ToolRankBest AI search engines
Updated 16 Oct 2026 · Prices from vendor pages only · How we rank →
The short answer
These tools answer questions by searching the web and citing sources. Perplexity comes first: cited answers across top models with deep research, free to start. The cheapest verified paid plan here is Kagi Starter ($5/month). 3 of the 4 have a free plan we could confirm. Every price below is from the vendor’s own page, checked 16 Oct 2026.
Ranked shortlist
- Perplexity: Cited answers across top models with deep research, free to start. Plan: Pro: $17/month billed annually
Deep research, top models, 4,000 bonus credits - Kagi: Ad-free paid search engine with AI Assistant. Plan: Starter: $5/month
300 searches - You.com: AI search and research agents. Plan: Not yet verified
- Liner: AI research assistant with cited sources. Plan: Pro: $14.99/month annually or $17.99 monthly
Order follows ToolRank’s editorial ranking in Research & Productivity, filtered to tools that fit this page. Anything we couldn’t confirm on a vendor page says “Not yet verified”.
Side by side
| Rank | Tool | Relevant plan | Starting price | Free plan | Best for | Main limitation | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Perplexity | Pro: $17/month billed annually Deep research, top models, 4,000 bonus credits | $17/month (Pro, billed annually) | Free sign-up; limits not specified on page | Fast researched answers with sources | Deep research, top models and higher limits need Pro ($17/month annual) or Max. | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #2 | Kagi | Starter: $5/month 300 searches | $5/month (Starter, 300 searches) | Free trial: 100 searches | Ad-free private search with an AI assistant | Free use is a 100-search trial | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #3 | You.com | Not yet verified | $5 per 1,000 calls (Web Search API) | Free tier: up to 100 queries via MCP server, no key | Developers needing a web-search API | Pricing page covers the API, not consumer plans | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #4 | Liner | Pro: $14.99/month annually or $17.99 monthly | $14.99/month (Pro, billed annually; $17.99 monthly) | Free: $0, answers with ads | Source-cited AI search for students | Free plan shows ads | 16 Oct 2026 |
Prices as listed by each vendor on the last-checked date, USD, before tax. Plans and limits change, so follow the sources below.
Who should pick which
Pick Perplexity for fast researched answers with sources (Pro: $17/month billed annually); think twice if you need long creative writing rather than research. Pick Kagi for ad-free private search with an AI assistant (Starter: $5/month). Watch out: free use is a 100-search trial. Pick You.com for developers needing a web-search API ($5 per 1,000 calls (Web Search API)). Watch out: pricing page covers the API, not consumer plans. Pick Liner for source-cited AI search for students (Pro: $14.99/month annually or $17.99 monthly). Watch out: free plan shows ads.
FAQ
Which of these is cheapest?
Kagi Starter ($5/month) is the lowest paid price we verified on this list (https://kagi.com/pricing, checked 16 Oct 2026). Check the vendor page for tax, billing period and usage limits.
Which of these have a free plan?
Perplexity: Free sign-up; limits not specified on page; You.com: Free tier: up to 100 queries via MCP server, no key; Liner: Free: $0, answers with ads.
How were these tools chosen?
They are the tools in ToolRank's rankings with AI search listed as the core product, confirmed on the vendor's own website on 16 Oct 2026. Tools we could not verify are left out rather than guessed, and anything unconfirmed is marked Not yet verified.
Sources
- Perplexity: Perplexity plans checked 16 Oct 2026
- Kagi: Kagi pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- You.com: You.com pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- Liner: Liner pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
Related comparisons
Profiles: Perplexity · Kagi · You.com · Liner
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