Search and research assistant for focused learning workflows
Kagi is a privacy-first search and research service that replaces ad-driven web search with ranked, filterable results and built-in note-taking; it’s best for researchers, developers, and knowledge workers who need decluttered, fast query refinement and pay for a subscription. Kagi’s paid plans start with a modest monthly fee and remove ads while adding credits for Kagi Notes, Sorts, and advanced search controls, making it a paid-first alternative to general-purpose search engines.
Kagi is a privacy-focused, subscription search and research assistant that surfaces curated web results, bundled tools, and distraction-free reading. It replaces ad and tracking-heavy search with a paid model, advanced relevance controls (Sorts), and integrated note-taking (Kagi Notes) to support deep research. Kagi’s key differentiator is its subscription-funded ranking and filtering system that gives users granular control over sources and result types, aimed at researchers, developers, and power users who prioritize quality and privacy. Pricing is accessible via a free trial followed by paid plans that unlock higher query limits and collaboration features.
Kagi launched as a paid, privacy-first alternative to ad-driven search. Founded to remove ad influence and tracking from web search, Kagi positions itself as a research and learning utility rather than a general advertising platform. The core value proposition is simple: pay for unbiased, high-quality search results and tooling, and get a cleaner, faster path to authoritative information. Kagi emphasizes user control over ranking — through user-defined Sorts and source prioritization — and bundles reading and note-taking tools to support longer research workflows that traditional search engines don’t directly address.
Kagi’s feature set centers on refined search controls and built-in productivity tools. Sorts let you create and save custom ranking rules (for example preferring documentation sites or excluding forums), while Filters narrow results by domain, recency, or filetype. Kagi Notes is an integrated clipping and note-taking feature that captures full-page excerpts, annotations, and links; Notes can be organized into collections for projects. Kagi also offers zero-click previews and “instant answers” for some queries, keyboard-driven navigation, and an extensions-compatible web experience; it supports stacks of saved searches and query histories for reproducible research. The interface exposes query credits and usage statistics so users can monitor monthly consumption.
Kagi’s pricing follows its pay-for-quality philosophy. There’s a free trial that allows limited querying and exploration but not unlimited access; after the trial, the primary paid plan is Kagi Personal at $9–$12 per month billed annually (price has varied historically—check current site for exact monthly/annual breakdown). Higher tiers include more query credits, additional team seats, and collaboration controls; Kagi also offers a Team/Business plan at a higher per-seat price and an Enterprise option with custom billing and SSO. Paid tiers remove any promotional content, increase the number of saved Sorts and Notes, and unlock collaboration, priority support, and higher query throughput.
Real users include technical researchers and product analysts who need reproducible, source-controlled searching. For example, a software engineer uses Kagi to reduce noise when researching API behavior by creating a Sort that prioritizes official docs and GitHub, producing faster, higher-signal results. A market researcher uses Kagi Notes to clip competitor sites and build a shareable research collection, cutting briefing prep time in half. Compared to general search engines like Google, Kagi trades off free, ad-supported scale for predictable subscription pricing, source control, and privacy-first policies, making it a closer alternative to paid research tools than to commodity search.
Three capabilities that set Kagi apart from its nearest competitors.
Current tiers and what you get at each price point. Verified against the vendor's pricing page.
| Plan | Price | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trial | Free | Limited queries and features for initial evaluation, time-limited | New users testing relevance and UI |
| Personal | $9/month billed annually (approx.) | Higher monthly query allowance, unlimited Notes, saved Sorts increased | Individual researchers and power users |
| Team | Custom / per-seat pricing | Shared queries, collaboration, administrative controls, priority support | Small teams needing shared research workflows |
| Enterprise | Custom | SSO, dedicated support, custom quotas and SLAs | Organizations requiring compliance and admin controls |
Choose Kagi over Perplexity if you prefer subscription-funded, source-controlled search with integrated note clipping and no ad-based ranking.