Brandwave

Exa vs Meilisearch:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Exa had more branded searches than Meilisearch among search API platforms worldwide. Exa had about 21,400 branded searches, while Meilisearch had 18,100. Exa made up 4.2% of all search API platform searches we track, and Meilisearch accounted for 3.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about search API platforms, Exa appeared in three of the five answers and Meilisearch in one. Exa was mentioned before Meilisearch in three out of four answers that named either.

Among search API platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Exa, about 18% more searches than Meilisearch

Exa 21.4K searchesMeilisearch 18.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Exa, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Meilisearch in 1

Exa in 3 of 5Meilisearch in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Exa, named ahead of Meilisearch in 3 of 4 answers

Exa first in 3Meilisearch first in 1

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Top search API platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Exa was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Meilisearch was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Exa was listed before Meilisearch in three out of four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Tavily1st
  2. SerpApi1st
  3. Exa3rd
  4. Serper4th
  5. Brave Search API5th
  6. Firecrawl6th
  7. Algolia7th
  8. Typesense8th
  9. Meilisearch9th
  10. Elastic10th
  11. +1 more

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

+1 more

See every answer about search API platforms

5 answers

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 Exa or Meilisearch more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Exa and Meilisearch 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.

Exa and Meilisearch among search API platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Exa, Meilisearch. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthFirecrawlTavilySerpApiOpenSearchAlgoliaBrave Search APIExaMeilisearchSerperTypesenseElastic
Oct 202518.6%12.4%18.6%15.2%13.5%2.5%3.2%6.8%1.8%3.7%3.7%
Nov 202516.2%13.2%19.8%16.2%14.2%2.6%2.8%5.9%2%3.2%3.9%
Dec 202518.8%12.6%23%12.6%11.2%2.1%6.4%5.6%1.6%3.1%3.1%
Jan 202621.9%14.7%18%12%10.6%6.6%5.3%4.4%1.6%2.4%2.6%
Feb 202618.8%18.8%15.4%10.3%7.5%15.4%3.8%3.8%1.7%2.1%2.3%
Mar 202622.9%22.9%12.6%8.4%7.4%12.6%3.4%3.8%2%2.1%2%
Apr 202630%20.2%13.5%9%7.9%6%3.9%3.3%1.9%2.2%2%
May 202627.9%22.8%12.5%10.2%7.3%5.6%4.2%3.8%1.9%2%1.8%
Jun 202628.2%23.1%12.6%10.3%7.4%4.6%4.2%3.8%2%2.1%1.7%
Jul 202625.9%21.1%14.2%11.6%8.3%5.2%3.9%3.5%2.4%2.3%1.7%
Aug 202631.8%21.2%11.7%9.5%8.3%4.3%4.1%3.5%2%1.9%1.7%
Sep 202626.2%21.4%14.4%11.8%8.3%4.3%4.2%3.5%2.4%1.9%1.6%

How has the Exa and Meilisearch comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Exa took it in December 2025, Meilisearch took it in March 2026, Exa took it in April 2026.
  • 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.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Meilisearch’s share of searches among search API platforms worldwide moved from 6.8% to 3.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 18.1K.

How did search popularity change for search API platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Exa worldwide rose 67.2% over 12 measured months, from 12.8K to 21.4K in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Meilisearch worldwide fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 27.1K to 18.1K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Exa’s and Meilisearch’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.

Exa

2 branded search terms

  • exa ai
  • exa search

Meilisearch

1 branded search term

  • meilisearch

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among search API platforms

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