Google Custom Search JSON API Status 2026: Closed. The Best Google Custom Search API Alternative

Searlo vs Google Custom Search JSON API

Searlo vs Google Custom Search JSON API

Migrate from Google CSE in 10 Minutes

Migrate from Google CSE in 10 Minutes

// Requires: GCP project, Custom Search Engine ID,
// API key from Google Cloud Console
const res = await fetch(
  'https://www.googleapis.com/customsearch/v1'
  + '?key=YOUR_GCP_API_KEY'
  + '&cx=YOUR_CSE_ID'       // must pre-configure domains
  + '&q=best+search+API',
);
// ? Only returns results from whitelisted domains
// ? 100 queries/day free, $5/1K paid
// ? New signups CLOSED

Features

• Migration Steps

  1

Features

• How much does the Google Custom Search JSON API cost in 2026?

  The Google Custom Search JSON API costs $5 per 1,000 queries. You get 100 queries per day free, paid usage is capped at 10,000 queries per day, and there is no higher tier to buy — 10k/day is the ceiling. It is also closed to new customers: if you do not already have access you cannot sign up at any price, and existing customers have until January 1, 2027 to move off it. Google's own suggested replacement is Vertex AI Search, which searches up to 50 domains you configure rather than the open web. Searlo is the open-web option — the full Google index, no domain list, $0.30 per 1,000.

• Is the Google Custom Search JSON API free?

  Only up to 100 search queries per day. Past that it is $5 per 1,000 queries, and paid usage stops at 10,000 queries per day. There is no free tier large enough to run a product on, and no plan above 10k/day to grow into.

• When does the Google Custom Search JSON API shut down?

  Google's overview page states that existing Custom Search JSON API customers have until January 1, 2027 to transition to an alternative solution. New customers cannot sign up at all — the API is already closed to them.

• Is the Google Custom Search JSON API closed?

  Yes. Google officially closed the Custom Search JSON API to new customers. As of 2025, new sign-ups are no longer accepted. Google recommends Vertex AI Search as a paid enterprise alternative, but Searlo is the most affordable drop-in replacement for developers.

• What is the best Google Custom Search API alternative in 2026?

  Searlo is the best Google Custom Search API alternative in 2026. It offers real Google search results (not domain-restricted), sub-second latency, $0.30/1K pricing (vs Google's $5/1K), a 3,000 query/month free tier, MCP protocol, and TOON format for AI applications.

• How is Searlo different from Google Custom Search?

  Unlike Google CSE which is restricted to pre-configured domains and has a 100 queries/day free limit, Searlo searches the full Google index with no domain restrictions, 3,000 free queries/month, and 16x cheaper paid rates. It also supports AI-native features like MCP protocol and TOON format.

• How long does it take to migrate from Google Custom Search to Searlo?

  Most developers migrate in under 10 minutes. Instead of Google's API key plus a custom search engine ID (cx) in the query string, you send your Searlo key in an x-api-key header and change the endpoint URL to https://api.searlo.tech/api/v1/search/web?q=. No search engine to configure in a UI, no domain whitelisting, and the results come back as organic[] with a position on every entry.

• Does Searlo work with LangChain and AI agents?

  Yes. Searlo has native LangChain and LlamaIndex integrations, an MCP protocol server for Claude and Cursor, and TOON format that reduces LLM token consumption by 63%. Google Custom Search has no equivalent AI-native features.