Google Custom Search JSON API: 100 free queries a day, ends 2027
Google's Custom Search JSON API is closed to new customers and existing users must move by January 1, 2027. The current free and paid limits and the alternative Google names.
Short answer
Google's Custom Search JSON API is closed to new customers, while existing customers have a daily free allowance and capped paid usage. Existing customers must transition by January 1, 2027.
Rates and dates checked 2026-11-12 against the sources below. How the comparison works.Facts that decide the bill
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Closed to new customers |
| Transition deadline | Existing customers must transition by January 1, 2027 |
| Free use | 100 search queries a day |
| Paid use | $5 per 1,000 queries, up to 10,000 queries a day |
| Google's alternative | Vertex AI Search, for searching up to 50 domains |
What this means in practice
Budget for the remaining service period
Existing customers can use the daily free allowance and pay for additional queries up to the daily maximum. Account for that ceiling when planning continued operation before the transition deadline.
Check the replacement's search scope
Google's named alternative, Vertex AI Search, covers a limited set of domains. Compare that scope with the websites your application needs to search before choosing a migration route.
Routes that work for Google Search data
The official route first, then the catalogue Actors that fit this problem (search results), 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.
Questions people ask
Can new customers sign up for the Custom Search JSON API?
The API is closed to new customers. New search projects need another service.
Can existing customers still use the free allowance?
Existing customers have a daily free query allowance during the remaining service period. Queries beyond it are billed within the published daily maximum.
Does paying for queries remove the transition requirement?
Existing customers must transition by the published deadline. Include migration work alongside any budget for continued paid queries.
What alternative does Google name?
Google names Vertex AI Search for searching a limited set of domains. Check its domain coverage against your application's search 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.
- Custom Search JSON API overview — checked 2026-11-11
Need the data without the official API?
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.