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

# Google Custom Search API alternative | SpecStream

Compared on Nov 8, 2026.

# Google Custom Search API alternative: the live web at $5 per 1,000 searches

Google's Custom Search JSON API is closed to new customers, and Google's page gives existing customers until January 1, 2027 to move. SpecStream is the live web data engine for teams and agents. Its Search API answers a question from the live web at `GET /v1/web-search` for $5 per 1,000 searches, the rate Google lists after its 100 free queries a day. It needs no search engine ID, and each reply carries an answer with the page it was read from. 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), with every score and its cost on the [benchmarks](https://specstream.ai/benchmarks?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=google-custom-search-api-alternative) page.

[Get an API key](https://specstream.ai/signup?src=alternatives-google-custom-search-api-alternative&utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=google-custom-search-api-alternative&returnTo=%2Fworkspace%2Fagents%3Ftab%3Dkeys)

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

## SpecStream and Google's search APIs

|  | SpecStream | Custom Search JSON API | Vertex AI Search |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Status on Nov 8, 2026 | Live and open to new accounts | Closed to new customers; existing customers have until Jan 1, 2027 | Offered by Google as a path off Custom Search |
| What it searches | The live web, from a question in everyday words | A search engine ID (`cx`) is required on every call | Up to 50 domains |
| Price per 1,000 searches | $5 | $5 after 100 free queries a day, up to 10,000 a day | Not stated |
| Result fields | `sources[]` with `url`, `title`, `site`, `snippet` and `published` | `items[]` with `link`, `title`, `snippet` and `displayLink` | Not stated |
| Answer with its page | `answer` with `value`, `page` and `seen_at` | Not stated | Not stated |
| Failed calls | A `503` with `Retry-After` charges nothing | Not stated | Not stated |
| Page text | Extract API, $0.80 per 1,000 pages, PDF, Word and Excel included; a page with no text is not charged | Not stated | Not stated |
| Full lists with a source on each value | Deep Search: every match as a structured row, 5¢, 15¢ or $1 a row, plus 5¢ for an email and 15¢ for a phone | Not stated | Not stated |
| Reruns and delivery | A saved request reruns hourly to yearly, and changes go to Slack, email, a sheet, a CRM or a signed webhook | Not stated | Not stated |

## Why teams move from Custom Search to SpecStream

### No search engine ID

Custom Search needs a search engine ID, `cx`, on every call. SpecStream needs only `q`, written in everyday words in any language, from 1 to 2,000 characters. Quoted phrases are searched as phrases, and results that hold them come first.

### The same $5, with an answer and its page

Google lists $5 per 1,000 queries after the first 100 a day and returns `items[]` for your code to read. SpecStream charges $5 per 1,000 searches and returns ranked `sources[]` with the same fields, plus `answer`: the value, the page it was read from and its read time. With `passages=true`, the reply also carries the text of the top pages closest to the question.

### Searches, pages and rows on one balance

The same key reads pages with the [Extract API](https://specstream.ai/extract-api?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=google-custom-search-api-alternative) at $0.80 per 1,000, PDF, Word and Excel included, and runs [Deep Search](https://specstream.ai/deep-search?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=google-custom-search-api-alternative), which returns every match on the live web as structured rows at 5¢, 15¢ or $1 a row. A saved request reruns on a schedule and delivers new rows to Slack, email, a sheet, a CRM or a webhook. Source URL and read time on every value.

## Google's own paths

### Vertex AI Search and the full web interest form

Google's page points customers to Vertex AI Search, which searches up to 50 domains, and to an interest form for full web search. The page names no product or price for full web search.

## 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 |

## Move from Custom Search to SpecStream

Create a key under Agents & API in the workspace. New accounts get $10 of credit for 30 days, no card, which covers 2,000 searches. Drop `cx`, keep `q`, and send the key as a Bearer header:

```
curl "https://api.specstream.ai/v1/web-search?q=Who%20founded%20Mistral%20AI%20and%20when%3F" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer <key>"
```

Read `sources[]` where you read `items[]`: `link` becomes `url`, `title` and `snippet` keep their names, and `displayLink` becomes `site`. Send an `Idempotency-Key` header to retry safely, or call `web_search(q=...)` in Python, `webSearch({ q })` in TypeScript or the `search_web` MCP tool.

[Get an API key](https://specstream.ai/signup?src=alternatives-google-custom-search-api-alternative&utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=google-custom-search-api-alternative&returnTo=%2Fworkspace%2Fagents%3Ftab%3Dkeys)

## Frequently asked questions

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

Is the Google Custom Search JSON API shutting down?

Google's overview page says the Custom Search JSON API is closed to new customers and that existing customers have until January 1, 2027 to transition. Until then Google lists 100 free queries a day and $5 per 1,000 after that, up to 10,000 a day.

Can new developers still get the Custom Search API?

Google's page says it is closed to new customers. SpecStream's Search API is open to new accounts, with $10 of credit for the first 30 days and no card.

How do Custom Search fields map to SpecStream?

`items[].link` maps to `sources[].url`, `title` to `title`, `snippet` to `snippet`, and `displayLink` to `site`. `q` keeps its name, and no `cx` is needed.

What does it cost to move?

$5 per 1,000 searches, the same as Google's paid rate, and a call stopped by a `503` is not charged. The first $10 of credit covers 2,000 searches. Prices are on the [pricing](https://specstream.ai/pricing?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=google-custom-search-api-alternative) page.

What else runs on the same key?

The Extract API reads up to 20 pages or documents per call at $0.80 per 1,000 pages, and Deep Search returns full lists as structured rows at 5¢, 15¢ or $1 a row, plus 5¢ for an email and 15¢ for a phone.

### Sources

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

1.  [Google Custom Search JSON API overview](https://developers.google.com/custom-search/v1/overview)developers.google.com/custom-search/v1/overview, read Nov 8, 2026
2.  [Google Custom Search JSON API reference](https://developers.google.com/custom-search/v1/reference/rest/v1/Search)developers.google.com/custom-search/v1/reference/rest/v1/Search, read Nov 8, 2026
3.  [Other providers' benchmark scores, September 9, 2026](https://parallel.ai/benchmarks)parallel.ai/benchmarks, read Nov 8, 2026
4.  [SpecStream pricing](https://specstream.ai/pricing)specstream.ai/pricing, read Nov 8, 2026
5.  [SpecStream for agents](https://specstream.ai/agents.md)specstream.ai/agents.md, read Nov 8, 2026