Exa (formerly Metaphor) is a neural search API designed for AI applications. Their plans start at $150/month for 50,000 searches, positioning them as a mid-range option for AI agent builders. Scavio starts at $30/month for 7,000 credits and covers Google, Amazon, YouTube, Walmart, and Reddit. Here is how the pricing stacks up.
Scavio Pricing
Exa Pricing
Cost Comparison by Volume
| Volume | Scavio | Exa | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | $0 (250 credits) | $0 (1,000 searches) | Exa has more free credits |
| 7,000 searches/mo | $30 (Starter) | $150 (Starter) | 80% |
| 50,000 searches/mo | $120 (Pro) | $150 (Starter) | 20% |
Key Differences
- Exa uses neural/semantic search to find content by meaning. Scavio provides structured data from Google, Amazon, YouTube, Walmart, and Reddit.
- Exa's paid plans start at $150/month. Scavio's start at $30/month.
- Exa excels at finding similar content and niche pages. Scavio excels at real-time SERP, product, video, and marketplace data.
- Both offer AI agent integrations. Scavio has native LangChain tool and MCP server support. Exa has SDK integrations for AI frameworks.
- Exa has a more generous free tier (1,000 searches) compared to Scavio (250 credits).
Verdict
Exa and Scavio solve different problems. Exa is best for semantic search and content discovery, while Scavio is best for structured real-time data from major platforms. On pure pricing, Scavio is significantly cheaper at low to mid volumes. At 50,000 searches, the gap narrows. Choose Exa if you need neural search for content similarity and research. Choose Scavio if you need multi-platform real-time search data for AI agents, e-commerce monitoring, or SEO workflows.