Web search for AI
Results designed to be read by a model.
AI tools · Research
Exa pricing, use cases, and first steps
Exa is a web search engine built for AI agents and apps. It searches the web, but also indexes of people, companies, and scholarly works. You use it via API, MCP server, or the Claude connector. A free monthly credit lets you start.
Exa has a free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Starter, $0. Prices checked on October 21, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
ExaA web search engine built for AI agents- Vendor
- Exa (United States)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Recommended plan
- Starter, $0
- In the European Union
- Partly available
- Page checked on
- October 21, 2026
What Exa does
Who it’s for: developers and teams giving web search to their agents.
People and company indexes
Search profiles and companies.
Scholarly works
An index of research papers.
Also
- Claude connector and MCP
Exa pricing
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Starter Recommended to start | $0 | To start |
| Developer | Pay as you go | Developers |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Large organizations |
What the free plan includes
$10 of credit every month and $10 at sign-up, no payment method.
Nova’s advice
The free credit is enough for personal use in Claude.
A first try, in 10 minutes
Your data. Exa states SOC 2 Type II; Enterprise adds HIPAA and zero data retention.
What it does less well
- Built for agents and developers, not as a consumer engine.
- Coverage of small French companies varies.
Find companies in a sectorExa- Add the Exa connector to Claude.
- Describe the companies you want.
- Review the list and sources.
The prompt to copy
Find 20 French software companies for architecture firms, with their websites.
Alternatives to Exa
Frequently asked questions about Exa
How much does Exa cost?
Starter: $0; Developer: pay as you go; Enterprise: custom pricing. Prices checked on October 21, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use Exa for free?
Yes. $10 of credit every month and $10 at sign-up, no payment method.
What happens to my data with Exa?
Exa states SOC 2 Type II; Enterprise adds HIPAA and zero data retention.
What are the alternatives to Exa?
Perplexity: Consumer answer engine. Firecrawl: Read web pages for AI. Clay: Build enriched lists.
Official pages consulted
Page checked on October 21, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.