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Head-to-head · AI Search Engines

Kagi Search vs Kimi

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Kagi Search #5 in AI Search Engines 8.7/10 Paid ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Kagi
Kimi #6 in AI Search Engines 8.6/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Kimi

Kagi Search leads on 0 checks, Kimi on 1, 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 scoreKagi Search · 8.7/10
  • Free planonly Kimi
  • Free trialonly Kimi
  • Most featuresKagi Search · 4 of 4

Kagi Search scores higher on our rubric for ai search engines: 8.7 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #6.

Kimi offers free plan; Kagi Search doesn't.

Kagi Search is the better fit for power users wanting ad-free customizable search. Kimi is the better fit for multimodal users searching across devices.

  • Kagi Search fits best

    Power users wanting ad-free customizable search

  • Kimi fits best

    Multimodal users searching across devices

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Side by side

Feature Kagi Search 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Kimi 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.6
Ranking #5 in AI Search Engines #6 in AI Search Engines
Best for Power users wanting ad-free customizable search Multimodal users searching across devices
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $54/yr —
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — 7 days
Deployment Cloud, Mobile, Browser extension Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms Web, Android, Chrome extension Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome extension
Support Email, Community, Docs Email, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Kagi Search 4/4 · Kimi 0/4
Deep research mode ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Source filters ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Browser extension ✓ (best) Not checked yet
API access ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Citation format Source_list Not checked yet
Mobile apps Android Not checked yet
Monthly query limit 300 /mo Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • 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
  • Real-time web search includes source links for cited answers
  • Processes PDFs, Office files, images, videos, and long-context research
  • Available on web, desktop, mobile, browser extension, and API
Cons
  • 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
  • Kimi Business requires annual billing and a five-seat minimum
  • Paid services are generally non-refundable
  • Support channels are limited to email and documentation
Our verdict

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 →

Kimi is Moonshot AI’s AI assistant and agentic workspace for people who want search, research, file work, coding, and automation in one product. It combines real-time web search with source links, multimodal understanding, document…

Read the review →
  1. Kagi SearchAI Search Engines 8.7Paid
  2. KimiAI Search Engines 8.6Free plan · 7-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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

  • Kimi — where it wins

    • Real-time web search includes source links for cited answers
    • Processes PDFs, Office files, images, videos, and long-context research
    • Available on web, desktop, mobile, browser extension, and API

    Where it doesn't

    • Kimi Business requires annual billing and a five-seat minimum
    • Paid services are generally non-refundable
    • Support channels are limited to email and documentation
  • Kagi Search8.7/10 · Paid

    Ad-free search with strong source controls and AI tools, starting at $5 per month.

    Visit KagiFull verdict →
  • Kimi8.6/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

    A multimodal AI workspace with cited search, agents, file handling, coding, and broad platform access.

    Visit KimiFull verdict →

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