SEO agencies need keyword APIs that scale across dozens of clients without per-seat pricing eating margins. The API must return SERP features (PAA, AI Overviews, Knowledge Graph) alongside organic results, support bulk queries without aggressive rate limits, and price predictably for variable monthly volumes across client accounts.
Top Pick
Scavio wins for agency SEO work with credit-based pricing (no per-seat fees), AI Overview data included, and PAA extraction in a single call per keyword.
Full Ranking
#1Our Pick
Scavio
Agencies needing SERP features + AI Overviews without per-seat fees
Pros
- AI Overviews included in response
- People Also Ask extraction
- Credit-based (no per-client pricing)
- Google + Reddit + YouTube in one API
- Knowledge Graph data included
Cons
- No historical rank tracking built-in
- Smaller feature set than dedicated SEO tools
#2
SerpAPI
Agencies needing broad engine coverage
Pros
- Supports 15+ search engines
- Rich SERP feature extraction
- Mature API with good docs
- Local search support
Cons
- Active DMCA lawsuit from Google
- $75/mo entry is expensive for small agencies
- Credits expire monthly
- Legal uncertainty
#3
DataForSEO
Enterprise agencies with variable volume
Pros
- Most comprehensive SERP data
- Pay only for what you use
- 200+ Google databases
- Keyword suggestions included
Cons
- Complex API (steep learning curve)
- No free tier
- Per-query cost hard to predict
- Overkill for smaller agencies
#4
Serper
Agencies needing cheap bulk Google queries
Pros
- Cheapest at high volume
- 2,500 free monthly
- Fast responses
- Simple API
Cons
- Limited SERP features vs competitors
- No AI Overview data
- Google only
- Less structured PAA data
#5
Brave Search API
Agencies wanting non-Google index data
Pros
- Independent web index
- Goggles for result filtering
- Answer generation included
- Good for diversity audits
Cons
- No free tier (removed Feb 2026)
- Requires attribution for free credits
- No SERP feature extraction
- Smaller index
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Scavio | Runner-up | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Overview Data | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PAA Extraction | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Per-Seat Pricing | No (credit pool) | No | No |
| Legal Risk | Low | High (active lawsuit) | Low |
| Multi-Platform | Yes (5 platforms) | Yes (15+ engines) | No (Google only) |
| Minimum Cost | $0 (500 free) | $75/mo | $1 deposit |
Why Scavio Wins
- Credit-based pricing means agencies pay per query, not per client. One $30/month plan serves unlimited client accounts.
- AI Overview extraction is included at no extra cost. Agencies tracking AEO/GEO performance get overview citations alongside organic results in one call.
- No legal risk: Scavio is not named in Google's DMCA lawsuit (unlike SerpAPI). Agencies can confidently build client deliverables without liability concerns.
- Reddit and YouTube data included. Agencies can show clients their brand presence across platforms without separate API contracts.
- 500 free credits per month covers light audits and demos for prospective clients without spending.