Tavily alternative
Competitor facts as of October 2026. Source: https://docs.tavily.com/documentation/api-credits
Tavily source — as of October 2026
Who each product is for
Tavily: Developers who primarily need search and want direct credit pricing and a monthly free tier.
KeepBal: agents calling supported data tools and models through one key and one prepaid wallet. Browse the current catalog before integrating.
| Dimension | Tavily | KeepBal |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Developers who primarily need search and want direct credit pricing and a monthly free tier. | Supported data APIs and models in a shared prepaid wallet |
| Pricing | Pay as you go: $0.008 per credit. Basic search uses 1 credit; advanced search uses 2. There are 1,000 free credits/month. | No monthly subscription. Fixed tool prices from the catalog; variable tools use provider cost plus 35%. Models have separate listed token prices. |
| Tradeoff | Choose Tavily direct if search is your main requirement: it is cheaper and includes 1,000 free credits per month. | Check supported tools and models; a shared wallet does not guarantee the lowest price. |
Choose Tavily if…
Choose Tavily direct if search is your main requirement: it is cheaper and includes 1,000 free credits per month.
Choose KeepBal if…
You want one key, one prepaid balance and call history across supported data tools and models. KeepBal does not provide OAuth connections for SaaS actions.
Cost scenario
After free credits are exhausted, 1,000 basic searches × 1 credit × $0.008 = $8 direct. For advanced search, 1,000 × 2 × $0.008 = $16. Compare the same search depth and input settings before choosing.
KeepBal example: 1,000 successful fixed-price tool calls × the current catalog price per call = usage cost. A live fixed tavily/search price is unavailable in this rendering, so no numeric search quote is shown. Inspect the tool before calling; variable prices need an input-specific quote.
These examples use different billing units unless explicitly matched. KeepBal top-ups are separate from usage: $10 credit + ceil($10 × 8% to cents) + $0.35 = $11.15 before tax. Only $10 enters the wallet. Promotional credit is excluded from the usage arithmetic.
Tool catalog · Model prices · Pricing and top-up fees
Frequently asked questions
When does KeepBal make sense instead of Tavily direct?
Tavily direct is cheaper and has a free tier, as of October 2026. KeepBal is for workloads combining data tools and models under one key and prepaid balance; check the live catalog for availability.
Does KeepBal require a monthly plan?
No. KeepBal uses prepaid credit with no subscription. Paid top-ups have a fee; check Pricing before funding your wallet.