Custom Search JSON API Status
Custom Search JSON API closed to new customers?
Yes. Google's own overview page says the Custom Search JSON API is closed to new customers and will be discontinued on January 1, 2027. Here's what that means, what still works until then, and how to migrate to a full search API at $0.30 per 1,000 queries.
{ "searchTime": 0.17, "totalResults": 85000, "page": 1, "organic": [ { "position": 1, "title": "31.10. Connection Pools and Data Sources", "link": "www.postgresql.org/docs/…", "domain": "postgresql.org", "snippet": "For an environment without an application se…" }, { "position": 2, "domain": "medium.com", … }, { "position": 3, "domain": "stackoverflow.blog", … } ], "credits": 1}If you've searched whether the Custom Search JSON API is 'closed to new customers,' the answer is yes. Google's Custom Search JSON API overview (developers.google.com/custom-search/v1/overview, last updated 2026-02-18) says the API is closed to new customers, that existing customers "have until January 1, 2027", and that the service is discontinued on January 1, 2027. It follows Google's paid Site Search (the old Google Site Search / GSS), which was discontinued years ago. Until the shutdown, existing customers work within a 100/day free tier, $5-per-1,000 pricing and a 10,000 queries/day cap.
Developers landing on these searches are usually looking for the same thing: a reliable, well-priced way to get Google search results via API that is still open to new sign-ups, before the January 1, 2027 deadline arrives.
Searlo is that stable path. It is open to new customers today, returns full Google SERP data via a single endpoint, and is priced at $0.30 per 1,000 queries with 3,000 free credits — no Programmable Search Engine setup required.
Features
Clarity on what's affected
Google Site Search was discontinued; the Custom Search JSON API is closed to new customers and is discontinued on January 1, 2027. Either way, plan a migration.
Open to new customers
Searlo is available to sign up and use today, with no waitlist or legacy restrictions.
Full SERP, one endpoint
Organic, image, news, and shopping results — without configuring a search engine.
Predictable pricing
$0.30 per 1,000 queries, with the same limits on every plan and no 10,000-a-day cap.
Get started in one request
Migrating is straightforward — replace the Custom Search call with one keyed request:
curl "https://api.searlo.tech/api/v1/search/web?q=how%20to%20migrate%20search%20api&num=10" \
-H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"import requests
r = requests.get(
"https://api.searlo.tech/api/v1/search/web",
params={"q": "how to migrate search api", "num": 10},
headers={"x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY"},
)
results = r.json()["organic"]
for o in results:
print(o["position"], o["domain"], o["title"])const res = await fetch(
"https://api.searlo.tech/api/v1/search/web?q=" +
encodeURIComponent("how to migrate search api") + "&num=10",
{ headers: { "x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY" } },
);
const { organic } = await res.json();
organic.forEach(o =>
console.log(o.position, o.domain, o.title));Searlo vs Google Custom Search JSON API
Why developers migrate rather than wait on product uncertainty.
| Capability | Searlo | Google Custom Search JSON API |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Open to new customers | Closed to new customers; discontinued January 1, 2027 |
| Daily cap | No 10,000/day cap; 100,000+ a day by arrangement | 10,000 queries/day |
| Price per 1,000 | $0.30 | $5.00 |
| Search types | Web, image, news, shopping | Basic web only |
| Setup | API key only | Programmable Search Engine config |
Which Google search products were affected
Google Site Search (GSS), the paid version of Custom Search for site owners, was discontinued and is no longer sold. The Custom Search JSON API behind Programmable Search Engine outlived it, but Google's overview page (last updated 2026-02-18) now says it is closed to new customers, that existing customers have until January 1, 2027, and that the service is discontinued on that date. Until then, existing customers are on the 100/day free tier, $5-per-1,000 pricing, and 10,000/day cap described on our pricing page.
Because Google has a long track record of sunsetting search-related products, many teams choose to build on a provider whose entire business is search-results delivery, rather than a free utility that could change terms.
- Google Site Search: discontinued
- Custom Search JSON API: closed to new customers, discontinued January 1, 2027
- Searlo: purpose-built, open, $0.30/1K
- No Programmable Search Engine required
Reasons to migrate now
- Move off a product Google discontinues on January 1, 2027
- Escape the 10,000 queries/day cap
- Cut search costs from $5/1K to $0.30/1K
- Get full SERP features, not basic results
- Skip Programmable Search Engine configuration
- Start immediately as a new customer
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is the Custom Search JSON API closed to new customers?
Yes. Google's Custom Search JSON API overview (developers.google.com/custom-search/v1/overview, last updated 2026-02-18) says the API is closed to new customers, that existing customers have until January 1, 2027, and that the service is discontinued on January 1, 2027. Until then, existing customers are on a 100/day free tier, $5-per-1,000 pricing, and a 10,000/day cap. Google's paid Site Search product was discontinued earlier. Either way, developers need a replacement search API before 2027.
What replaced Google Site Search?
Google Site Search was retired without a direct paid replacement. Developers who needed search results via API moved to the Custom Search JSON API, which is now closed to new customers and is discontinued on January 1, 2027, or to a third-party search API like Searlo.
Can I still sign up for a search API today?
Yes. Searlo is open to new customers, returns full Google SERP data, and starts at $0.30 per 1,000 queries with 3,000 free credits.
How hard is it to migrate?
Minimal. Replace the Custom Search request with a single keyed GET to Searlo's endpoint; the response includes organic results plus SERP features. See the code above.
Why migrate instead of staying on the free tier?
Because the free tier ends with the API: Google discontinues the Custom Search JSON API on January 1, 2027. Until then it is 100 queries/day, then $5 per 1,000 up to a 10,000/day ceiling. Searlo has no 10,000-a-day cap (volumes above 100,000 a day by arrangement), and it costs $0.30 per 1,000.