Bing Search API alternatives · the API retired in 2025
Microsoft retired the Bing Search APIs on August 11, 2025. If you need Bing's results as data, use SearchApi.
our pick for you
Our pick
Need Bing's own results? Use SearchApi. Need to find pages and read them? Use Firecrawl. Building an AI agent? Look at Perplexity's Search API.
- An API is the way your code asks a service for data. The Bing Search APIs returned Bing's results to your code.
- Microsoft's notice says the Bing Search APIs retired on August 11, 2025, and every instance was shut down.
- Microsoft points users to Grounding with Bing Search, which works only inside Azure AI Agents. Grounding means an AI agent uses web results to write its answer.
- SearchApi returns Bing's results, and Google's, as data. Developer is $40 for 10,000 searches.
- The math for 10,000 searches: SearchApi Developer = $40. Firecrawl = 20,000 credits, so Standard at $83 a month billed yearly.
Ranked picks
- #1
SearchApitop pickBest for: Teams that need Bing's actual results, or want to switch to Google with one setting.
- The same key runs Bing and Google searches.
- You get 100 free searches to test.
- #2
Best for: Teams that used Bing to find pages and then read them.
- Search and page reading share one bill.
- #3
Best for: AI agents that want web results from an index built for AI.
- Results come from Perplexity's own index.
Compare
| Tool | Price band | Best for | Dealbreaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 SearchApi | From $40 a month. | Teams that need Bing's actual results, or want to switch to Google with one setting. | It returns results only. |
| #2 Firecrawl | From $16 a month yearly. | Teams that used Bing to find pages and then read them. | The math: 10,000 searches = 20,000 credits, so it needs Standard ($83 yearly). |
| #3 Perplexity Search API | $1 per 1,000 on Fast. | AI agents that want web results from an index built for AI. | It returns Perplexity's results, so it can't replace Bing's exact results. |
MethodHow we scored these tools▾
SearchApi and Firecrawl are priced for 10,000 searches a month, using published prices on October 15, 2026.
Who it's for
buy if
- Use this page if your Bing Search API key stopped working.
- Use this page if you are following an old tutorial that uses the Bing Search API.
skip if
- Skip this page if you build inside Azure AI Agents. Microsoft's own replacement works there.
The short answer
The Bing Search APIs are gone. If you need Bing's own results as data, use SearchApi. If you used Bing to find pages and then read them, use Firecrawl. If you are building an AI agent, look at Perplexity's Search API.
Why Microsoft's replacement is not a drop-in
Grounding with Bing Search works inside Azure AI Agents. The agent reads Bing results and writes an answer.
Your old code expected a list of results. Grounding doesn't return one, so a list-based job needs a search API.
How to pick by what you need back
If you need Bing's results, like for Bing SEO or ad checks, use a search API with a Bing engine.
If you only want good web results for an AI model, you don't need Bing. Pick by what comes back: links, page text or short answers.
What 10,000 searches a month cost
Prices are from October 15, 2026.
The math on SearchApi: Developer covers 10,000 searches for $40. Production is $100, so Developer is the cheaper fit.
The math on Firecrawl: each search of 10 results costs 2 credits, so 10,000 × 2 = 20,000 credits. Hobby holds 5,000, and 15 extra packs of 1,000 cost 15 × $5 = $75. So $16 + $75 = $91 billed yearly, or $19 + $75 = $94 billed monthly. Standard at $83 a month billed yearly is cheaper.
Common questions
Is the Bing Search API still available?▾
No. Microsoft retired it on August 11, 2025.
Does Bing have a free API?▾
Not anymore. SearchApi's 100 free requests include its Bing engine.
What did Microsoft replace it with?▾
Grounding with Bing Search, which works only inside Azure AI Agents.
what to do next
What to do next
Write down what your old Bing code expected back. If you need Bing's or Google's results as data, use SearchApi and its 100 free requests. If you also need the page text, use Firecrawl. Retirement date from Microsoft's notice. Try SearchApi Try Firecrawl Next · Web search APIs compares search tools · Firecrawl vs Tavily prices one job on both.