Exa vs Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API)
Exa and Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API) are both Web Search APIs, compared here on pricing, compliance, capabilities, and developer experience from structured, cited data - not reviews or paid placement. Exa supports self-serve signup; the other routes through a sales conversation. On compliance, Exa additionally documents SOC 2, HIPAA. Exa supports webhooks for event-driven integration; the other does not document them. For coding-agent use, Exa scores higher on agent-friendliness (65 vs 20).
| Field | Exa | Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1 1,000 requests | $5 1,000 queries |
| Pricing model | Usage | Usage |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-serve signup | ✓ | ✗ |
| SOC 2 | Type II | · |
| HIPAA | ✓ | · |
| GDPR | · | · |
| Webhooks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Sandbox | ✗ | ✗ |
| Documented actions | 13 | 3 |