Pick SerpApi if you need many Google result types such as Maps, Flights, Hotels or AI Overview, other search engines, legal protections and detailed docs. Pick Serper if you want a lean Google-only API for an app or AI agent and speed is what matters most. Run both on your real queries before you commit.
How much of Google does your project need to see?
If you're feeding an AI agent a handful of search results so it can answer a question, you need the main results, fast, as clean JSON. If you're building a rank tracker, a travel tool or anything that pulls answer boxes, local packs and flight data, you need far more than that. These two APIs sit at opposite ends of that spectrum, and knowing which end you're at saves you a lot of reading.
Both APIs in a single table
| Area | SerpApi | Serper |
|---|---|---|
| Breadth | A long catalogue of dedicated APIs, including Google Search, Light Search, AI Mode, AI Overview, Flights, Hotels and Lens, plus other engines | Ten Google result types, from Search to Autocomplete |
| Positioning | Plans described as flexible for every stage, with an enterprise plan | Leads with speed claims aimed at developers |
| Extra features | X-Ray, ZeroTrace Mode, U.S. Legal Shield, JSON Restrictor, Team Management, Markdown output | Live JSON demo and a language selector; no feature list beyond result types |
| Client libraries | Ruby, Python, JavaScript, Go, PHP, Java, Rust, .NET, Swift, C++, plus MCP and CLI | None listed on the home page |
| Documentation | Each Google result block documented, such as answer box, knowledge graph, local pack and AI Overview | Output shown by example on the home page |
| Repeat searches | Docs say cached searches don't count towards monthly searches | Not stated on its home page |
Breadth and paperwork against speed and simplicity
The broad API sells coverage. It has dedicated endpoints for many Google products, from Maps and Flights to Patents and News, plus other search engines entirely. The vendor says its results match what users see and it adds features like ZeroTrace Mode and a U.S. Legal Shield. Those are its own claims, but they show who it's built for: teams that need structured data from lots of result types and care about the legal side.
The lean API sells speed. Its home page calls it the world's fastest Google Search API, with results in one to two seconds, and returns Search, Images, News, Maps, Places, Videos, Shopping, Scholar, Patents and Autocomplete as JSON. That's the vendor talking about itself, so treat it as marketing until your own requests back it up.
There's a detail that's easy to miss. The broad API's docs say cached repeat searches don't count against your monthly searches. If your app asks the same questions again and again, that can make a real difference to how far your plan stretches, and a pure speed pitch doesn't mention anything similar.
What you'll be working with as a developer
Libraries and tooling
One side lists client libraries for Ruby, Python, JavaScript, Go, PHP, Java, Rust, .NET, Swift and C++, plus an MCP server and a CLI. The other doesn't list client libraries on its home page, so you'll most likely be calling it over plain HTTP. For many apps that's fine. It's a JSON API, after all.
Knowing what comes back
The broad API documents every Google result block: answer box, knowledge graph, local pack, related questions and AI Overview. That's handy when you're parsing a page with ten different features on it. The lean API shows its output by example, with a live JSON demo on the home page. If you only need the organic results, the example is often enough.
Verdict by kind of project
AI agents and chat apps that need quick Google results and nothing fancy are a good match for the lean, speed-led API. Rank trackers, SEO tools, travel or local apps and anything that parses answer boxes, AI Overviews or Maps data should go with the broad API, which also suits teams who want team management, legal cover and libraries in their language. There's no verified overall winner. Both offer a way to start, one a free plan and one a free trial, so run your own queries through each. For more options, our list of the best SERP APIs goes wider.
Four other search result APIs
DataForSEO
Best for: SEO tool builders who want SERP data inside a wider set of SEO data APIs, including keyword data, LLM Mentions and an AI Visibility Tracker.
ScrapingBee
Best for: Teams that also need general web scraping, with a Google API and Fast Search API returning JSON, Markdown output, screenshots and an MCP server.
Bright Data SERP API
Best for: Enterprises wanting multi-engine results across Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo and Yandex as part of a bigger proxy and datasets catalogue.
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Zenserp
Best for: A small SERP API covering Google, Maps, News, Shopping, Trends, YouTube, Bing and Yandex, plus AI Overview, AI Mode and answer engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity.
Do you make search results API software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this page.
Questions to answer on your first run
- Which result types do you need today, and which might you need in six months?
- How often will you repeat the same query, and does caching matter to you?
- Do you want a client library in your language, or is raw HTTP fine?
- How quickly do results come back for your own queries, not the demo?
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Frequently asked questions
Is SerpApi or Serper faster?
The lean API claims to be the world's fastest Google Search API, with results in one to two seconds. That's a vendor claim, so time your own queries on both.
Which one covers more than Google?
The broad API covers other search engines as well as dedicated Google APIs for Maps, Flights, Hotels, News, Patents and more. The lean API focuses on Google result types.
Do cached searches count towards my limit?
The broad API's docs say cached searches don't count towards monthly searches. The lean API's home page doesn't state a caching policy.
Can I get AI Overview results?
The broad API lists dedicated AI Overview and AI Mode APIs. The lean API's ten listed result types don't include AI Overview.
Is there a free way to start?
Yes. One states a free plan and the other a free trial, so you can try both before you commit.
