SerpApi alternatives after Google's December 2025 lawsuit
Google sued SerpApi on December 19, 2025. What the case alleges, how Google's terms treat automated search access, and the alternatives that do not depend on one scraper vendor.
Short answer
Search results and places collection need replacement routes matched to the output your application consumes. Compare alternative hosted tools and permitted access routes, keeping Google's restrictions on automated search access part of the decision.
Verified against the sources below on 2026-11-12.Routes that work for Google Search data
The official route first, then the catalogue Actors that fit this problem (search results and places), by their published fields. Store figures are the publisher's public numbers.
| Route | Core fields | Price / 1K | Success, 30 days | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limited accessProgrammable Search Engine JSON API | not compared | below | Official docs | |
| Google Search Results Scraper: Organic & SERP Boxes | 0/5 | $0.99 | 18 runs, too few to rate | Open in Apify Store |
Official price: Free allowance plus per-query pricing is published; check the official overview for current rates and caps. Compare all 13 Google Search routes.
Routes that work for Google Maps data
The official route first, then the catalogue Actors that fit this problem (search results and places), by their published fields. Store figures are the publisher's public numbers.
| Route | Core fields | Price / 1K | Success, 30 days | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public APIGoogle Maps Platform Places API | not compared | below | Official docs | |
| Google Maps Business Finder with Hours, Ratings & Location | 8/9 | $0.99 | 18 runs, too few to rate | Open in Apify Store |
| Google Maps Business Lead Finder with Email & Social Links | 7/9 | $0.99 | 100% of 24 runs | Open in Apify Store |
| Google Maps Radius Search Around a Coordinate | 8/9 | $0.99 | 6 runs, too few to rate | Open in Apify Store |
Official price: SKU-based pay-as-you-go. Place Details Essentials is $5.00 per 1,000 after 10,000 free calls per month at the published first paid tier; other SKUs differ. Compare all 25 Google Maps routes.
What is verified
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Google complaint filed | December 19, 2025 |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Northern District of California |
| Case number | 4:25-cv-10826 |
| Allegation | Circumventing Google SearchGuard to access and resell search results at scale |
| Google terms | Automated access and scraping of search results are prohibited |
Review how search results are accessed
Google's terms prohibit automated access and scraping of search results. Ask a replacement provider to explain its collection method and the permission covering your intended use. Consult the Google terms when reviewing that explanation.
Moving to another vendor changes the service you depend on. Review the new provider's access method directly rather than carrying over assumptions from a SerpApi integration.
Separate search results from places
Treat Google Search results and Google Maps places as separate requirements when comparing replacements. Check which source and output each candidate supports before planning the integration.
To reduce dependence on a single scraper vendor, keep provider-specific requests and response handling contained within your application. Assess replacement routes separately for coverage, access terms and the work needed to switch.
Options that fit the new reality
Choose replacements by matching the required search results or places output to each provider's coverage and access terms. If reducing dependence on one vendor is a priority, assess separate routes and keep the integration easy to switch.
Questions people ask
What does Google's lawsuit allege?
Google alleges that SerpApi circumvented SearchGuard to access and resell search results at scale. Attribute that claim to Google when describing the case.
Was SerpApi shut down by the lawsuit?
The cited complaint records a lawsuit and allegations against SerpApi. A complaint is not a shutdown order or a final judgment; check service availability separately when planning a migration.
Does switching vendors resolve Google's access restrictions?
Google's restrictions concern automated access and scraping of search results. Review each candidate's collection method and permission for your use, whichever vendor delivers the results.
Can one replacement cover search results and places?
Check each candidate's stated coverage for Google Search and Google Maps separately. Choose a shared provider only if it meets both collection jobs and their access requirements.
Sources
Every dated claim on this page comes from the public sources below. Check the source before you make a business decision on it.
- Google announcement — checked 2026-11-09
- Reuters report — checked 2026-11-09
- Court docket — checked 2026-11-09
- Google terms — checked 2026-11-09
Get Google Search data with a catalogue Actor
Search & URL Markdown Extractor for LLMs returns 2 of 5 core Google Search fields at $0.99 per 1,000 results. Compare all 13 Google Search routes, or see Google Maps.