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Head-to-head · AI Search Engines

Google AI Mode vs Kagi Search

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Google AI Mode #2 in AI Search Engines 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit Google AI Mode
Kagi Search #5 in AI Search Engines 8.7/10 Paid ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Kagi

Google AI Mode leads on 1 check, Kagi Search on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGoogle AI Mode · 9.2/10
  • Free planonly Google AI Mode
  • Most featuresKagi Search · 4 of 4

Google AI Mode scores higher on our rubric for ai search engines: 9.2 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #5.

Google AI Mode offers free plan; Kagi Search doesn't. On citation format, Kagi Search gives you Source_list where Google AI Mode offers Inline. On mobile apps, Google AI Mode gives you Both where Kagi Search offers Android.

Google AI Mode is the better fit for multimodal search in Google's ecosystem. Kagi Search is the better fit for power users wanting ad-free customizable search.

  • Google AI Mode fits best

    Multimodal search in Google's ecosystem

  • Kagi Search fits best

    Power users wanting ad-free customizable search

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Google AI Mode 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Kagi Search 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.7
Ranking #2 in AI Search Engines #5 in AI Search Engines
Best for Multimodal search in Google's ecosystem Power users wanting ad-free customizable search
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price $9.99/mo $54/yr
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, Android, Chrome extension
Support Docs Email, Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Google AI Mode 2/4 · Kagi Search 4/4
Deep research mode ✓ ✓
Source filters ✓ ✓
Browser extension Not checked yet ✓ (best)
API access Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Citation format Inline Source_list
Mobile apps Both Android
Monthly query limit Not checked yet 300 /mo
Our review
Pros
  • AI answers include links, follow-ups, and conversational context
  • Accepts text, voice, images, and files for multimodal search
  • Deep Search creates multi-step, fully cited research reports
  • Ad- and tracker-free search with domain ranking, blocking and boosting
  • Lenses filter results by sites, keywords, regions and file types
  • Quick Answers cite sources; Ultimate adds Research mode and premium models
Cons
  • Availability and subscription benefits vary by country and account
  • Citation format is mixed across AI-generated responses
  • Advanced access is tied to the Google AI Pro subscription
  • No free plan; ongoing use requires a paid plan
  • Starter limits monthly searches to 300
  • The published mobile app is for Android; no iOS Search app is available
Our verdict

Google AI Mode is a conversational search experience built into Google Search. It is designed for people who want AI-generated answers with links to web sources, follow-up questions, and more than one input format. Users can submit text,…

Read the review →

Kagi Search is a user-funded web search engine for people who want ad-free, tracker-free results and more control over what appears. It combines Kagi’s own indexes with other providers and vertical sources, and is aimed at individual users…

Read the review →
  1. Google AI ModeAI Search Engines 9.2Free plan
  2. Kagi SearchAI Search Engines 8.7Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Google AI Mode — where it wins

    • AI answers include links, follow-ups, and conversational context
    • Accepts text, voice, images, and files for multimodal search
    • Deep Search creates multi-step, fully cited research reports

    Where it doesn't

    • Availability and subscription benefits vary by country and account
    • Citation format is mixed across AI-generated responses
    • Advanced access is tied to the Google AI Pro subscription

  • Kagi Search — where it wins

    • Ad- and tracker-free search with domain ranking, blocking and boosting
    • Lenses filter results by sites, keywords, regions and file types
    • Quick Answers cite sources; Ultimate adds Research mode and premium models

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan; ongoing use requires a paid plan
    • Starter limits monthly searches to 300
    • The published mobile app is for Android; no iOS Search app is available

More comparisons

All AI search engines comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update