Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API) vs Tavily Search API

Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API) and Tavily Search API are both Web Search APIs, compared here on pricing, compliance, capabilities, and developer experience from structured, cited data - not reviews or paid placement. Tavily Search API supports self-serve signup; the other routes through a sales conversation. On compliance, Tavily Search API additionally documents SOC 2, GDPR. For coding-agent use, Tavily Search API scores higher on agent-friendliness (80 vs 20).

Comparedby a transparent data-readiness score computed from each API's published, sourced fields. No reviews, no paid placement. How we rank.

Data last verified 2026-06-14, with every field cited on each profile.

Head-to-head, from published, cited fields (auto-generated; no paid placement)
Field	Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API)	Tavily Search API
Starting price	$5 1,000 queries	$0.008 credit
Pricing model	Usage	Hybrid
Free tier	✓	✓
Self-serve signup	✗	✓
SOC 2	·	Type II
HIPAA	·	✗
GDPR	·	✓
Webhooks	✗	✗
Sandbox	✗	✗
Documented actions	3	7

Full data and citations: Google Programmable Search Engine (Custom Search JSON API) · Tavily Search API. See more Web Search APIs.