A Google Custom Search API alternative
Google has closed the Custom Search JSON API to new customers, and existing customers have until January 1, 2027 to move. Serply returns Google results as JSON with no search engine ID to set up, so most migrations are a new URL and a few renamed fields.
No card required. Purchased credits never expire.
The same request, before and after
Python shown; the changes are the same in any language.
import requests
resp = requests.get(
"https://www.googleapis.com/customsearch/v1",
params={
"key": GOOGLE_API_KEY,
"cx": SEARCH_ENGINE_ID,
"q": "best running shoes",
"num": 10,
"start": 11, # 1-based: second page
"gl": "us",
},
)
for item in resp.json().get("items", []):
print(item["title"], item["link"], item["snippet"])import requests
resp = requests.get(
"https://api.serply.io/v1/search/",
headers={"X-Api-Key": SERPLY_API_KEY},
params={
"q": "best running shoes",
"num": 10,
"start": 10, # 0-based: second page
"gl": "us",
},
)
for item in resp.json().get("results", []):
print(item["title"], item["link"], item["description"])Parameter and field mapping
| Custom Search | Serply | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| key (query string) | X-Api-Key header | Your Serply key, sent as a header. |
| cx | Not needed | Searches all of Google. To keep a site restriction, put site: in q. |
| q | q | Same query syntax, including Google search operators. |
| num (max 10) | num (max 10) | Same ceiling. Page for more. |
| start (1-based) | start (0-based) | Subtract 1: start=11 becomes start=10. |
| gl | gl | Two-letter country code, passed through to Google. |
| siteSearch | site: in q | For example q=pricing site:example.com. |
| searchType=image | /v1/image endpoint | Image search has its own endpoint. |
| items[] | results[] | One object per organic result. |
| items[].snippet | results[].description | The text under the title. |
| items[].displayLink | results[].metadata.display_url | The domain shown on the page. |
| searchInformation.totalResults | total | Often null: Google does not always show a count. |
Full reference: Google Search endpoint, pagination, and search operators.
What it costs each month
| Searches a month | Custom Search | Serply | Serply rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 | $35 | $15 | Starter pack, $1.50 per 1,000 |
| 50,000 | $235 | $49 | Growth pack, $0.98 per 1,000 |
| 300,000 | $1,485 | $225 | Pro pack rate, $0.75 per 1,000 |
Custom Search: 100 free queries a day (about 3,000 a month), then $5 per 1,000, up to 10,000 a day. Serply: prepaid packs, and purchased credits never expire, so a pack bought for one month carries over to the next. See all packs.
Compare the results yourself
Run one of your Custom Search queries through Serply. No key needed.
- brian-coffee-spot.comChicago | Brian's Coffee Spot
Coffee Spots · Big Shoulders, Gold Coast · Big Shoulders, The Loop · Buzz Coffee Roaster & Baker · Café Integral, Chicago · Doughnut Vault, Canal Street · Doughnut ...
- thisdarlingworld.comA Locals Guide: 20 Best Cafes in Chicago - This Darling World
Best Cafes/Coffee in Chicago · 1. Coffee Lab & Roasters – Lakeview ♥ · 2. Truce ♥ · 3. Ludlow Charlingtons Coffee Shop · 4. The Wormhole Coffee ♥ · 5. The ...
- reddit.comWhere are the top coffee spots in the city? : r/chicagofood - Reddit
Allez Cafe, Casa Cactus, Soloway, Four Letter Word, Metric, Metropolis, Hexe, and Colectivo. Jumping Bean, Foxglove, Damn Fine Coffee, Dayglow, ...
- chicago.eater.comChicago's Best Coffee Shops
Chicago's Best Coffee Shops · Afro Joes Coffee & Tea · Kusanya Cafe · LVL Up Coffee · Bueno Days · Cafe Jumping Bean · Anticonquista Cafe · Overflow Coffee.
- traverse-blog.comLocal's Guide to the Best Coffee in Chicago - Traverse Blog
Damn Fine Coffee Bar · Hero Coffee Bar · Ipsento 606 · Passion House Coffee Shop · Sawada Coffee – 112 N Green St · The Allis.
- theinfatuation.comCoffee & A Light Bite - Chicago - The Infatuation
The Best Bakeries In Chicago ; The Best Coffee Shops & Cafes In Chicago ; Ridman's Coffee · Coffee · Ravenswood ; Turn Back Time · Coffee · Irving Park ; The Best ...
- facebook.comMust Visit Coffee Shops in Chicago: River Roux, Metric, Layla & Ringo's
Save this list for your next coffee run ✨ Cafe Deko CAFE DEKO - COFFEE SHOP IN CHICAGO ✨ Postcard Postcard ✨ Paper Tiger PAPER TIGER ✨ ...
- facebook.comWhat are the must-try coffee places in downtown Chicago? - Facebook
Hexe, Thrd, and Dark Matter are top recommendations, with Blue Bottle and Ipsento also suggested for high-quality coffee. ... Omg, don't skip Dark ...
- m.yelp.comCoffee Shops Chicago, IL - Last Updated October 2026 - Yelp
1. Sawada Coffee · 2. The Wormhole Coffee · 3. Arwa Yemeni Coffee · 4. Cafe Deko · 5. Truce · 6. Damn Fine Coffee Bar · 7. Oud Coffee & Cafe · 8. Nighthawk Chicago.
{
"results": [
{
"position": 1,
"title": "Chicago | Brian's Coffee Spot",
"link": "https://www.brian-coffee-spot.com/the-coffee-spot-guide-to/usa-canada/chicago/",
"description": "Coffee Spots · Big Shoulders, Gold Coast · Big Shoulders, The Loop · Buzz Coffee Roaster & Baker · Café Integral, Chicago · Doughnut Vault, Canal Street · Doughnut ..."
},
{
"position": 2,
"title": "A Locals Guide: 20 Best Cafes in Chicago - This Darling World",
"link": "https://thisdarlingworld.com/best-cafes-in-chicago-a-locals-guide/",
"description": "Best Cafes/Coffee in Chicago · 1. Coffee Lab & Roasters – Lakeview ♥ · 2. Truce ♥ · 3. Ludlow Charlingtons Coffee Shop · 4. The Wormhole Coffee ♥ · 5. The ..."
},
{
"position": 3,
"title": "Where are the top coffee spots in the city? : r/chicagofood - Reddit",
"link": "https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagofood/comments/1d8z7lm/where_are_the_top_coffee_spots_in_the_city/",
"description": "Allez Cafe, Casa Cactus, Soloway, Four Letter Word, Metric, Metropolis, Hexe, and Colectivo. Jumping Bean, Foxglove, Damn Fine Coffee, Dayglow, ..."
},
{
"position": 4,
"title": "Chicago's Best Coffee Shops",
"link": "https://chicago.eater.com/maps/best-chicago-coffee-shops-map",
"description": "Chicago's Best Coffee Shops · Afro Joes Coffee & Tea · Kusanya Cafe · LVL Up Coffee · Bueno Days · Cafe Jumping Bean · Anticonquista Cafe · Overflow Coffee."
},
{
"position": 5,
"title": "Local's Guide to the Best Coffee in Chicago - Traverse Blog",
"link": "https://www.traverse-blog.com/instagrammable-coffee-shop-guide-chicago/",
"description": "Damn Fine Coffee Bar · Hero Coffee Bar · Ipsento 606 · Passion House Coffee Shop · Sawada Coffee – 112 N Green St · The Allis."
},
{
"position": 6,
"title": "Coffee & A Light Bite - Chicago - The Infatuation",
"link": "https://www.theinfatuation.com/chicago/perfect-for/coffee-a-light-bite",
"description": "The Best Bakeries In Chicago ; The Best Coffee Shops & Cafes In Chicago ; Ridman's Coffee · Coffee · Ravenswood ; Turn Back Time · Coffee · Irving Park ; The Best ..."
},
{
"position": 7,
"title": "Must Visit Coffee Shops in Chicago: River Roux, Metric, Layla & Ringo's",
"link": "https://www.facebook.com/61565580100717/videos/%EF%B8%8F-must-visit-coffee-shops-in-chicago-save-this-list-for-your-next-coffee-run-caf/1138987212134439/",
"description": "Save this list for your next coffee run ✨ Cafe Deko CAFE DEKO - COFFEE SHOP IN CHICAGO ✨ Postcard Postcard ✨ Paper Tiger PAPER TIGER ✨ ..."
},
{
"position": 8,
"title": "What are the must-try coffee places in downtown Chicago? - Facebook",
"link": "https://www.facebook.com/groups/WhatToDoInChicago/posts/4091959874423105/",
"description": "Hexe, Thrd, and Dark Matter are top recommendations, with Blue Bottle and Ipsento also suggested for high-quality coffee. ... Omg, don't skip Dark ..."
},
{
"position": 9,
"title": "Coffee Shops Chicago, IL - Last Updated October 2026 - Yelp",
"link": "https://m.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Coffee+Shops&find_loc=Chicago%2C+IL",
"description": "1. Sawada Coffee · 2. The Wormhole Coffee · 3. Arwa Yemeni Coffee · 4. Cafe Deko · 5. Truce · 6. Damn Fine Coffee Bar · 7. Oud Coffee & Cafe · 8. Nighthawk Chicago."
}
]
}Real Serply response, saved October 2026.
Get 2,500 free credits - no cardFrequently asked questions
When does the Custom Search JSON API stop working?
Google has closed it to new customers. Existing customers have until January 1, 2027 to move to another solution.
Do I need a search engine ID (cx)?
No. Serply searches Google as a visitor would, so there is no engine to configure. If your engine was limited to a few sites, add site: operators to the query instead.
What does Google recommend instead?
Google points to Vertex AI Search for searching up to 50 domains, and asks teams that need full web search to contact them. If you need results from the whole web, a SERP API like Serply is the direct replacement.
How long does the migration take?
For most code it is a different URL, a header instead of a key parameter, and renamed fields: items becomes results and snippet becomes description. Watch the start offset, which is 0-based on Serply.
How much does it cost?
Every new account gets 2,500 free credits with no card. After that you buy prepaid packs from $5, at $1.50 to $0.75 per 1,000 requests depending on the pack, and purchased credits never expire. Custom Search charges $5 per 1,000 after the first 100 queries each day.
Move before the deadline
Start with 2,500 free credits, no card required, and run your own queries side by side before you switch.