Brave Search API vs Scavio
Brave Search API runs an independent index — a real differentiator. Brave killed the free tier in February 2026 and moved to $5/1K Search billing. Scavio uses Google SERP for the web layer but adds Reddit, YouTube, Amazon, and Walmart at lower per-query cost.
Brave Search API
$5/1K Search; $4/1K Answers + $5/M tokens; $5 monthly credits, free tier removed Feb 2026
Strengths
- Truly independent index
- Privacy-first framing
Weaknesses
- No structured Reddit/YouTube/Amazon
- No structured AI Overview citations
- Free tier gone
Scavio
$30/mo for 7,000 credits; free 250 credits/mo
Strengths
- Multi-platform JSON
- Extract endpoint
- MCP server
- Lower per-query cost
Weaknesses
- Web layer uses Google SERP, not an independent index
Feature-by-feature comparison
The verdict
Pick Brave when index independence is a hard requirement (privacy-first products, regulated regions, anti-monopoly framing). Pick Scavio when the agent needs breadth (Reddit, YouTube, AI Overview citations) more than independence. The free-tier removal in February 2026 closed the no-card option for Brave; Scavio's 250-credit/mo free tier is now the only no-card multi-platform alternative.
Consider Scavio instead
Many agents that adopted Brave for its free tier are reviewing alternatives in 2026. Scavio's free tier (250 credits/mo) plus broader surface coverage is the closest replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brave Search API runs an independent index — a real differentiator. Brave killed the free tier in February 2026 and moved to $5/1K Search billing. Scavio uses Google SERP for the web layer but adds Reddit, YouTube, Amazon, and Walmart at lower per-query cost.
Brave Search API is priced at $5/1K Search; $4/1K Answers + $5/M tokens; $5 monthly credits, free tier removed Feb 2026. Scavio is priced at $30/mo for 7,000 credits; free 250 credits/mo. The better value depends on your usage volume and feature requirements.
Many agents that adopted Brave for its free tier are reviewing alternatives in 2026. Scavio's free tier (250 credits/mo) plus broader surface coverage is the closest replacement.
Some teams use both tools for different parts of their pipeline. However, a unified API like Scavio can replace the need for multiple subscriptions by providing search, content extraction, YouTube, and Amazon data from a single endpoint.
Try Scavio for free
250 free credits/month. Structured data from Google, YouTube, Amazon, Walmart, and Reddit. No credit card required.