kitio.aiExa vs GPT Researcher
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. GPT Researcher is completely free, while Exa is freemium.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Semantic web search
- Full page contents
- Research API
- Websets
- Similar page search
- Autonomous research planning
- Parallel web search
- Cited reports
- Local document research
- MCP server
| Feature | Exa | GPT Researcher |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Search engine built for AI apps, with deep research and Websets | Open-source agent that researches the web and writes cited reports |
| Category | Research & search | Research & search |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | See pricing page | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Exa Labs | Assaf Elovic |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
GPT Researcher is completely free, while Exa is freemium.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
4 plans
Starter
Free
- $10 free credits every month
- $10 onboarding bonus
- All endpoints, 10 QPS
Search
From $4 / 1K requests
- Web search for agents
- Up to 10 results per request
Contents
$1 / 1K pages
- Full page contents for LLMs
- Configurable livecrawl
Agent
$0.012–$1.00 / run
- Async deep research runs
- Structured outputs with citations
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
Exa
- Built for AI use cases
- Returns full content
- Websets finds niche lists
- Mainly for developers
- Usage costs add up at scale
GPT Researcher
- Open source and flexible
- Works with many providers
- Good report structure
- Needs API keys and setup
- Costs depend on model usage
Which one should you choose?
Choose Exa if you want:
- Built for AI use cases
- Returns full content
- Websets finds niche lists
Watch out: mainly for developers.
Choose GPT Researcher if you want:
- Open source and flexible
- Works with many providers
- Good report structure
Watch out: needs api keys and setup.
Exa vs GPT Researcher FAQ
What is the difference between Exa and GPT Researcher?
Exa: Search engine built for AI apps, with deep research and Websets. GPT Researcher: Open-source agent that researches the web and writes cited reports. Both are research & search tools.
Is Exa or GPT Researcher cheaper?
GPT Researcher is completely free, while Exa is freemium.
Do Exa and GPT Researcher have free plans?
Exa: Yes. GPT Researcher: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Exa?
Exa is made by Exa Labs, based in United States.
Who makes GPT Researcher?
GPT Researcher is made by Assaf Elovic.
Which should I choose, Exa or GPT Researcher?
Choose Exa if you value built for ai use cases and returns full content. Choose GPT Researcher if you value open source and flexible and works with many providers.