2025-12-23 — Everyone Gets to Search - Just Not the Same Search
Search costs real money. Every query hits APIs we pay for, AI models we can't run ourselves, and sources that charge per request. So we built a tiered system that's honest about costs while keeping search open to everyone. Anonymous users can still search without signing up. Free accounts get more. Pro subscribers get the best sources. And here's the part we're proud of: when Pro users hit their premium quota, they don't hit a wall - they just switch to standard search.
Highlights
- Pro subscribers get premium sources and specialized tools for better answers
- Run out of premium searches? You keep searching - just with standard sources instead
- No surprise walls, just graceful transitions between what you've paid for
- Anonymous search stays free because everyone deserves to find things
What's New
- Four tiers: Anonymous, Free, Basic, and Pro - each with quotas that match what they cost us
- Pro tier gets access to premium search capabilities and specialized answer tools
- Graceful degradation - exhaust your premium quota and you drop to basic search, not a blank screen
- Daily quotas that reset so heavy usage today doesn't punish you tomorrow
- Fair limits that keep the service sustainable without blocking casual users
What's Better
- You know what tier you're on and what you're getting - no hidden downgrades
- Pro users get their money's worth with better sources and deeper answers
- Free users get reliable search without constant upgrade pressure
- Anonymous users can still search without creating an account
- No one gets completely locked out - just moved to what their tier supports
What this means for you: Search that's honest about costs and fair about access. Pay for Pro to get premium sources, or use free search and get solid results. Either way, you're searching - not staring at a paywall.