Compare monthly SERP plans with
prepaid search credits and Reader API.
SearchApi's published plans run from $1 to $4 per 1,000 searches and bill monthly. SearchCans sells prepaid credits that remain valid for six months, with standard Google and Bing SERP requests starting at $0.56/1K.
100 free credits, no card required. Credits are valid for 6 months.
SearchApi's public pricing FAQ says customers can use up to 20% of plan credits each hour. On its $100 plan with 35,000 searches, that is 7,000 searches in an hour.
SearchCans has no hourly request cap. Parallel Lanes set simultaneous requests, and actual throughput depends on the endpoint and response time.
SearchCans vs. SearchApi
Published plan details for buyers comparing billing and burst capacity.
| Feature | SearchCans Prepaid credits and API platform | SearchApi |
|---|---|---|
| Published entry price per 1,000 | $0.90 (Standard pack) | $4.00 (Developer) |
| Best available price per 1,000 | $0.56 (Ultimate) | $1.00 (5M monthly plan) |
| Billing model | Prepaid credits, valid 6 months | Monthly billing, cancel anytime |
| Hourly rate limit | No hourly cap; concurrent lanes | 20% of monthly plan/hour |
| Failed requests | No charge for failed or non-200 requests | Pay per success |
| Google search results | ||
| Free tier | 100 credits, no card | 100 free requests |
SearchApi public pricing snapshot checked on August 28, 2026. Provider plans can change.
What to compare for burst workloads and web extraction
Check hourly usage before a burst
SearchApi's public pricing FAQ states that up to 20% of plan credits can be used each hour. SearchCans uses Parallel Lanes rather than an hourly request cap. Choose a lane count that matches the simultaneous requests your workload needs.
Choose billing that fits uneven demand
SearchApi lists monthly plans. SearchCans uses prepaid credit packs, and the current credits remain valid for six months. That can suit teams whose search volume changes from month to month.
Add web extraction when a workflow needs it
SearchCans Reader API returns text, Markdown, or HTML from a URL. Standard mode costs 2 credits. The platform also supports screenshots and file extraction, while this comparison does not attempt to map every non-SERP feature offered elsewhere.
Estimate request costs before buying
One successful standard Google or Bing SERP request uses 1 credit. A standard Reader extraction uses 2 credits. Failed or non-200 SearchCans requests are not billed, so the expected mix of searches and extractions is the useful starting point for estimating a pack.
Parallel SERP calls within your lane count
Use asyncio or another concurrency framework. Your available Parallel Lanes determine how many requests run at once.
import asyncio
import httpx
API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY"
HEADERS = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}"}
async def search(client, query):
r = await client.post(
"https://www.searchcans.com/api/v1/search",
headers=HEADERS,
json={"t": "google", "s": query},
timeout=30,
)
return r.json()["data"]
async def main():
queries = ["AI agents 2026", "RAG pipeline best practices", "LLM grounding techniques", "vector search tools"]
async with httpx.AsyncClient() as client:
# All 4 run simultaneously when your account has four available lanes
results = await asyncio.gather(*[search(client, q) for q in queries])
for q, r in zip(queries, results):
print(f"{q}: {r[0]['title']}")
asyncio.run(main())Use the API directly and size the lane count for the workload. Full API docs →
Frequently Asked Questions
How does SearchCans pricing compare with SearchApi?
SearchApi public monthly plans checked on August 28, 2026 list $1 to $4 per 1,000 searches, depending on volume. SearchCans sells prepaid credit packs, with credits valid for six months and standard Google or Bing search billed at one credit per successful request. Its Ultimate pack lists $0.56 per 1,000 standard search requests.
What is the hourly usage rule on SearchApi?
SearchApi's public pricing FAQ states that customers can use up to 20% of plan credits each hour. SearchCans has no hourly request cap. Its Parallel Lanes set the number of simultaneous requests, and actual throughput depends on the endpoint and response time.
What if I only need SERP data and not web extraction?
Standard Google and Bing SERP requests cost 1 credit each. Reader API standard mode costs 2 credits per URL, so teams can use search alone or add web extraction only when a workflow needs it.
How do I estimate how many credits I need?
One successful standard SERP request uses 1 credit. A standard URL extraction uses 2 credits. Start from the expected number of searches and extractions, then check the pack and lane options on the pricing page.
Is there a free trial?
Register at searchcans.com/register and get 100 free credits without a card. Paid credit packs are prepaid, and the current refund policy applies within seven calendar days when no more than 10% of credits have been used.
Start with the billing and lane model your workload needs.
100 free credits, no card required. Use standard Google and Bing SERP requests, then add Reader API extraction when it belongs in the workflow.
Get Started NowPrepaid credits valid 6 months. Current refund policy: 7 calendar days and no more than 10% used.