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# Cloudflare AI Gateway web search in 2026: prices, limits, SpecStream

Compared on Nov 12, 2026. The page: https://specstream.ai/cloudflare-ai-gateway-web-search

Cloudflare's Web Search API, in beta since October 2, 2026, sends a query through your AI Gateway to Ceramic.ai at $0.25 per 1,000, Linkup at $5.00 or Exa at $7.00. A call returns 10 results at most, and gateway credits carry a 5% fee.

SpecStream is the live web data engine for teams and agents. Add it to the same gateway as a custom provider: $1 per 1,000 searches with `speed=fast`, up to 100 results a call, and page reading and structured rows on the same key.

[Get an API key](https://specstream.ai/signup?src=alternatives-cloudflare-ai-gateway-web-search&utm_source=alternatives-md&utm_campaign=cloudflare-ai-gateway-web-search&returnTo=%2Fworkspace%2Fagents%3Ftab%3Dkeys) New accounts get $10 of credit, no card. It covers 10,000 fast searches.

## Web search through AI Gateway, provider by provider

| | SpecStream | Ceramic.ai | Linkup | Exa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per 1,000 searches | $1 with `speed=fast`, $5 on the default search, which also answers from the pages. Up to 10 results each | $0.25 per 1,000 requests at list price | $5.00 per 1,000 requests, `fast` search depth | $7.00 per 1,000 requests, `auto` search type |
| What you pay on top | Nothing. The gateway passes the call to SpecStream as a custom provider, and your SpecStream balance pays | List price with no markup. Credits bought through Unified Billing carry a 5% fee, or the provider bills your own key | List price with no markup. Credits bought through Unified Billing carry a 5% fee, or the provider bills your own key | List price with no markup. Credits bought through Unified Billing carry a 5% fee, or the provider bills your own key |
| 10,000 searches a day | $10 a day with `speed=fast`, $50 on the default search | $2.63 a day with the 5% credit fee | $52.50 a day with the 5% credit fee | $73.50 a day with the 5% credit fee |
| Results per call | 1 to 100, set with `num`, and `page` 1 to 10 continues the same ranked list | 1 to 10 | 1 to 10 | 1 to 10 |
| What comes back | Each source's `url`, `title`, `site`, `snippet` and published date. `passages=true` adds the text of each page closest to the question. The default search adds the answer with the page it was read from and its read time | URL and title, with a description of each page up to 8,000 characters | URL and title, with raw search results and no generated answer | URL and title, with Exa's highlights as the description |
| Data kept | Set per key: a `zero_retention` key keeps no request text and no answer after the reply, and an `eu_egress_only` key sends its searches out only from Madrid | Zero Data Retention: Yes | Zero Data Retention: Yes | Zero Data Retention: No |
| Reading the pages | Extract API on the same key: up to 20 pages, PDFs, Word and Excel files a call at $0.80 per 1,000 pages, and a page with no text is not charged | Search results only: a URL, a title and an optional description, image, favicon and last modified date | Search results only: a URL, a title and an optional description, image, favicon and last modified date | Search results only: a URL, a title and an optional description, image, favicon and last modified date |
| Structured rows | Deep Search: a request in plain words returns every match on the live web as structured rows, with a source URL and read time on every value, at 5¢, 15¢ or $1 a row | A list of results for each query | A list of results for each query | A list of results for each query |

## Why teams on AI Gateway add SpecStream

### SpecStream on the same gateway, in two steps

The `/ai/websearch/` endpoint takes three providers: `ceramic`, `exa` and `linkup`. AI Gateway also takes any HTTPS API as a custom provider, with its logs, caching and rate limits. Add SpecStream once, under **Compute & AI** > **AI Gateway** > **Custom Providers** > **Add Custom Provider** in the dashboard, or by API:

```
curl -X POST "https://api.cloudflare.com/client/v4/accounts/$ACCOUNT_ID/ai-gateway/custom-providers" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name": "SpecStream", "slug": "specstream", "base_url": "https://api.specstream.ai", "enable": true}'
```

Then search through the gateway. Everything after `custom-specstream/` is added to the base URL, so this call reaches `https://api.specstream.ai/v1/web-search` and shows in your gateway logs beside your model calls:

```
curl "https://gateway.ai.cloudflare.com/v1/$ACCOUNT_ID/$GATEWAY_ID/custom-specstream/v1/web-search" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SPECSTREAM_API_KEY" \
  -H "cf-aig-authorization: Bearer $CF_AIG_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"q": "Cloudflare Workers changes in November 2026", "speed": "fast", "num": 10}'
```

The reply is `{"data": {...}}` with the results in `data.sources`, and `data.price_usd` says what the call cost: $0.001 for up to 10 results on the fast search.

### The most accurate web search API in the world

On SimpleQA Verified the SpecStream Search API scores 97.9 F-score on all 1,000 official questions, 978 of them correct. On WideSearch it scores 64.0 item F1 and 43.4 row F1 on all 200 official tasks. The Extract API scores 0.908 F1 on WCXB. Every score and its method is on the [benchmarks](https://specstream.ai/benchmarks?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=cloudflare-ai-gateway-web-search) page.

### Up to 100 results, and the text of the pages

The gateway's providers stop at 10 results a call. SpecStream returns up to 100 for one search with `num`: 50 results are $0.0058 and 100 are $0.0118 with `speed=fast`. Add `passages=true` and each of the first sources carries an `excerpt`, the text of its page closest to the question, up to about 3,500 characters, so the model reads the page's own words.

### Search, pages and rows on one key

An agent that searches reads pages next. On the same key the [Extract API](https://specstream.ai/extract-api?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=cloudflare-ai-gateway-web-search) reads up to 20 pages or documents a call at $0.80 per 1,000 pages, and [Deep Search](https://specstream.ai/deep-search?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=cloudflare-ai-gateway-web-search) turns a request in plain words into structured rows that meet every condition you wrote, with a source URL and read time on every value. The most a run can cost is quoted before it starts, and a saved request reruns hourly to yearly.

### You decide what is kept, on each key

Create a key with `zero_retention` and a search made with it keeps no request text and no answer after the reply. The charge keeps the account, the key, the request ID, the price and the time. `spend_cap_cents` is the most the key can spend, and `eu_egress_only` sends its searches out only from our server in Madrid.

```
curl -X POST https://api.specstream.ai/v1/account/keys \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $SPECSTREAM_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name": "ai-gateway", "scopes": ["account:read", "finds:spend"], "spend_cap_cents": 50000, "zero_retention": true}'
```

## The web search providers in AI Gateway

### SpecStream

The live web data engine for teams and agents, and the most accurate web search API in the world. $1 per 1,000 searches with `speed=fast` or $5 on the default search, up to 100 results a call, through AI Gateway as a custom provider, over the API or over MCP at `https://api.specstream.ai/mcp`. New accounts get $10 of credit, no card.

### Ceramic.ai

The gateway's default provider, at $0.25 per 1,000 requests, from its own index of more than 40 billion pages, with a description of each page up to 8,000 characters. A call returns 10 results at most. SpecStream reads the live web at that second, returns up to 100 results and answers from the pages.

### Linkup

$5.00 per 1,000 requests through the gateway, on `fast` search depth with raw results and no generated answer. SpecStream answers the same call at $1 per 1,000 with `speed=fast`, and Linkup code moves with one address: see [Linkup alternatives](https://specstream.ai/alternatives/linkup?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=cloudflare-ai-gateway-web-search).

### Exa

$7.00 per 1,000 requests through the gateway, on Exa's `auto` search type, marked No for Zero Data Retention. SpecStream costs $1 per 1,000 with `speed=fast`, and a `zero_retention` key keeps no request text. See [Exa alternatives](https://specstream.ai/alternatives/exa?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=cloudflare-ai-gateway-web-search).

## How to search with SpecStream from a Worker

1. Create a key under Agents & API in the workspace, with `finds:spend` and a spending limit. A new account gets $10 of credit, no card, which covers 10,000 fast searches.

2. Store it as a Worker secret (`npx wrangler secret put SPECSTREAM_API_KEY`) and call SpecStream where your Worker calls `env.AI.websearch()` today, for example inside the `web_search` tool your model calls:

```
const reply = await fetch("https://api.specstream.ai/v1/web-search", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    Authorization: `Bearer ${env.SPECSTREAM_API_KEY}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({ q: toolCall.arguments.query, speed: "fast", num: 10 }),
});
const { data } = await reply.json();
const results = data.sources.map((s) => ({ url: s.url, title: s.title, description: s.snippet }));
```

3. To keep the call in your gateway logs, send it to the gateway address of the custom provider above in place of `https://api.specstream.ai`. An agent built with the Cloudflare Agents SDK can also use SpecStream over MCP: see the [Cloudflare Agents guide](https://specstream.ai/docs/integrations/cloudflare-agents?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=cloudflare-ai-gateway-web-search).

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does web search cost in Cloudflare AI Gateway?

$0.25 per 1,000 requests on Ceramic.ai, $5.00 on Linkup and $7.00 on Exa, at each provider's list price with no markup. Credits bought through Unified Billing carry a 5% fee, so 1,000 Exa searches take $7.35 of what you paid. SpecStream costs $1 per 1,000 with `speed=fast` and $5 on the default search, through the gateway as a custom provider.

### Which search providers does Cloudflare's Web Search API support?

Three: Ceramic.ai (`ceramic`, the default), Exa (`exa`) and Linkup (`linkup`). Any other HTTPS API, SpecStream included, goes through AI Gateway as a custom provider, with the same logs.

### How many results does Cloudflare's Web Search API return?

10 at most per request, for a query of up to 1,024 characters. SpecStream returns 1 to 100 results for one search, and `page` continues the same ranked list.

### Is Cloudflare's Web Search API generally available?

No. Cloudflare announced it in beta on October 2, 2026. A new SpecStream account gets $10 of credit, no card, and can search the same day.

### Can I bring my own search key to AI Gateway?

Yes, for Ceramic.ai, Exa and Linkup: store the key on the gateway under an alias and the provider bills you directly. For SpecStream, send your SpecStream key as the Bearer token through the custom provider, and SpecStream bills your balance.

### Does SpecStream work in a Cloudflare Worker?

Yes. One `fetch` to `https://api.specstream.ai/v1/web-search` costs $0.001 for up to 10 results with `speed=fast`. Agents built with the Cloudflare Agents SDK can also use the MCP server at `https://api.specstream.ai/mcp`.

## Sources

SpecStream wrote this page. Each figure about Cloudflare and its providers comes from Cloudflare's own documentation.

- [Cloudflare Web Search API, providers and pricing](https://developers.cloudflare.com/web-search/providers/), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Cloudflare Web Search API, how to use](https://developers.cloudflare.com/web-search/how-to-use/), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Cloudflare Web Search API, about](https://developers.cloudflare.com/web-search/about/), read Nov 12, 2026
- [Cloudflare changelog, Web Search API](https://developers.cloudflare.com/changelog/product/web-search/), read Nov 12, 2026
- [AI Gateway, Unified Billing](https://developers.cloudflare.com/ai-gateway/features/unified-billing/), read Nov 12, 2026
- [AI Gateway, custom providers](https://developers.cloudflare.com/ai-gateway/configuration/custom-providers/), read Nov 12, 2026