kitio.aiBrave Search vs Kagi Search
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Brave Search is completely free, while Kagi Search is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- AI answers with sources
- Follow-up questions
- Independent index
- Goggles re-ranking
- Search API
- Ad-free search
- Quick Answer summaries
- Kagi Assistant
- Domain ranking controls
- Search lenses
| Feature | Brave Search | Kagi Search |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Independent private search engine with AI-generated answers | Ad-free paid search engine with an AI assistant and quick answers |
| Category | Research & search | Research & search |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | $5/mo |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | Brave Software | Kagi |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Brave Search is completely free, while Kagi Search is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Trial
Free
- 100 searches to try
Starter
$5/mo
- 300 searches per month
- Ad-free private search
Professional
$10/mo
- Unlimited searches
Ultimate
$25/mo
- Unlimited searches
- Kagi Assistant with premium models
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Brave Search
- Free and private
- Own index, not a Bing wrapper
- Good AI summaries
- Results weaker for some local queries
- Fewer features than Perplexity
Kagi Search
- No ads or tracking
- Customizable results
- Access to many AI models
- Paid for regular use
- Smaller index partners than Google
Which one should you choose?
Choose Brave Search if you want:
- Free and private
- Own index, not a Bing wrapper
- Good AI summaries
Watch out: results weaker for some local queries.
Choose Kagi Search if you want:
- No ads or tracking
- Customizable results
- Access to many AI models
Watch out: paid for regular use.
Brave Search vs Kagi Search FAQ
What is the difference between Brave Search and Kagi Search?
Brave Search: Independent private search engine with AI-generated answers. Kagi Search: Ad-free paid search engine with an AI assistant and quick answers. Both are research & search tools.
Is Brave Search or Kagi Search cheaper?
Brave Search is completely free, while Kagi Search is freemium.
Do Brave Search and Kagi Search have free plans?
Brave Search: Yes, fully free. Kagi Search: Yes.
Who makes Brave Search?
Brave Search is made by Brave Software, based in United States.
Who makes Kagi Search?
Kagi Search is made by Kagi, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Brave Search or Kagi Search?
Choose Brave Search if you value free and private and own index, not a bing wrapper. Choose Kagi Search if you value no ads or tracking and customizable results.