Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API) vs Linkup
Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API) and Linkup are both Web Search APIs, compared here on pricing, compliance, capabilities, and developer experience from structured, cited data - not reviews or paid placement. Linkup supports self-serve signup; the other routes through a sales conversation. On compliance, Linkup additionally documents SOC 2, GDPR. For coding-agent use, Linkup scores higher on agent-friendliness (65 vs 20).
| Field | Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API) | Linkup |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $5 1,000 queries | $0.001 API call |
| Pricing model | Usage | Usage |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-serve signup | ✗ | ✓ |
| SOC 2 | · | Type II |
| HIPAA | · | ✗ |
| GDPR | · | ✓ |
| Webhooks | ✗ | ✗ |
| Sandbox | ✗ | ✗ |
| Documented actions | 3 | 5 |