Exa vs Typesense:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Exa had more branded searches than Typesense among search API platforms worldwide. Exa had about 21,400 branded searches, while Typesense had 9,900. Exa made up 4.2% of all search API platform searches we track, and Typesense accounted for 1.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about search API platforms, Exa appeared in three of the five answers and Typesense in one. Exa was mentioned before Typesense in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Exa, about 2 searches for every 1 for Typesense
Who does AI mention more?
Exa, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Typesense in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Exa, named ahead of Typesense in 3 of 4 answers
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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. Typesense 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 Typesense 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.
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 Exa or Typesense more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Exa and Typesense 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 Exa, Typesense. 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 Exa and Typesense comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Exa took it in December 2025.
- 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, Typesense’s share of searches among search API platforms worldwide moved from 3.7% to 1.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 14.8K to 9.9K.
How did search popularity change for search API platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Exa’s and Typesense’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.
Other head-to-heads among search API platforms
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