If you need to research the web without ads, trackers, and repeat SEO pages, Kagi Search gives you cleaner results and source controls.
Buy it only if $10 a month is worth better daily research; Google is cheaper, with broader local and breaking-news coverage.
Who it's for
Kagi Search is built for you if web research is part of your paid work. You may be disappointed if you rely on maps, local listings, or minute-by-minute news.
Buy it if
- You research competitors, suppliers, or source material most workdays and tire of sponsored results.
- You already use Google but want to push trusted publications upward and block content farms.
- You write a newsletter or client brief and need a focused web search before drafting.
Skip it if
- You depend on Google Maps, reviews, menus, and local business details during your workday.
- You need breaking updates or obscure pages found fast, with little tolerance for a second search engine.
- You mainly search from a phone and want an integrated app-first browsing workflow.
Your first hour
You create an account with an email address, then search in a browser. Kagi does not publish a signup time or say whether its trial requires a card, but your first search can follow registration.
- Create an account Kagi uses your email for account recovery while keeping searches separate from your account.
- Run a search The trial includes 100 searches, so use a real work query first.
- Try Assistant The trial also includes 100 Kagi Assistant interactions for search-grounded questions.
- Adjust sources Up-rank a useful site or down-rank a noisy one after reviewing your first results.
The basics feel familiar, but source ranking and Lenses take a few searches to become habitual.
What you actually get per plan
Kagi sells individual subscriptions, starting with a limited trial rather than a permanent free tier. Most regular freelancers will land on Professional because 300 searches on Starter can disappear quickly.
| Plan | Price | What’s inside | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trial | Free | 100 searches; 100 Kagi Assistant interactions | Limited trial access |
| Starter | $5/month | 300 searches; 300 AI interactions | $54/year lowers the effective monthly cost to $4.50 |
| Professional | $10/month | Unlimited search; Kagi Assistant; Quick mode | Assistant use remains subject to fair use |
| Ultimate | $25/month | Unlimited searches; unlimited Summarizer and Translate; premium Assistant models | $270/year lowers the effective monthly cost to $22.50 |
The trial has a hard limit of 100 searches and 100 Assistant interactions.
Three real situations
These are the work patterns where the subscription earns its place or does not.
A freelance writer with three retainer clients
Professional costs $10 a month and removes the 300-search ceiling. Domain ranking can keep preferred trade publications near the top during recurring research.
A creator with a weekly newsletter
Starter costs $5 a month for 300 searches and 300 AI interactions. It can reduce time spent filtering search pages, but it does not replace the writer’s fact-checking.
A solo founder planning local customer visits
Kagi’s maps and local details are weaker than Google’s, and mobile use can feel awkward. Use Google Search and Google Maps instead; they are the simpler free route.
Where it falls short
Reviewers describe local search and maps as rough and slow on mobile. Results can be outdated, and Lens behavior can feel different on different days. Google has a larger index, fresher breaking coverage, and much deeper local information.
The $5 tier caps you at 300 searches and 300 AI interactions, which can push regular users to $10. Assistant access follows a fair-use policy, and extra payment can restore access after an allowance is reached. This hurts heavy AI users who read “unlimited” as unlimited.
Watch out: Kagi Assistant is subject to fair use even on plans described as unlimited, and additional payments may be needed after limits are reached.
Common questions
Is there a free Kagi Search plan?
Kagi offers a free trial with 100 searches and 100 Kagi Assistant interactions. The vendor does not list a permanent free individual plan in its current pricing notes.
Can I cancel Kagi Search any time?
You can cancel an auto-renewing subscription in account settings before its renewal date. Email cancellations must reach support at least 72 hours before renewal.
Does Kagi train AI on my searches or prompts?
No. Kagi says it does not use personal data or prompts to train AI models, and does not sell data to third parties.
What is the cheapest way to try Kagi Search?
Use the free trial first. It gives you 100 searches and 100 Assistant interactions before you choose a paid plan.
Is Kagi Search worth it for a freelancer?
It is worth considering if research is billable daily work and $10 a month fits your budget. Google is the closer free alternative for local, obscure, and fast-changing searches.
Bottom line
Buy Kagi Search at $10 a month if you research for client work most days and want control over your sources. Skip it if local search, maps, breaking news, or a free workflow matter more.
