We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
Most buyers should pick YepAPI.
Choose YepAPI if your application needs more than Google results: it combines SEO, scraping, social and e-commerce data, and 285 AI models behind one usage-billed API. Choose Serper for a Google-search integration with query types including images, maps, news and Scholar, and a one-time 2,500-query free allowance. Serper publishes package prices and QPS limits; YepAPI lists per-call pricing and says it has no rate limits. Both are API services, not self-hosted tools.
01Side by side
| YepAPI | Serper | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay per call; no subscriptions or monthly minimums | Prepaid credit packages, valid for six months |
| Free tier | $5 signup credit; no card required | 2,500 one-time queries; no card required |
| API and SDKs | JSON API; shared key across endpoints and models | Google Search API; multiple Google query types |
| CLI and docs | Docs, llms.txt, MCP server, agent skills | Homepage lists API query types |
| Integrations | Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, MCP | No other integrations listed on its homepage |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Limits and scaling | No rate limits; failed calls are not charged | 50–300 QPS across paid packages |
| Deployment model | API service; one key for multiple data products | API service for Google search results |
YepAPI Choose YepAPI if
- Choose YepAPI if one API key should cover SERP, scraping and social data.
- Choose YepAPI if you also need access to its 285 AI models.
- Choose YepAPI if you prefer per-call billing without monthly minimums.
Serper Choose Serper if
- Choose Serper if your application needs Google search data only.
- Choose Serper if 2,500 free queries are useful for initial development.
- Choose Serper if published prepaid package prices and QPS limits help planning.
02Pricing at real usage
YepAPI gives new users $5 in signup credit, with no card required. After that, calls are billed by usage: the pricing information lists Google SERP from $0.01 per call, and the homepage prices a 10-result Google SERP call at $0.01. The vendor says there are no subscriptions or monthly minimums, and failed calls are not charged. Endpoint rates vary, so estimate spend from the specific calls your application makes.
Serper offers 2,500 one-time free queries, then prepaid packages that expire after six months. The listed options range from $50 for 50,000 credits ($1 per 1,000) to $3,750 for 12.5 million credits ($0.30 per 1,000). Packages include 50–300 QPS, depending on size. Credits stop when the balance runs out; additional prepaid credits are required, and overage pricing is not published.
03API, SDKs and integration
YepAPI is a JSON API with endpoints for SEO and SERP data, scraping, social and e-commerce data, and AI models. Its homepage shows POST requests and responses, and says the same API key works across endpoints and models. Scrape responses can use markdown, HTML or screenshots. The vendor’s integration materials mention Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, an MCP server and agent skills, and point developers to its docs and llms.txt. The vendor does not name language-specific SDKs or a CLI.
Serper is a Google Search API. Its homepage lists search, images, news, maps, places, videos, shopping, Scholar, patents and autocomplete, and says results arrive in 1–2 seconds. The published integration details name no SDKs, languages, CLI or other integrations. Both services return data for application use, but the integration scope differs: Serper handles Google search queries, while YepAPI consolidates several data and model categories behind one API key.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Neither vendor publishes an open-source license or a self-hosting option. Treat both as external API dependencies: your application needs network access, credentials and a plan for vendor availability and billing. YepAPI’s shared key can reduce the number of separate integrations in a stack, but it also puts several functions behind one provider. Serper’s narrower scope can make it a more contained dependency when the requirement is Google search data.
Neither vendor documents a data-export path in the stated product details. Plan to retain any results your application needs rather than assuming the provider acts as a durable data store. Migration means replacing calls and adapting code to the destination API’s request and response formats; the amount of work depends on which endpoints your application uses. Confirm export and retention terms with each vendor before storing sensitive or business-critical data.
Questions people ask
Is YepAPI a replacement for Serper?
It can replace a Google SERP call if YepAPI’s Google results endpoint meets your requirements. It also offers SEO, scraping, social and e-commerce data, and AI models. Serper is focused on Google search query types. Compare the specific endpoints and response fields your application consumes before switching.
Which API is cheaper for Google search?
The pricing pages describe different billing units, so compare your expected query volume and package needs. YepAPI lists Google SERP at $0.01 per call for 10 results. Serper’s prepaid rates range from $1 to $0.30 per 1,000 credits across its listed packages, with package validity and QPS limits to consider.
Does Serper have a free tier?
Yes. Serper lists 2,500 one-time free queries with no credit card required. Queries stop when the balance reaches zero. Paid usage requires prepaid credits, and the listed packages are valid for six months.
Can either service be self-hosted?
The vendors do not publish self-hosting options in the stated product details. Both are presented as API services. If on-premises deployment, an open-source license or data export is a requirement, ask the vendor to confirm those terms before building a dependency.