Cloro vs SearchApi: two AI search APIs, priced differently
By Jean Luc Poitier, SEO and growth marketing strategist · Cloro Reviews · Updated October 3, 2026
Cloro and SearchApi are the closest match in this category: both cover ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot, Google AI Mode and AI Overview next to Google Search, and both bill only for successful requests.
SearchApi prices per search ($40 for 10,000, down to $1.50 per 1,000 at a million), while Cloro prices per credit and charges more credits for AI engines than for Google.
Cloro's free tier refills every month and needs no card; SearchApi gives 100 free requests. Compare the per-engine cost on your own query mix before choosing.
Cloro vs SearchApi at a glance
| Compared on | Cloro | SearchApi |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 500 credits every month, no card | 100 free requests, no card |
| Entry paid plan | Lite, $30/mo for 37,500 credits | Developer, $40/mo for 10,000 searches |
| Google searches per 1,000 | $1.20 on Hobby, async (3 credits each) | $4.00 on Developer; $2.86 on Production ($100/mo) |
| AI engines | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot, AI Mode, AI Overview | ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot, AI Mode, AI Overview |
| AI engine cost | 4 to 7 credits per request ($1.60 to $2.80 per 1,000 on Hobby) | Per-engine cost not stated on its pricing page |
| Failed requests | Not charged | Not charged |
| Largest self-serve plan | Enterprise 5K: $5,000/mo, about 16.4M credits | Octo 5M: $5,000/mo, 5M searches |
Figures checked against each company's published pages and review-platform listings as of 2026-10-03. “Not published” means the company does not publish that figure.
Cloro vs SearchApi on pricing
Credits per request: Google Search 3, ChatGPT 5 to 7, others 4 to 5 (async; sync adds 2). On Hobby ($0.40 per 1,000 credits) a Google search works out to $1.20 per 1,000, a full ChatGPT answer to $2.80.
SearchApi sells searches: Developer $40 for 10,000, Production $100 for 35,000, BigData $250 for 100,000, up to $1,500 for a million. For Google-heavy workloads Cloro's credits come out cheaper on the plans we compared; for AI-heavy workloads the answer depends on what SearchApi charges per AI engine call, which its pricing page doesn't spell out.
What Cloro documents that buyers ask about
Cloro's docs cover US state targeting on ChatGPT, Copilot, Perplexity and Gemini, city-level Google locations, and a full ChatGPT response with the background searches, shopping cards and ads. We haven't verified SearchApi's equivalents, so check its docs if you need them.
Reviewers mention the single response shape most:
“with cloro, it's just one POST request with the same payload structure regardless of the platform.”Verified User in Program Development, G2, April 2026
Where Cloro falls short
Pricing is the most common complaint in Cloro's G2 reviews, and some reviewers want a pay-as-you-go option:
“They don’t offer a pay-as-you-go plan, so even when I’m not using much, I still have to pay the full plan amount.”Nitish K., CEO, G2, June 2026
Where SearchApi wins
- A cheaper paid entry for low volume if per-search billing suits you
- Flat per-search pricing that is simple to forecast for Google
- Plans up to 5 million searches a month
Cloro vs SearchApi FAQ
Is Cloro or SearchApi cheaper?+
For Google searches on mid-sized plans, Cloro: about $1.20 per 1,000 on Hobby against $2.86 on SearchApi's Production plan. For AI engines, Cloro charges 4 to 7 credits per request ($1.60 to $2.80 per 1,000 on Hobby); SearchApi's pricing page doesn't state its per-engine cost, so test both.
Do both cover ChatGPT and Perplexity?+
Yes. Both list ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Copilot, Google AI Mode and AI Overview as of October 3, 2026.
Which free tier is better?+
Cloro's 500 credits refresh every month; SearchApi offers 100 free requests at signup. Neither needs a card.