
| Places, contacts, domain data | Search only | One wallet for all |
Competitor details come from their public websites and documentation on 9 Nov 2026. Spotted something outdated? Email [email protected].
Choose SearchAPI if…
- You need one of their 196 engines that we haven't shipped yet.
- You need their $2M legal protection guarantee on Production plans.
Choose Gridlode if…
- Price per search matters to you.
- Your usage is irregular and you hate expiring credits.
- You also need domain, places or contact data.
Questions about switching
Are the parameters compatible?
Yes. Gridlode accepts SearchAPI/SerpApi-style parameters (engine, q, location, gl, hl, api_key), so most integrations only change the base URL.
When does Google search launch?
Google search and the Custom Search JSON API replacement start rolling out in December 2026 and January 2027.