Definition
Google Programmable Search Engine (PSE), formerly Custom Search Engine (CSE), is a free Google service that lets you create a search engine scoped to specific websites or the entire web, returning results via an API with a 10,000 query/day limit.
In Depth
Google PSE provides a free tier of 100 queries/day and a paid tier up to 10,000 queries/day at $5/1,000 queries via the Custom Search JSON API. It returns organic results in JSON format but lacks many SERP features available on google.com, including knowledge graphs, People Also Ask, local pack results, and AI overviews. The results can also differ from standard Google Search because PSE uses a separate index. Teams that outgrow PSE's daily limits or need full SERP fidelity typically migrate to dedicated SERP APIs like Scavio that return the same structured data users see on google.com, with no daily caps and support for additional platforms like YouTube, Amazon, and Reddit.
Example Usage
A developer sets up Google PSE to search their documentation site, but hits the 10K/day limit during a product launch. They switch to Scavio's Google search endpoint which has no daily cap and returns full SERP features including knowledge graph and PAA data.
Platforms
Google Programmable Search Engine is relevant across the following platforms, all accessible through Scavio's unified API:
Related Terms
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SERP Feature Parsing
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Credit-Based API Pricing
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