# Perplexica without a SearXNG container: one URL Compared on Nov 10, 2026. The page: https://specstream.ai/web-search/perplexica Perplexica, now named Vane, gets every result from one SearXNG URL, and SearXNG suspends an engine for 3,600 seconds after too many requests. SpecStream answers SearXNG's JSON at its own address, so Perplexica searches with no container and no engines to block it. Set Perplexica's SearXNG URL to `https://api.specstream.ai/searxng/YOUR_KEY`, in the settings screen or as `SEARXNG_API_URL` on `docker run`. Perplexica adds `/search?format=json` itself. SpecStream scores 97.9 F-score on all 1,000 SimpleQA Verified questions. A search of up to 10 results costs $0.005, with no daily limit. A new account gets $10 of credit, no card, which covers 2,000 searches. [Get an API key](https://specstream.ai/signup?src=alternatives-web-search-perplexica&utm_source=alternatives-md&utm_campaign=web-search-perplexica&returnTo=%2Fworkspace%2Fagents%3Ftab%3Dkeys) New accounts get $10 of credit, no card. It covers 2,000 searches. ## Where Perplexica can get its search results, from each project's own pages on Nov 10, 2026 | | SpecStream | SearXNG in the Vane image | Your own SearXNG | A public SearXNG instance | |---|---|---|---|---| | What runs beside Perplexica | Nothing. Perplexica calls `https://api.specstream.ai/searxng/` | SearXNG inside the `itzcrazykns1337/vane:latest` container | A SearXNG server you run, with the `vane:slim-latest` image | Nothing on your side. The instance is open to everyone who has its URL | | JSON format | Answers `format=json`, the format Perplexica asks for, with `title`, `url` and `content` on each result | Included in the image, with no additional setup | Must be enabled in the settings. An unset format answers `403 Forbidden` | Many public instances have these formats disabled | | When the engines push back | No engines on your IP address to block it. A busy call answers `429` with `Retry-After` and is not charged | The engines it queries may enforce CAPTCHAs or ban the instance's IP address | The engines it queries may enforce CAPTCHAs or ban the instance's IP address | The engines it queries may enforce CAPTCHAs or ban the instance's IP address | | Engine suspension | None. One account sends up to 26,666 searches a minute | 3,600 seconds after too many requests, 86,400 after a CAPTCHA or access denied | 3,600 seconds after too many requests, 86,400 after a CAPTCHA or access denied | 3,600 seconds after too many requests, 86,400 after a CAPTCHA or access denied, by SearXNG's defaults | | Price of a search | $5 per 1,000 searches, with up to 10 results a search | No fee, on your own hardware | No fee, on your own hardware | No fee | | How you start | $10 of credit, no card. It covers 2,000 searches | One `docker run` of the Vane image | A working Docker or Podman installation, the JSON format and the Wolfram Alpha engine enabled | An instance with the JSON format turned on | ## Why Perplexica users set the SearXNG URL to SpecStream ### The config before and after Perplexica reads one search setting, the SearXNG URL (config key `searxngURL`), and fills it from `SEARXNG_API_URL` when it is empty. SpecStream answers at `https://api.specstream.ai/searxng/`, with the key as a part of the address, so Perplexica sends no header and needs none. ``` # before: the image with SearXNG inside docker run -d -p 3000:3000 -v vane-data:/home/vane/data --name vane itzcrazykns1337/vane:latest # after: the slim image, search on SpecStream docker run -d -p 3000:3000 \ -e SEARXNG_API_URL=https://api.specstream.ai/searxng/YOUR_SPECSTREAM_KEY \ -v vane-data:/home/vane/data --name vane itzcrazykns1337/vane:slim-latest ``` If the SearXNG URL is already saved in the settings screen at `http://localhost:3000`, the variable does not replace it. Paste `https://api.specstream.ai/searxng/YOUR_SPECSTREAM_KEY` in the SearXNG URL field and save. This is the call Perplexica sends, and the one to try first from a shell: ``` curl "https://api.specstream.ai/searxng/$SPECSTREAM_API_KEY/search?format=json&q=latest+Perplexica+release" ``` ### What stays the same Perplexica's own SearXNG code reads the reply, unchanged. The route returns `results[]` with `title`, `url` and `content`, 10 results a search, and `publishedDate` is null on most results. Every parameter and field is in the [SearXNG migration guide](https://specstream.ai/migrate/searxng?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=web-search-perplexica). ### No engines to rate limit you A SearXNG instance sends each query to outside engines from its own IP address, and those engines can answer with CAPTCHAs or bans. SearXNG then suspends the engine: 3,600 seconds after too many requests and 86,400 after a CAPTCHA. Perplexica gets nothing back until it ends. On SpecStream a search goes to SpecStream's own search, on your key, at up to 26,666 searches a minute. ### $0.005 a search and $0.0008 a page A search of up to 10 results costs $0.005, which is $5 per 1,000, with no daily limit. Each page read through the Firecrawl scrape or Exa contents route costs $0.0008, which is $0.80 per 1,000 pages, and a page with no text costs nothing. There is no monthly plan, no credit pack that expires and no reset on the first of the month. Credit you buy never expires. ### 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=web-search-perplexica) page. ### About one second a search, measured under load Every drop-in route runs on the fast search. On November 9, 2026 production took 1, 5, 10 and 20 searches a second through it and answered 718 of 720. The median was 0.82 s at 1 search a second and 1.07 s at 20 a second, and the 95th percentile stayed between 1.09 and 1.73 s. One account can send up to 26,666 searches a minute; a call over that gets a `429` with `Retry-After` and is not charged. ### You decide what is kept, on each key Give Perplexica a key with `zero_retention` and a search made with it keeps no request text and no answer after the reply. It is not in the history and its log lines carry neither. 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. ``` curl -X POST https://api.specstream.ai/v1/account/keys \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $SPECSTREAM_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"name": "production", "scopes": ["account:read", "finds:spend"], "spend_cap_cents": 500000, "zero_retention": true}' ``` ### Search, pages and rows on one key The same key reads up to 20 pages or documents a call with the [Extract API](https://specstream.ai/extract-api?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=web-search-perplexica) at $0.80 per 1,000 pages, and a page with no text is not charged. [Deep Search](https://specstream.ai/deep-search?utm_source=alternatives&utm_campaign=web-search-perplexica) takes a request in plain words and returns every match on the live web as structured rows, at 5¢, 15¢ or $1 a row, with a source URL on every value. ## The other ways to run search for Perplexica, and what each costs ### SearXNG in the Vane image The default: `itzcrazykns1337/vane:latest` runs Perplexica and SearXNG in one container, at no fee on your own hardware. Its engines can still enforce CAPTCHAs or ban the container's IP address. SpecStream answers the same JSON call at $0.005 a search, with the slim image and nothing else to run. ### Your own SearXNG A SearXNG server you run beside the `vane:slim-latest` image, with the JSON format and the Wolfram Alpha engine enabled. Its limiter requires a Valkey database. SpecStream takes the place of the whole server with one URL in `SEARXNG_API_URL`. ### A public SearXNG instance Open to everyone who has its URL, at no fee, and many have the JSON format disabled, so Perplexica gets a `403`. SpecStream answers JSON on every call, scored 97.9 F-score on all 1,000 SimpleQA Verified questions. ## How to set SpecStream as Perplexica's search 1. Create a key under Agents & API in the SpecStream workspace. A new account gets $10 of credit, no card, which covers 2,000 searches. 2. Run the slim image with the SearXNG URL set to SpecStream. ``` docker run -d -p 3000:3000 \ -e SEARXNG_API_URL=https://api.specstream.ai/searxng/YOUR_SPECSTREAM_KEY \ -v vane-data:/home/vane/data --name vane itzcrazykns1337/vane:slim-latest ``` 3. If you set a SearXNG URL in the settings screen before, open `http://localhost:3000`, paste the same address in the SearXNG URL field and save. 4. Ask Perplexica a question. Each search shows up in your SpecStream request log with its price. ## Frequently asked questions ### Why does Perplexica return no results? Most often SearXNG's engines blocked the instance, and SearXNG suspends a blocked engine for 3,600 to 86,400 seconds. Set the SearXNG URL to `https://api.specstream.ai/searxng/YOUR_KEY` and Perplexica gets 10 results a search with no engines to block it. ### How do I fix the Perplexica SearXNG rate limit? Move search off your SearXNG: SpecStream takes up to 26,666 searches a minute on one account at $0.005 a search. A busy call answers `429` with `Retry-After` and is not charged. ### Is there a search API for Perplexica? Yes: SpecStream answers Perplexica's SearXNG call at `https://api.specstream.ai/searxng/`, at $5 per 1,000 searches of up to 10 results. ### Why does Perplexica get a 403 from SearXNG? SearXNG answers `403 Forbidden` when the JSON format is not enabled, and Perplexica always asks for `format=json`. SpecStream answers JSON on every call. ### Can I run Perplexica without SearXNG? Yes, with 1 URL: run the `vane:slim-latest` image with `SEARXNG_API_URL=https://api.specstream.ai/searxng/YOUR_KEY`. Nothing else runs beside Perplexica. ### Is Perplexica now called Vane? Yes. The README at `ItzCrazyKns/Perplexica` opens as Vane, and the images are `itzcrazykns1337/vane:latest` and `vane:slim-latest`. The SearXNG URL setting is the same. ### Is there a free search for Perplexica? A new SpecStream account gets $10 of credit with no card, which covers 2,000 searches. After that a search costs $0.005, and credit you buy never expires. ## Sources SpecStream wrote this page. Perplexica's settings come from its source and README on GitHub, and SearXNG's figures from its own docs. - [Perplexica (Vane) README](https://github.com/ItzCrazyKns/Perplexica/blob/master/README.md), read Nov 10, 2026 - [Perplexica config index.ts](https://github.com/ItzCrazyKns/Perplexica/blob/master/src/lib/config/index.ts), read Nov 10, 2026 - [Perplexica searxng.ts](https://github.com/ItzCrazyKns/Perplexica/blob/master/src/lib/searxng.ts), read Nov 10, 2026 - [SearXNG Search API](https://docs.searxng.org/dev/search_api.html), read Nov 10, 2026 - [SearXNG own instance](https://docs.searxng.org/own-instance.html), read Nov 10, 2026 - [SearXNG search settings](https://docs.searxng.org/admin/settings/settings_search.html), read Nov 10, 2026 - [SearXNG limiter](https://docs.searxng.org/admin/searx.limiter.html), read Nov 10, 2026 - [SearXNG Docker installation](https://docs.searxng.org/admin/installation-docker.html), read Nov 10, 2026 - [SpecStream benchmarks](https://specstream.ai/benchmarks), read Nov 10, 2026 - [SpecStream pricing](https://specstream.ai/pricing), read Nov 10, 2026 - [SpecStream for agents](https://specstream.ai/agents.md), read Nov 10, 2026