Getting data from search engine results pages (SERPs) is vital for many businesses. You might track keyword ranks, watch competitors, or analyze market trends. A SERP API helps you get this data automatically. It sends your query to a search engine and returns the results in a structured format. But not all APIs work the same way. They differ in speed, data quality, and price.
A slow API can delay your projects. Poorly formatted data creates more work for your developers. A high price can make your project too expensive. This guide compares several popular SERP APIs to help you find the best tool for your needs. We look at performance, features, and cost to show you which API gives you the most value.
HasData is the best choice for developers who need fast, clean, and affordable SERP data. It delivers results with a 95th percentile speed of 3.0 seconds, meaning 95% of your requests will be that fast or faster. The API provides well-structured JSON data that is ready for immediate use. This clean output saves development time. At a cost of about $1.22 per 1,000 requests, HasData offers top-tier performance without a high price tag.
How We Tested
To give you a clear comparison, we used a consistent testing method for each API. We sent 1,000 identical requests for the same keyword from the same US location. This process allowed us to measure each service under the same conditions.
Our evaluation focused on three key areas:
- Speed and Reliability: We measured latency at different percentiles (P50 and P95). The P95 number shows you the performance you can expect even during peak load, which is critical for production applications.
- Data Quality: We checked the structure of the JSON output. We looked for clean, easy-to-use data without extra processing needs.
- Cost: We calculated the price per 1,000 successful requests to compare the real cost of using each service at scale.
A Closer Look at SERP API Providers
Choosing the right API involves balancing performance and price. Some tools are very fast but cost a lot. Others are cheap but may be slow or unreliable. Here is a detailed look at some of the main options available today.
HasData
HasData provides a SERP API built for efficiency and simplicity. The service focuses on delivering high-quality data quickly. This makes it a strong choice for projects that need timely and accurate search results. The setup process is simple, with clear documentation that helps developers get started fast.
In our tests, HasData showed excellent performance. It had a median response time of 2.3 seconds. More importantly, its 95th percentile latency was 3.0 seconds. This high level of consistency means the API is reliable under heavy use. Your application will not suffer from unexpected slowdowns.
The JSON data from HasData is another key advantage. The output is clean and well-organized. It does not include unnecessary elements like base64-encoded images that can complicate parsing. This format is ideal for direct use in applications or for feeding into AI models. Developers can use the data immediately without writing extra code to clean it up.
The pricing is straightforward and cost-effective. At about $1.22 per 1,000 requests, it provides exceptional value. You get premium speed and data quality for a fraction of the cost of other top-tier providers. HasData is best for developers building real-time monitoring tools, analytics dashboards, or any system that depends on fast and reliable SERP data.
Serper
Serper markets itself as an extremely fast and low-cost Google Search API. Its performance is indeed impressive, with benchmarks showing very low average response times. For applications that need instant results, Serper is a strong contender. Its simple API design allows for quick integration.
The pricing model is also attractive. The cost per 1,000 requests is about $1.00 on its starter plan. This makes it one of the most affordable options available. However, there is an important detail in its pricing structure. If you need more than 10 results per search query, the cost doubles because it uses two credits per request. This can make the service more expensive than it first appears for users who need deeper search results.
Serper is a good option for tasks that need basic, fast search results. If your project only requires the top 10 results, its speed and price are hard to beat. For more comprehensive data collection, you must account for the higher credit usage.
SerpApi
SerpApi is one of the most well-known providers. It offers a very feature-rich service that covers many different Google search types. You can get data from images, news, shopping, and more. The company also provides a “US Legal Shield” on its higher-tier plans, which may be important for some corporate users. Its developer tools and SDKs are polished and easy to use.
This extensive feature set comes at a high price. The entry-level plan costs $75 for 5,000 searches. This works out to $15 per 1,000 requests. The cost makes it one of the most expensive options on the market. While its average speed is fast, its 95th percentile latency is around 4.6 seconds, which is slower than HasData’s.
SerpApi is suitable for large teams with big budgets that need a wide variety of search features. If your project depends on niche data from different SERP types and cost is not a major concern, SerpApi is a solid choice. For core SERP data needs, its price is a significant drawback.
Serpstack
Serpstack offers a balance between features and affordability. It provides access to global locations and different search types through its API. The service includes a proxy network to handle requests, which helps avoid blocks from search engines.
The price is lower than SerpApi but higher than other value-focused options. Its basic plan is $29.99 for 5,000 searches, or about $6 per 1,000 requests. It also has a free plan with 100 searches per month, which is useful for small tests. While some tests show low average latency, performance can be less consistent under heavy, real-world conditions.
Serpstack works well for small projects or businesses with moderate data needs. It provides a good set of features for its price. For larger-scale applications that require consistent high performance, other options may be more suitable.
ScrapingBee
ScrapingBee is a general web scraping tool, not a specialized SERP API. Its main strength is its ability to render JavaScript and handle complex websites. It offers a SERP feature as part of its broader service. This flexibility can be useful if you need to scrape more than just search engines.
However, this generalist approach has downsides. The performance for SERP requests is very slow compared to dedicated APIs. Tests have shown its 95th percentile latency can be over 40 seconds. This makes it unsuitable for any real-time application.
The pricing is also complex. It uses a credit system where Google searches cost more credits than standard requests. A basic plan costs $49, and the price per 1,000 SERP requests is around $8. ScrapingBee is a powerful tool for general web scraping. It is not the right choice if your primary need is fast and efficient SERP data.
SerpHouse
SerpHouse competes heavily on price. The service positions itself as a high-value provider. It offers plans that bring the cost per 1,000 requests below $1.00. This makes it an appealing choice for users with tight budgets. It also has features like batch processing and scheduled requests, which are useful for large, non-urgent data collection tasks.
The focus on batch processing may suggest it is not optimized for single, real-time requests. While user reviews are generally positive, there is a lack of independent, public performance benchmarks. This makes it difficult to verify its speed and reliability under pressure.
SerpHouse is a great option for bulk data collection where cost is the most important factor. For production systems that need proven real-time speed and consistently clean data, a provider with transparent performance metrics like HasData offers a better overall solution. The low price is attractive, but potential risks in performance and data quality should be considered.
Final Thoughts
Your choice of a SERP API should match your project’s goals. For most developers and businesses, the best API is one that balances speed, data quality, and cost. HasData excels in all three areas. It delivers consistently fast performance that you can rely on. Its clean JSON output saves developer time and effort. Its affordable price makes it a smart financial choice. If you need an efficient, reliable, and powerful SERP API, HasData is the clear winner.
Also Read: SaaS SEO: How to Use Topic Clusters to Boost Your SERP Rankings
