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It's a split decision.
YepAPI is a hosted, usage-billed API for SEO and SERP data, scraping, social and e-commerce data, and AI models. SpyFu is a web-based competitor research platform with SEO and PPC data, site audits, tracking, and an API. Pick YepAPI when you want one API key and JSON responses across varied endpoints. Pick SpyFu when you need competitor keyword and ad research, tracking, and plan-based research tools. Their pricing models and intended workloads differ.
01Side by side
| YepAPI | SpyFu | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay per call or metered usage; no subscription | Monthly plans; annual billing available |
| Free access | $5 signup credit; no monthly minimum | No free plan |
| API | Shared key; JSON endpoints for data and models | Documented API for integrations and exports |
| Docs | API docs and llms.txt | Documented API endpoints |
| Integrations | Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, MCP server | ChatGPT and Google Search Console |
| Deployment | Hosted API endpoints | Web-based research platform |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Limits and scaling | No rate limits; failed calls uncharged | Plan-based crawl, tracking, and AI-fix quotas |
YepAPI Choose YepAPI if
- Choose YepAPI if one API key should cover varied data endpoints.
- Choose YepAPI if you prefer usage billing without subscriptions.
- Choose YepAPI if you need API access to AI models.
SpyFu Choose SpyFu if
- Choose SpyFu if competitor SEO and PPC research is the priority.
- Choose SpyFu if you need keyword tracking and site-audit tools.
- Choose SpyFu if monthly plans and included API credits fit your budget.
02Pricing at real usage
YepAPI has no subscription or monthly minimum. New accounts get $5 in signup credit with no card required, then pay per call or other metered unit. The homepage lists Google SERP at $0.01 per call, scraping at $0.01, and keyword overview from $0.03. Failed calls are not charged, and YepAPI says there are no rate limits. Total spend follows endpoint and model usage.
SpyFu has no free plan. Basic is $39 monthly or $29 per month billed annually; it includes $40 in API credits. Pro + AI is $119 monthly or $89 annually, with $100 in API credits. Team / Agency is $249 monthly or $187 annually. Plans include different search, tracking, crawl, and AI-fix allowances. Extra users cost $15 per month on Basic and $30 on Pro + AI and Team / Agency. Pro + AI’s first monthly month is $59, then $119 per month.
03API, SDKs and integration
YepAPI exposes endpoints such as POST /v1/seo/keywords/overview, POST /v1/serp/google, and POST /v1/scrape. Calls use the same API key and return JSON; the service also offers 285 chat, image, video, and voice models. The homepage links to API docs and llms.txt, and mentions Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, an MCP server, and agent skills. Neither vendor publishes a supported SDK or language list.
SpyFu documents API endpoints for custom integrations and automated exports. Its web platform also integrates with ChatGPT and Google Search Console, and supports Google Ads research. The products serve different integration patterns: YepAPI provides endpoints across multiple data and model categories, while SpyFu’s API supports access to its SEO and PPC research. Confirm the fields and API access that your workflow needs before building around either service.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Neither vendor publishes an open-source license or self-hosting option. YepAPI is accessed as a hosted API; its shared key and JSON responses make it straightforward to consume from an application, but moving away means replacing endpoint calls and mapping the returned data to another provider’s schema. The vendor’s pricing page says failed calls are not charged, but that does not establish portability of stored or derived data.
SpyFu is a web-based platform with API access and data exports. Its export formats and migration path are not published. Before adopting either product, verify which fields you can retrieve and retain, and keep your application’s internal data model separate from vendor-specific response shapes. SpyFu’s exports may support taking research data out; YepAPI’s JSON responses provide structured results to process in your own systems.
Questions people ask
How much is SpyFu per month?
The pricing page lists Basic at $39 monthly or $29 per month with annual billing. Pro + AI is $119 monthly or $89 annually; its first monthly month is listed at $59. Team / Agency is $249 monthly or $187 annually. Extra users cost $15 per month on Basic and $30 on the other two plans.
Is YepAPI free?
YepAPI offers $5 in signup credit, with no card required. It does not list a free plan or monthly subscription: after the credit, calls and other metered usage are billed. The homepage lists Google SERP and web scraping at $0.01 per call, and keyword overview from $0.03.
Is SpyFu good for competitor research?
SpyFu is built for competitor SEO and PPC research. Its platform surfaces competitors’ keywords, tested ads, rankings, and backlinks, and offers tracking and site audits. It is a closer fit than YepAPI when those research workflows are the goal; YepAPI is a broader API for data retrieval and AI model calls.
Does SpyFu have an API?
Yes. SpyFu documents API endpoints for custom integrations and automated data exports. Basic includes $40 in API credits, while Pro + AI includes $100. Check which endpoints, fields, and API limits apply to your planned workload before relying on them; SpyFu’s listed plan allowances do not specify a general request limit.