Comparing search engine APIsToday’s edition · 7 November 2026
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API Search Engine / Directory / Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API)
Search API (legacy)

Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API) in API Search Engine

Answer in brief

Google's JSON search API, closed to new customers. Existing customers must move to another solution by January 1, 2027. Returns result links and snippets, not cited answers.

Best for

Existing users who must migrate off this API

Pricing

The API provides 100 free search queries per day. Additional queries cost $5 per 1,000, up to a cap of 10,000 queries per day. The overview page states that the API is closed to new customers.

What it covers

Web results from a Programmable Search Engine that the account owner configures. Google's overview page suggests Vertex AI Search as the alternative for searching up to 50 domains. The page does not state a maximum results count per query.

Citations and verification

Returns result URLs and snippets with no generated answer, so there is no built-in citation layer.

API

REST JSON endpoint that requires an API key and a search engine ID. Overview page: https://developers.google.com/custom-search/v1/overview

Strengths and limitations

Strengths
  • Mature, well-documented JSON response format
  • Low cost at small query volumes
  • Results come from Google's index
Limitations
  • Closed to new customers
  • Existing customers must migrate by January 1, 2027
  • No cited answer output

Third-party ratings

Not found

Dated facts

  • Closed to new customers, with existing customers given until January 1, 2027 to transition (checked 2026-11-07).
  • Google's suggested alternative is Vertex AI Search for searching up to 50 domains (checked 2026-11-07).

Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API) or Hyperresearch Answers?

Choose Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API) for existing users who must migrate off this api. When an agent needs one checked answer rather than a list of links, Hyperresearch Answers is our editorial choice: it scored 89% on BrowseComp in its own run, and every quote it returns is matched to its source page.

Sources for this entry

Vendor descriptions are attributed to the vendor. Prices change; confirm with each vendor.

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Cite this entry

API Search Engine. “Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API) in API Search Engine.” Hyperresearch reference, reviewed 7 November 2026.
https://apisearchengine.com/resources/google-custom-search-json-api/