SERP APIs With No Minimum Deposit & a Real Free Tier: I Signed Up for 7 (2026)
Bottom line up front: I signed up for seven SERP APIs to find out which ones actually let you start — no $50 minimum, no credit card, no monthly commitment — and which make you pay to even get in the door. The split is clear:
- Lowest barrier overall: Serpent API — 10 free searches with no card, then a one-time $10 deposit to go paid (no subscription).
- Most generous free sandbox: Serper (2,500 one-time credits) and ScraperAPI (5,000-credit trial).
- Best recurring free allowance: SerpApi (250/month) and ScraperAPI (1,000/month after the trial).
- Highest barrier: DataForSEO — no standing free tier and a $50 minimum first deposit.
If you just want to validate an integration before paying, almost all of these will do it. The differences show up in how much free you get, whether a card is required, and how small the first real payment can be. Every figure below was checked against each provider's live 2026 pricing page.
The 7 providers at a glance
| Provider | Free allowance | Card to start? | Minimum to go paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serpent API | 10 searches (one-time) | No | $10 deposit |
| Serper | 2,500 credits (one-time) | No | $50 pack |
| SerpApi | 250 / month | No | $25 / month |
| ScraperAPI | 5,000 trial, then 1,000 / month | No | $49 / month |
| Scrapingdog | 200 credits (one-time) | No | $40 / month |
| Apify | $5 / month usage | No | $29 / month |
| DataForSEO | ~$1 trial credit only | — | $50 deposit |
Six of the seven let you create a working key with no credit card. DataForSEO is the outlier: a tiny registration trial credit, then a hard $50 deposit before you can really use it. And notice the right-hand column — the gap between Serpent API's $10 one-time deposit and everyone else's $25–$50 monthly subscription or pack is the real story for anyone starting small.
Pick the right starting point
- Want the smallest possible first payment? Serpent API — $10, once, no subscription.
- Want the biggest free sandbox before paying anything? Serper (2,500) or ScraperAPI's 5,000-credit trial.
- Want free searches every month, forever? SerpApi (250/mo) or ScraperAPI (1,000/mo).
- Already on the SEO-data stack and fine with a deposit? DataForSEO — just budget the $50 minimum.
Free tiers, compared honestly
"Free tier" means different things across these providers, and the shape matters more than the headline number:
- One-time sandbox — Serpent API (10), Serper (2,500), Scrapingdog (200). You get a fixed allotment once, to kick the tyres. Serper's 2,500 is unusually generous for a one-time grant.
- Recurring monthly free — SerpApi (250/month), ScraperAPI (1,000/month after a 5,000 trial), Apify ($5/month in platform usage). These are the closest thing to "free forever" for tiny workloads, because the allowance refills every cycle.
- Trial credit only — DataForSEO (~$1 at registration). Enough to fire a few test calls, not enough to build on; the real start is the $50 deposit.
If your goal is to run a genuinely small workload at zero cost indefinitely, a recurring allowance (SerpApi 250/mo, ScraperAPI 1,000/mo) beats a larger one-time grant. If your goal is a thorough pre-purchase test, the one-time sandboxes are bigger. For DIY routes that avoid a paid API entirely, we covered the realistic options in free Google Search APIs, tested honestly and how to scrape a Google SERP for free.
The minimum-deposit question (where it gets expensive to start)
The free tier gets you testing; the minimum to go paid decides how cheaply you can run a small but real workload. Ranked from lowest barrier up:
| Provider | Smallest paid step | Commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Serpent API | $10 deposit | None — one-time top-up |
| SerpApi | $25 / month | Monthly subscription |
| Apify | $29 / month | Monthly subscription |
| Scrapingdog | $40 / month | Monthly subscription |
| ScraperAPI | $49 / month | Monthly subscription |
| Serper | $50 pack | None — prepaid pack |
| DataForSEO | $50 deposit | None — prepaid balance |
Two things stand out. First, Serpent API is the only provider where you can move from free to paid for $10, and it is a deposit rather than a recurring bill — spend it whenever, top up when you want. Second, "no minimum subscription" is not the same as "cheap to start": Serper and DataForSEO have no monthly commitment but still ask for $50 up front. If protecting cash flow at the start matters, the deposit size and the commitment type both count.
Card or no card?
Requiring a credit card just to test is friction, and most of these providers have dropped it. Serpent API, Serper, SerpApi, Scrapingdog and Apify all let you generate a working key with no card. DataForSEO's flow centres on the $50 deposit rather than a free key. If "no card to try" is a hard requirement for you — common in regulated teams or quick proofs-of-concept — you have plenty of options here; DataForSEO is the one to plan around.
So which should you start with?
Start with Serpent API if…
You want the lowest possible barrier — free to test with no card, then a $10 one-time deposit to go live across Google, Bing, Yahoo and DuckDuckGo, with credits that never expire. Best for solo devs, side projects and lean teams who hate subscriptions.
Start with Serper or ScraperAPI if…
You want the biggest free sandbox to validate thoroughly before paying. Serper's 2,500 one-time credits (Google-only) or ScraperAPI's 5,000-credit trial give you real room to test.
Start with SerpApi if…
You want a recurring free allowance and may need its long tail of engines later. 250 free searches a month, no card, and the broadest engine coverage if you grow into it.
Start with DataForSEO if…
You are already buying SEO data (backlinks, on-page, keyword volume) and the $50 deposit is a rounding error for you. The deposit never expires, so it is not wasted — just a higher entry step.
Whichever you pick, keep your integration portable. These APIs are close enough in shape that a thin adapter lets you start on one free tier and move later without a rewrite — the full picture is in Serpent API vs SerpApi vs DataForSEO vs Serper and our pricing comparison.
Start free, pay $10 only when you're ready
Serpent API has the lowest barrier of any SERP API in this test: 10 free Google searches with no credit card, then a one-time $10 deposit — no subscription, and credits that never expire. Try it now, free.
Start Free — 10 Searches, No CardExplore: Pricing · SERP API · Cheapest SERP API 2026
FAQ
Which SERP API has a free tier with no credit card?
Serpent API (10 searches), Serper (2,500 credits), SerpApi (250/month), Scrapingdog (200 credits) and Apify ($5/month usage) all start with no card. DataForSEO has no standing free tier and requires a $50 deposit.
Which SERP API has no minimum deposit?
Serpent API has the lowest barrier at a $10 one-time deposit. DataForSEO and Serper both require $50; ScraperAPI, Scrapingdog and Apify start at monthly subscriptions.
Does DataForSEO have a free tier?
Only a small one-time registration trial credit (around $1). Production use requires a $50 minimum first deposit; there is no recurring free allowance.
Which gives the most free searches?
For a one-time sandbox, Serper (2,500) and ScraperAPI (5,000 trial). For recurring free, SerpApi (250/month) and ScraperAPI (1,000/month).
Is there a truly free SERP API?
No production-grade SERP API is unlimited and free, but recurring monthly allowances (SerpApi 250/mo, ScraperAPI 1,000/mo) come closest for tiny workloads. For DIY free routes, see our free Google Search API guide.
What's the cheapest way to start?
Test on a no-card free tier, then deposit only what you need. Serpent API's $10 minimum is the smallest step from free to paid, and it is a one-time top-up, not a subscription.
