---
title: "Search and Fetch API for AI Agents Compared, Independently Benchmarked, 2026 | Openbenchmarks"
description: "Search only or search plus fetch? The same web search APIs ranked on F1 in both modes on multi-hop company search, so the gain from fetching is measured."
url: https://openbenchmarks.com/multi-turn-company-search/search-and-fetch-api-for-ai-agents
---

[](https://openbenchmarks.com/) 

[← multi-turn company search](https://openbenchmarks.com/multi-turn-company-search) 

[benchmarks](https://openbenchmarks.com/) / [web-search](https://openbenchmarks.com/web-search) / [multi-turn company search](https://openbenchmarks.com/multi-turn-company-search) / search and fetch 

45 questions · multi-hop · 20 configurations

# Best search and fetch API for AI agents: search-only vs search + fetch

Ranked on the multi-hop search task of the [web search benchmark](https://openbenchmarks.com/web-search). Each question combines three or four constraints.

Parallel basic (parallel-basic) leads F1 at 46.5% on this run.

Search-only exposes results and snippets; search + fetch also lets the agent open an exact URL the search returned. Compare a provider's F1 across the two boards below: the difference is what page fetching buys on this task, and it is not the same for every API.

[Most accurate](https://openbenchmarks.com/multi-turn-company-search/most-accurate-search-api) · [Fastest](https://openbenchmarks.com/multi-turn-company-search/fastest-search-api) · [Cheapest](https://openbenchmarks.com/multi-turn-company-search/cheapest-search-api) · [Find companies by criteria](https://openbenchmarks.com/multi-turn-company-search/find-companies-by-investor-location-funding) · [Search + fetch](https://openbenchmarks.com/multi-turn-company-search/search-and-fetch-api-for-ai-agents) · [Full benchmark](https://openbenchmarks.com/multi-turn-company-search) 

[open runner + judge Public in openbenchmarks-labs/multi-turn-company-search. github → ](https://github.com/openbenchmarks-labs/multi-turn-company-search) 

\[01\] search only

## Ranking, sorted by f1

__Search-only, ranked by f1__
| Provider | Endpoint & configuration | F1 | Precision | Recall | Exact set | Median time | Mean turns | Median task cost | API list price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Parallel basic](https://parallel.ai "Open Parallel basic in a new tab") | POST /v1/search mode=basic parallel-basic | **46.5 ± 1.9** | 88.7 ± 0.9 | 34.4 ± 2.0 | 3.7 ± 2.6 | 67.6 s | 7.4 | $1.120 $0.070 search $1.050 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [Exa deep](https://exa.ai "Open Exa deep in a new tab") | POST /search type=deep exa-deep | **45.4 ± 2.0** | 83.2 ± 3.0 | 33.7 ± 1.4 | 1.5 ± 1.3 | 89.5 s | 7.4 | $0.717 $0.156 search $0.556 token cost | $0.012 / search |
| [Parallel advanced](https://parallel.ai "Open Parallel advanced in a new tab") | POST /v1/search mode=advanced parallel-advanced | **44.2 ± 1.4** | 87.6 ± 3.4 | 32.0 ± 1.6 | 2.2 ± 0.0 | 83.4 s | 7.3 | $0.625 $0.070 search $0.565 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [Exa instant](https://exa.ai "Open Exa instant in a new tab") | POST /search type=instant exa-instant | **43.3 ± 1.0** | 82.6 ± 3.8 | 32.2 ± 0.5 | 3.0 ± 1.3 | 49.8 s | 7.3 | $0.652 $0.091 search $0.559 token cost | $0.007 / search |
| [Linkup fast](https://www.linkup.so "Open Linkup fast in a new tab") | POST /v1/search depth=fast linkup-fast | **41.1 ± 1.7** | 82.8 ± 1.0 | 30.3 ± 1.5 | 0.7 ± 1.3 | 64.2 s | 7.4 | $0.923 $0.070 search $0.853 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [Tavily advanced](https://tavily.com "Open Tavily advanced in a new tab") | POST /search search\_depth=advanced tavily-advanced | **41.1 ± 2.3** | 83.7 ± 4.2 | 29.8 ± 1.7 | 2.2 ± 0.0 | 92.2 s | 7.4 | $1.029 $0.224 search $0.808 token cost | $0.016 / search |
| [Linkup standard](https://www.linkup.so "Open Linkup standard in a new tab") | POST /v1/search depth=standard linkup-standard | **40.6 ± 0.9** | 84.0 ± 7.9 | 29.7 ± 1.4 | 1.5 ± 2.6 | 72.3 s | 7.3 | $0.937 $0.070 search $0.867 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [You](https://you.com "Open You in a new tab") | POST /v1/search extraction\_mode=highlights | **38.6 ± 0.8** | 79.3 ± 4.9 | 28.3 ± 0.9 | 4.4 ± 0.0 | 48.2 s | 7.5 | $0.971 $0.070 search $0.901 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [You](https://you.com "Open You in a new tab") | POST /v1/search extraction\_mode=highlights · knowledge=core | **38.1 ± 0.6** | 80.9 ± 1.6 | 27.4 ± 0.9 | 3.0 ± 1.3 | 47.6 s | 7.5 | $0.895 $0.070 search $0.827 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [Parallel fast](https://parallel.ai "Open Parallel fast in a new tab") | POST /v1/search mode=fast parallel-fast | **38.0 ± 2.0** | 79.9 ± 4.6 | 27.5 ± 1.4 | 1.5 ± 1.3 | 53.9 s | 7.6 | $0.460 $0.014 search $0.447 token cost | $0.001 / search |
| [Perplexity](https://www.perplexity.ai "Open Perplexity in a new tab") | POST /search search\_context\_size=low | **37.8 ± 2.1** | 79.3 ± 5.7 | 26.8 ± 1.4 | 2.2 ± 2.2 | 48.9 s | 7.7 | $0.334 $0.070 search $0.264 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [Tavily basic](https://tavily.com "Open Tavily basic in a new tab") | POST /search search\_depth=basic tavily-basic | **36.5 ± 3.2** | 82.5 ± 1.9 | 25.7 ± 2.7 | 1.5 ± 1.3 | 63.0 s | 7.7 | $0.615 $0.112 search $0.504 token cost | $0.008 / search |
| [Parallel turbo](https://parallel.ai "Open Parallel turbo in a new tab") | POST /v1/search mode=turbo parallel-turbo | **34.7 ± 2.4** | 80.0 ± 5.2 | 24.8 ± 2.4 | 1.5 ± 1.3 | 46.4 s | 7.6 | $0.419 $0.014 search $0.405 token cost | $0.001 / search |
| [Nimble](https://www.nimbleway.com "Open Nimble in a new tab") | POST /v2/search search\_depth=standard · full\_content=false · focus=general | **30.7 ± 1.4** | 70.3 ± 3.3 | 21.3 ± 1.1 | 0.7 ± 1.3 | 53.0 s | 7.7 | $0.467 $0.070 search $0.398 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [Firecrawl](https://firecrawl.dev "Open Firecrawl in a new tab") | POST /v2/search firecrawl | **30.4 ± 1.1** | 77.3 ± 4.4 | 20.7 ± 0.7 | 2.2 ± 0.0 | 75.0 s | 7.9 | $0.282 $0.070 search $0.212 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [Brave Search](https://brave.com/search/api/ "Open Brave Search in a new tab") | GET /res/v1/web/search brave | **28.0 ± 1.7** | 66.9 ± 8.5 | 19.3 ± 0.5 | 0.7 ± 1.3 | 43.5 s | 8.0 | $0.268 $0.070 search $0.200 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [TinyFish](https://www.tinyfish.ai "Open TinyFish in a new tab") | GET api.search.tinyfish.ai tinyfish | **26.6 ± 1.3** | 64.7 ± 1.5 | 17.9 ± 0.8 | 1.5 ± 1.3 | 64.2 s | 7.9 | $0.212 $0.000 search $0.212 token cost | $0 / search |
| [Nimble](https://www.nimbleway.com "Open Nimble in a new tab") | POST /v2/search search\_depth=lite · full\_content=false · focus=general | **25.3 ± 1.1** | 62.8 ± 1.9 | 17.6 ± 1.2 | 1.5 ± 1.3 | 67.9 s | 7.9 | $0.234 $0.015 search $0.220 token cost | $0.0011 / search |
| [Seltz](https://seltz.ai "Open Seltz in a new tab") | POST /v1/search scope=companies seltz-companies | **14.5 ± 0.9** | 40.0 ± 3.1 | 9.4 ± 0.7 | 0.0 ± 0.0 | 55.2 s | 7.3 | $1.751 $0.070 search $1.681 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [SERP](https://rapidapi.com/herosAPI/api/google-search74 "Open SERP in a new tab") | GET google-search74.p.rapidapi.com serp | **0.4 ± 0.6** | 0.7 ± 1.3 | 0.3 ± 0.4 | 0.0 ± 0.0 | 31.4 s | 7.8 | $0.103 $0.036 search $0.065 token cost | $0.003 / search |

F1, precision, recall, and exact-set accuracy are percentages reported as mean ± sample SD across three independent runs; each run aggregates all 45 questions. SD is measured in percentage points. Median time is the median end-to-end time across all runs for each vendor. Median task cost is the median of LLM $ plus search API $ per agent run. API list price is the PAYG unit rate of the search endpoint the harness calls.

\[02\] search + fetch

## Search plus fetch, same sort

__Search plus fetch, ranked by f1__
| Provider | Endpoint & configuration | F1 | Precision | Recall | Exact set | Median time | Mean turns | Median task cost | API list price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Exa deep](https://exa.ai "Open Exa deep in a new tab") | POST /search type=deep exa-deep | **48.2 ± 2.1** | 89.4 ± 1.2 | 36.0 ± 2.2 | 2.2 ± 2.2 | 95.8 s | 7.5 | $0.683 $0.156 search+fetch $0.526 token cost | $0.012 / search $0.001 / fetch |
| [Perplexity](https://www.perplexity.ai "Open Perplexity in a new tab") | POST /search search\_context\_size=high | **46.6 ± 2.0** | 87.7 ± 5.9 | 34.7 ± 1.1 | 2.2 ± 2.2 | 53.9 s | 7.5 | $0.504 $0.070 search+fetch $0.441 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [Exa instant](https://exa.ai "Open Exa instant in a new tab") | POST /search type=instant exa-instant | **44.9 ± 0.9** | 85.9 ± 2.5 | 33.5 ± 0.9 | 5.2 ± 1.3 | 52.5 s | 7.5 | $0.653 $0.091 search+fetch $0.557 token cost | $0.007 / search $0.001 / fetch |
| [Parallel basic](https://parallel.ai "Open Parallel basic in a new tab") | POST /v1/search mode=basic parallel-basic | **42.3 ± 1.1** | 81.3 ± 2.8 | 31.3 ± 1.1 | 3.0 ± 1.3 | 68.6 s | 7.5 | $1.089 $0.061 search+fetch $1.033 token cost | $0.005 / search $0.001 / fetch |
| [Parallel advanced](https://parallel.ai "Open Parallel advanced in a new tab") | POST /v1/search mode=advanced parallel-advanced | **42.2 ± 1.1** | 87.6 ± 0.3 | 30.1 ± 1.1 | 2.2 ± 0.0 | 80.9 s | 7.4 | $0.599 $0.061 search+fetch $0.538 token cost | $0.005 / search $0.001 / fetch |
| [Linkup standard](https://www.linkup.so "Open Linkup standard in a new tab") | POST /v1/search depth=standard linkup-standard | **42.0 ± 1.8** | 90.7 ± 2.0 | 30.5 ± 2.0 | 3.0 ± 3.4 | 81.0 s | 7.5 | $0.911 $0.070 search+fetch $0.848 token cost | $0.005 / search $0.001 / fetch |
| [Tavily advanced](https://tavily.com "Open Tavily advanced in a new tab") | POST /search search\_depth=advanced tavily-advanced | **41.0 ± 1.3** | 89.4 ± 6.0 | 29.1 ± 0.7 | 2.2 ± 0.0 | 92.6 s | 7.3 | $0.898 $0.195 search+fetch $0.685 token cost | $0.016 / search $0.0032 / fetch |
| [Linkup fast](https://www.linkup.so "Open Linkup fast in a new tab") | POST /v1/search depth=fast linkup-fast | **39.9 ± 1.3** | 85.3 ± 3.6 | 28.6 ± 1.3 | 0.7 ± 1.3 | 68.0 s | 7.3 | $0.903 $0.061 search+fetch $0.837 token cost | $0.005 / search $0.001 / fetch |
| [Parallel fast](https://parallel.ai "Open Parallel fast in a new tab") | POST /v1/search mode=fast parallel-fast | **39.3 ± 3.3** | 82.3 ± 6.6 | 28.2 ± 2.0 | 2.2 ± 0.0 | 55.1 s | 7.6 | $0.441 $0.014 search+fetch $0.427 token cost | $0.001 / search $0.001 / fetch |
| [You](https://you.com "Open You in a new tab") | POST /v1/search extraction\_mode=highlights | **38.5 ± 1.6** | 85.2 ± 2.7 | 26.9 ± 1.7 | 0.7 ± 1.3 | 45.6 s | 7.4 | $0.864 $0.065 search+fetch $0.795 token cost | $0.005 / search $0.001 / fetch |
| [You](https://you.com "Open You in a new tab") | POST /v1/search extraction\_mode=highlights · knowledge=core | **38.5 ± 2.4** | 78.2 ± 2.5 | 28.3 ± 3.0 | 3.7 ± 1.3 | 48.5 s | 7.4 | $0.894 $0.065 search+fetch $0.830 token cost | $0.005 / search $0.001 / fetch |
| [Tavily basic](https://tavily.com "Open Tavily basic in a new tab") | POST /search search\_depth=basic tavily-basic | **38.1 ± 1.4** | 81.2 ± 5.9 | 27.8 ± 0.7 | 2.2 ± 0.0 | 62.0 s | 7.8 | $0.610 $0.112 search+fetch $0.507 token cost | $0.008 / search $0.0032 / fetch |
| [Parallel turbo](https://parallel.ai "Open Parallel turbo in a new tab") | POST /v1/search mode=turbo parallel-turbo | **36.0 ± 3.5** | 83.6 ± 4.0 | 25.0 ± 2.6 | 0.0 ± 0.0 | 48.1 s | 7.7 | $0.414 $0.013 search+fetch $0.400 token cost | $0.001 / search $0.001 / fetch |
| [Firecrawl](https://firecrawl.dev "Open Firecrawl in a new tab") | POST /v2/search firecrawl | **33.2 ± 2.1** | 83.3 ± 0.8 | 22.7 ± 1.8 | 1.5 ± 1.3 | 82.1 s | 7.9 | $0.295 $0.063 search+fetch $0.230 token cost | $0.005 / search $0.0025 / fetch |
| [Nimble](https://www.nimbleway.com "Open Nimble in a new tab") | POST /v2/search search\_depth=standard · full\_content=false · focus=general · extract formats=\[markdown\] | **31.3 ± 1.8** | 73.2 ± 1.9 | 21.7 ± 1.6 | 1.5 ± 1.3 | 59.2 s | 7.9 | $0.424 $0.424 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [TinyFish](https://www.tinyfish.ai "Open TinyFish in a new tab") | GET api.search.tinyfish.ai tinyfish | **30.2 ± 3.5** | 70.9 ± 11.3 | 20.9 ± 2.5 | 0.0 ± 0.0 | 63.4 s | 7.9 | $0.219 $0.000 search+fetch $0.219 token cost | $0 / search $0 / fetch |
| [Brave Search](https://brave.com/search/api/ "Open Brave Search in a new tab") | GET /res/v1/web/search brave | **29.4 ± 1.6** | 73.5 ± 5.8 | 20.4 ± 0.9 | 1.5 ± 1.3 | 45.1 s | 8.0 | $0.285 $0.060 search+fetch $0.222 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [Nimble](https://www.nimbleway.com "Open Nimble in a new tab") | POST /v2/search search\_depth=lite · full\_content=false · focus=general · extract formats=\[markdown\] | **27.1 ± 1.5** | 68.5 ± 4.4 | 18.7 ± 0.9 | 2.2 ± 0.0 | 72.0 s | 8.0 | $0.237 $0.237 token cost | $0.0011 / search |
| [Seltz](https://seltz.ai "Open Seltz in a new tab") | POST /v1/search scope=companies seltz-companies | **16.3 ± 1.5** | 49.5 ± 2.4 | 10.2 ± 1.2 | 0.0 ± 0.0 | 60.1 s | 7.5 | $1.741 $0.070 search+fetch $1.671 token cost | $0.005 / search |
| [SERP](https://rapidapi.com/herosAPI/api/google-search74 "Open SERP in a new tab") | GET google-search74.p.rapidapi.com serp | **0.0 ± 0.0** | 0.0 ± 0.0 | 0.0 ± 0.0 | 0.0 ± 0.0 | 33.4 s | 7.8 | $0.102 $0.039 search+fetch $0.066 token cost | $0.003 / search |

F1, precision, recall, and exact-set accuracy are percentages reported as mean ± sample SD across three independent runs; each run aggregates all 45 questions. SD is measured in percentage points. Median time is the median end-to-end time across all runs for each vendor. Median task cost is the median of LLM $ plus search/fetch API $ per agent run. API list price is the PAYG unit rate of the search (and fetch) endpoint the harness calls.

\[03\] faq

## Common questions

### Should a research agent use search only, or search and fetch?

It depends on the API. On this task, Perplexity (perplexity) gains the most from page fetch (+8.7 F1 points), while Parallel basic (parallel-basic) changes by -4.2\. Fetch adds latency and model cost on every run, so it pays only where snippets are not enough to verify a constraint.

### What does search and fetch mean here?

Search-only exposes provider search results and snippets to the agent but no page-reading tool. Search + fetch also lets the agent open an exact URL returned by the search. Both modes run the same agent, the same questions and the same scoring; only the tool set differs.

Openbenchmarks [← multi-turn company search](https://openbenchmarks.com/multi-turn-company-search) © 2026 Openbenchmarks