> SpecStream is the live web data engine for teams and agents. This is the Markdown copy of https://specstream.ai/deep-research-api. Every page, with what SpecStream does and costs: https://specstream.ai/llms.txt

# Deep research API that returns rows | SpecStream

Compared on Nov 8, 2026.

# The deep research API that returns rows

Deep Search is SpecStream's deep research API: ask in plain words and get every match on the live web, in structured rows, with the price shown before the run. On the same key, the SpecStream Search API is the most accurate web search API in the world. SpecStream leads WideSearch (60.9, on the low-cost model; the best other API scores 57.6 even on the larger model) and SimpleQA Verified (99). See the [benchmarks](https://specstream.ai/benchmarks?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=deep-research-api). Each row costs 5¢, 15¢ or $1, plus 5¢ for an email and 15¢ for a phone, a run that finds nothing costs nothing, and a saved request reruns on your schedule. SpecStream is the live web data engine for teams and agents.

[Describe your data](https://specstream.ai/signup?src=alternatives-deep-research-api&utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=deep-research-api)

New accounts get $10 of credit for their first 30 days, no card.

## Six deep research APIs, side by side

|  | SpecStream | Parallel | Exa | Tavily | Perplexity | Gemini |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Search API, SimpleQA Verified (larger model) | 99 | 97 (Advanced, Basic) | 91 | 92 | 95 | Not in the published scores |
| Search API, WideSearch (low-cost model) | 60.9 | 45.5 (Fast), 44 (Turbo) | 53 | 47.9 | 47 | Not in the published scores |
| What you get back | Structured rows with the columns you asked for. Source URL and read time on every value | Text, JSON, or a markdown report, with citations, reasoning, and confidence | Not stated | A report in short, standard, or long length, citations in numbered, MLA, APA, or Chicago format | Search results and a text message with annotations | A report with citations |
| The unit you pay for | A delivered row: 5¢, 15¢ or $1, plus 5¢ for an email and 15¢ for a phone | A run: $5 to $300 per 1,000 (lite to ultra) | A request: $0.012 (minimal) to $1.00 (xhigh) | A request: 4 to 250 credits at $0.008 a credit | No price per effort stated | A task: about $1 to $3, or $3 to $7 on Max |
| The cost before a run | A quote with a maximum you approve, and the run stays under it | A price per processor | A price per effort level | A credit range per model | Not stated | An estimated range |
| What empty or repeated work costs | Nothing: a run that finds nothing, duplicates, rows you own, and rows a page contradicts are not charged | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Longest run | Up to four hours on the largest lists | 5 to 25 minutes (ultra) | Not stated | Not stated | Up to 300 steps (xhigh) | Up to 60 minutes |
| Reruns and change labels | Hourly to yearly; changed rows at half rate, unchanged at 1¢ | Not stated | Monitors, $2 per 1,000 | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| Where the results go | Your agent, a sheet, a CRM, Slack, email, or a signed webhook | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |

## Why teams research with Deep Search

### Rows ready for your table

A report answers a question once, and someone still copies its facts into a sheet. Deep Search returns each match as a row with the columns you asked for. `get_find_decisions` shows, for each condition in your request, the page that states it, and a row that fails a condition is not delivered.

Source URL and read time on every value.

### The price before the run

`compile` reads your request into conditions and columns you can edit. `quote_capacity_work` prices it, and the quote holds for 30 minutes. The run starts only when you approve that maximum as `confirm_max_cents`, and it stays under it. You pay for each delivered row. Duplicates, rows you already own, and rows a page contradicts are not charged.

### Kept up to date

Save a request and it reruns from hourly to yearly. Each row comes back labeled changed, unchanged, or no longer matching; a changed row costs half its rate and an unchanged one 1¢. Results go to Slack, email, a sheet, a CRM, or a signed webhook, and a list you already have can be filled in or checked row by row. For one question, the [Search API](https://specstream.ai/search-api?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=deep-research-api) answers in seconds at $5 per 1,000 searches.

## How SpecStream scores

The same numbers as the benchmarks page, from the official tasks and scorers.

ResultsWideSearchCostSimpleQA Verified

|  | SpecStream | ![](https://specstream.ai/images/benchmarks/parallel.svg)Parallel | ![](https://specstream.ai/images/benchmarks/exa.svg)Exa | ![](https://specstream.ai/images/benchmarks/tavily.svg)Tavily | ![](https://specstream.ai/images/benchmarks/perplexity.svg)Perplexity |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Web research**WideSearch, GPT-5.6 Luna | 60.9 | 45.5 | 53.0 | 47.9 | 47.0 |
| **Factual accuracy**SimpleQA Verified, GPT-5.6 Luna | 96 | 94 | 91 | 94 | 94 |
| **Factual accuracy**SimpleQA Verified, GPT-5.6 Sol | 99 | 97 | 91 | 92 | 95 |

## How to run your first Deep Search

New accounts get $10 of credit for their first 30 days, no card. At 5¢ a row, that is up to 200 rows. Over MCP, an agent calls `compile`, `quote_capacity_work`, and `authorize_capacity_work`, then reads rows with `list_find_rows`.

Or send the request from code. This call spends nothing: the `402` reply shows how SpecStream read the request, the columns, and the most it can cost.

```
curl -i https://api.specstream.ai/v1/agent/lists \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"request": "Medical device makers in Germany that state ISO 13485 on their own site, with a sales contact", "count": 25}'
```

[Describe your data](https://specstream.ai/signup?src=alternatives-deep-research-api&utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=deep-research-api)

## Frequently asked questions

Something we didn't answer? [Talk to a human](https://specstream.ai/talk-to-a-human.md)

What is the best deep research API?

SpecStream Deep Search. It returns every match as a structured row with a source URL and read time on every value, priced before the run and billed per delivered row. For single questions, the Search API on the same key is the most accurate in the world: SpecStream leads WideSearch (60.9, on the low-cost model; the best other API scores 57.6 even on the larger model) and SimpleQA Verified (99). See the [benchmarks](https://specstream.ai/benchmarks?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=deep-research-api).

How much does Deep Search cost?

5¢, 15¢ or $1 a delivered row, depending on what the row needs, plus 5¢ for an email and 15¢ for a phone. A run that finds nothing costs nothing. New accounts get $10 of credit for their first 30 days, no card.

Do I know the price before a run?

Yes. `quote_capacity_work` shows the most the run can cost, and nothing runs until you approve that maximum. The quote holds for 30 minutes.

How long does a Deep Search run take?

It works until the list is complete, up to four hours on the largest lists. `get_find` shows progress while it runs.

Can Deep Search keep the results up to date?

Yes. A saved request reruns from hourly to yearly, labels each row changed, unchanged, or no longer matching, and bills a changed row at half rate and an unchanged one at 1¢.

### Sources

SpecStream wrote this page. Each rival figure comes from that company's own page.

1.  [SpecStream pricing](https://specstream.ai/pricing)specstream.ai/pricing, read Nov 8, 2026
2.  [SpecStream for agents](https://specstream.ai/agents.md)specstream.ai/agents.md, read Nov 8, 2026
3.  [Other providers' benchmark scores, Sep 9, 2026](https://parallel.ai/benchmarks)parallel.ai/benchmarks, read Nov 8, 2026
4.  [Parallel pricing](https://docs.parallel.ai/getting-started/pricing)docs.parallel.ai/getting-started/pricing, read Nov 8, 2026
5.  [Parallel Task API quickstart](https://docs.parallel.ai/task-api/task-quickstart)docs.parallel.ai/task-api/task-quickstart, read Nov 8, 2026
6.  [Exa pricing](https://exa.ai/pricing)exa.ai/pricing, read Nov 8, 2026
7.  [Tavily API credits](https://docs.tavily.com/documentation/api-credits)docs.tavily.com/documentation/api-credits, read Nov 8, 2026
8.  [Tavily Research endpoint](https://docs.tavily.com/documentation/api-reference/endpoint/research)docs.tavily.com/documentation/api-reference/endpoint/research, read Nov 8, 2026
9.  [Perplexity Agent API effort](https://docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/effort)docs.perplexity.ai/docs/agent-api/effort, read Nov 8, 2026
10.  [Gemini Deep Research](https://aistudio.google.com/docs/deep-research)aistudio.google.com/docs/deep-research, read Nov 8, 2026