kitio.aiGoogle AI Mode vs Vane
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Google AI Mode starts at Free and Vane starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Conversational search
- Query fan-out
- Multimodal questions
- Deep Search
- Follow-up questions
- Cited answers
- Bundled SearXNG
- Local model support
- Focus modes
- Docker deployment
| Feature | Google AI Mode | Vane |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Conversational AI search mode inside Google Search | Self-hosted open-source AI search engine, formerly Perplexica |
| Category | Research & search | Research & search |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | ItzCrazyKns | |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Pricing compared
Google AI Mode starts at Free and Vane starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
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
Google AI Mode
- Free and widely available
- Draws on Google's index
- Handles multimodal input
- Fewer citations than research tools
- Features vary by country
Vane
- Fully private when self-hosted
- Works with local models
- Popular open-source project
- Requires your own server
- Answer quality depends on model
Which one should you choose?
Choose Google AI Mode if you want:
- Free and widely available
- Draws on Google's index
- Handles multimodal input
Watch out: fewer citations than research tools.
Choose Vane if you want:
- Fully private when self-hosted
- Works with local models
- Popular open-source project
Watch out: requires your own server.
Google AI Mode vs Vane FAQ
What is the difference between Google AI Mode and Vane?
Google AI Mode: Conversational AI search mode inside Google Search. Vane: Self-hosted open-source AI search engine, formerly Perplexica. Both are research & search tools.
Is Google AI Mode or Vane cheaper?
Google AI Mode starts at Free and Vane starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Google AI Mode and Vane have free plans?
Google AI Mode: Yes, fully free. Vane: Yes, fully free.
Who makes Google AI Mode?
Google AI Mode is made by Google, based in United States.
Who makes Vane?
Vane is made by ItzCrazyKns.
Which should I choose, Google AI Mode or Vane?
Choose Google AI Mode if you value free and widely available and draws on google's index. Choose Vane if you value fully private when self-hosted and works with local models.