Yes, several SERP APIs are free to start, but “free” ranges from a one-time trial of a few hundred searches to a recurring weekly allowance you can build on. This guide compares the real 2026 free tiers, what each one leaves out, and which gives you the most before you pay.
Is a SERP API free to use?
Most SERP APIs offer a limited free tier, then charge by request, credit, or subscription. Free plans usually cover a few hundred to a few thousand searches, and many exclude premium data like AI Overviews. So a SERP API can be free for small or occasional jobs, but not for production volume. The most generous recurring free tier is Octoparse’s, at 2,000 records a week (about 8,000 a month), ahead of Bright Data’s 5,000 a month and SerpApi’s 250 a month. The key differences are how much you get, whether it renews monthly, and whether unused credits expire.
The best free SERP API tiers compared (2026)
Here is what each provider gives you at no cost, verified in August 2026. Recurring means it renews every month or week; one-time means a single sign-up allowance.
Free allowance by provider (2026)
| Tool | Free allowance | Recurring? | AI Overviews included? |
| Octoparse | ~8,000 / month (2,000 a week), via API and MCP | Recurring (weekly) | Yes |
| Bright Data | 5,000 results / month | Recurring (monthly) | Yes |
| Serper | 2,500 credits on sign-up | One-time | Partial |
| SerpApi | 250 searches / month | Recurring (monthly) | Yes |
| Apify | ~1,000 pages / month ($5 platform credit) | Recurring (monthly) | Add-on |
| DataForSEO | ~$1 sign-up credit | One-time | Extra cost |
| SearchApi | 100 searches | One-time | Yes |
| Scrapingdog | Free trial | One-time | Yes |
| Google Custom Search JSON API | 100 queries / day | Recurring (daily), closing to new users | No |
By recurring monthly volume, Octoparse is the most generous here, at roughly 8,000 records a month through its API and MCP, ahead of Bright Data’s 5,000 and well ahead of SerpApi’s 250. Serper’s 2,500 credits are larger but one-time, not monthly. For the full breakdown of paid plans once you outgrow the free tier, see our Best SERP APIs comparison.
What the free tiers do not tell you
Three catches hide inside “free.”
First, one-time versus recurring. A “2,500 free” number that never renews runs out fast, while a smaller weekly or monthly allowance keeps working month after month. Compare on the recurring figure if you need the data regularly.
Second, premium data often costs extra. Several providers exclude or surcharge AI Overviews, AI Mode, and other rich features on the free tier, so the free plan may not return the fields you actually want.
Third, credit expiry and deposits. Some “free” credits expire in a few months, and some pay-as-you-go providers require a minimum deposit before you can use the account at all.
The cheapest way to start for free
If you just need Google data occasionally or want to prototype, start with the most generous recurring free tier rather than a one-time trial. Octoparse is free to start and gives 2,000 records a week, about 8,000 a month, through its AP and its MCP server, so a marketer, a developer, or an AI agent can all use the free tier. AI Overview text is included in the template, not billed as an add-on. When you outgrow it, paid plans start at a flat monthly price. New to the topic? Start with our guide to getting Google search data.
https://www.octoparse.com/template/google-search-scraper
Which free tier should you pick?
Match the free plan to what you are doing.
- One-off research or a quick test: any one-time trial works. Serper’s 2,500 credits or SearchApi’s 100 searches are fine for a single project.
- A recurring weekly or monthly job: choose a renewing allowance. Octoparse (2,000 a week) or Bright Data (5,000 a month) keep working without a new sign-up.
- You do not want to write code: a no-code free tier like Octoparse’s template exports to a spreadsheet without an integration.
- You need AI Overviews for free: confirm the plan includes them; several charge extra, while Octoparse’s template returns AI Overview text at no surcharge.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a SERP API free to use?
Some SERP APIs are free for small volumes. Most offer a limited free tier, then bill by request, credit, or subscription. Free allowances range from about 100 searches one-time to a few thousand a month, and many exclude premium data like AI Overviews. For steady or production use you will eventually pay, but small and occasional jobs can stay free. The most generous recurring free tier is Octoparse’s, at about 8,000 records a month.
- Which SERP API has the most generous free tier?
By recurring monthly volume, Octoparse leads, with 2,000 records a week (about 8,000 a month) usable through its API and MCP. Bright Data offers 5,000 results a month, SerpApi 250 searches a month, and Serper 2,500 credits as a one-time sign-up bonus rather than a monthly allowance.
- Is there a completely free Google Search API from Google?
Google’s official Custom Search JSON API allowed 100 free queries per day, but it is closed to new customers and is being retired. It was also built for searching specific sites, not the full public results page. Most teams now use a third-party SERP API or a no-code tool instead.
- Do free SERP API tiers include AI Overviews?
Not always. Some providers include AI Overview data in the standard response, while others exclude it or charge for it as an add-on on the free tier. If AI Overviews matter to you, check that specific line before choosing a free plan.
- Do free credits expire?
Sometimes. Several providers give one-time sign-up credits that expire within a few months, so a large “free” number is not always as useful as a smaller recurring allowance. Check whether the free tier renews and whether unused credits carry over.
