Brave Search API vs Exa:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Brave Search API and Exa were level in searches among search API platforms worldwide, with an estimated 22.2K versus 21.4K branded searches, at 4.3% and 4.2% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about search API platforms, Brave Search API and Exa each appeared in three of the five answers. Exa was mentioned before Brave Search API in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Brave Search API and Exa are searched for about as often as each other.
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Exa, named ahead of Brave Search API in 2 of 3 answers
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Top search API platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Brave Search API and Exa were each mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Exa was listed before Brave Search API in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- SerpApi4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Firecrawl3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Tavily3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Brave Search API3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Exa3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Serper3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Algolia1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Meilisearch1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Typesense1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Elastic1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about search API platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which search API platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best search API platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best search API platform for site search?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“search api platform”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best search api”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Brave Search API or Exa more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Brave Search API and Exa by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 search API platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Brave Search API, Exa. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Firecrawl | Tavily | SerpApi | OpenSearch | Algolia | Brave Search API | Exa | Meilisearch | Serper | Typesense | Elastic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 18.6% | 12.4% | 18.6% | 15.2% | 13.5% | 2.5% | 3.2% | 6.8% | 1.8% | 3.7% | 3.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 16.2% | 13.2% | 19.8% | 16.2% | 14.2% | 2.6% | 2.8% | 5.9% | 2% | 3.2% | 3.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 18.8% | 12.6% | 23% | 12.6% | 11.2% | 2.1% | 6.4% | 5.6% | 1.6% | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 21.9% | 14.7% | 18% | 12% | 10.6% | 6.6% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 1.6% | 2.4% | 2.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 18.8% | 18.8% | 15.4% | 10.3% | 7.5% | 15.4% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 2.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 22.9% | 22.9% | 12.6% | 8.4% | 7.4% | 12.6% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 2% | 2.1% | 2% |
| Apr 2026 | 30% | 20.2% | 13.5% | 9% | 7.9% | 6% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 1.9% | 2.2% | 2% |
| May 2026 | 27.9% | 22.8% | 12.5% | 10.2% | 7.3% | 5.6% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 1.9% | 2% | 1.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 28.2% | 23.1% | 12.6% | 10.3% | 7.4% | 4.6% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 2% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 25.9% | 21.1% | 14.2% | 11.6% | 8.3% | 5.2% | 3.9% | 3.5% | 2.4% | 2.3% | 1.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 31.8% | 21.2% | 11.7% | 9.5% | 8.3% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 3.5% | 2% | 1.9% | 1.7% |
| Sep 2026 | 26.2% | 21.4% | 14.4% | 11.8% | 8.3% | 4.3% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.6% |
How has the Brave Search API and Exa comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Brave Search API took it in January 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Brave Search API’s share of searches among search API platforms worldwide moved from 2.5% to 4.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.9K to 22.2K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Exa’s share of searches among search API platforms worldwide moved from 3.2% to 4.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.8K to 21.4K.
How did search popularity change for search API platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Brave Search API worldwide rose 124.2% over 12 measured months, from 9.9K to 22.2K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Exa worldwide rose 67.2% over 12 measured months, from 12.8K to 21.4K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Brave Search API’s and Exa’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Brave Search API
1 branded search term
- brave search api
Exa
2 branded search terms
- exa ai
- exa search
Other head-to-heads among search API platforms
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