# Brave Search API

Category: [AI search and web reading](https://free-web-services.com/web-services/ai/search/)  
Page: https://free-web-services.com/web-services/ai/search/brave-search-api.html  
Documentation: https://api-dashboard.search.brave.com/app/documentation/web-search/get-started

The Brave Search API gives web, news, image and video results from Brave's own independent index, plus summaries for AI apps, for example to let a chatbot look up current information. Call GET endpoints such as /res/v1/web/search?q=london with an X-Subscription-Token header. Free only with a payment card on file: $5 in free credits every month, then paid per request. Storing results needs a plan with storage rights. An official MCP server (npm package @brave/brave-search-mcp-server) lets AI agents search the web with Brave.

- API key: Needed, free
- Pricing: Free only with a payment card on file: $5 in free credits every month, then paid per request.
- From the browser: No, call it from a server
- Formats: JSON
- Interface: REST, HTTP-GET, MCP
- Provider: api-dashboard.search.brave.com
- Last checked: Working on November 3rd, 2026

Example request:

```sh
curl 'https://api.search.brave.com/res/v1/web/search?q=london' \
  -H 'X-Subscription-Token: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  -H 'Accept: application/json'
```

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your own key. Run the JavaScript on a server, such as Node.js 18 or newer: this API does not accept calls from web pages on other sites.