Web Search API Pricing for AI Agents: 8 Providers Compared (2026)

A 2026 comparison of search APIs for AI agents reveals that Exa provided the most accurate results, correctly identifying the Python 3.15.1 release while Firecrawl, Tavily, and DeepSeek failed. DeepSeek launched its Search API on 17 October at $0.75 per 1,000 calls, significantly cheaper than Exa. Market research shows a 47x price spread across eight providers, with list prices ranging from $0.75 to $35 per 1,000 searches, while model-native tools command a grounding premium.