Tavily vs Exa
Both are search APIs for AI agents with free monthly credits. Tavily focuses on real-time web search and content extraction for agents and RAG; Exa adds deep research and structured web datasets (Websets).
Editorial, not sponsored. Built from vendor-published facts only; neither product has been hands-on tested yet.
Tavily
○ Unverified🇪🇺 Unknown
Consider Tavily if: You want a simple real-time search and extract API for agents.
Visit Tavily ↗Exa
○ Unverified🇪🇺 Partial
Consider Exa if: You also need deep research or structured datasets from the web.
Visit Exa ↗| Criterion | Tavily | Exa |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Tavily | Exa |
| What it does | Real-time search engine for AI agents. | Search API for AI agents that need real-time web data. |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Usage-based |
| Starting price | Free monthly credits; pay-as-you-go $0.008/credit | Free $10 credits/month; then pay-as-you-go |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Deployment | API | API |
| Integrations (vendor-stated) | MCP, Databricks | MCP |
| EU / GDPR | Unknown | GDPR / partial infoStates SOC 2 Type II and that GDPR data-subject rights are honoured |
| Hands-on test | ○ Unverified | ○ Unverified |
| Last checked | 2026-10-23 | 2026-10-19 |
Sources: www.tavily.com · www.tavily.com · exa.ai · exa.ai