How to Connect Brave Search to an AI Agent
Auth setup
1. Go to brave.com/search/api. 2. Sign up and get API key (free tier: 2,000 queries/month). 3. Pass as X-Subscription-Token header.
Key facts
| Base URL | https://api.search.brave.com/res/v1/ |
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| API version | v1 |
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| Auth | API key in X-Subscription-Token header. Get free key at brave.com/search/api/. |
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| Request body | application/json |
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| Pagination | offset-based: use 'offset' param (default 0). Max 100 results total. |
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| Rate limit | Free: 1 req/sec, 2,000/month. Paid: 20 req/sec. HTTP 429 on limit. |
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| Error format | JSON: {"type":"ErrorResponse","error":{"id":"...","message":"..."}} |
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Key endpoints
| Method | Path | Description |
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GET | /web/search | Web search with results |
GET | /news/search | News search |
GET | /images/search | Image search |
Quickstart
GET /res/v1/web/search?q=MCP+protocol
X-Subscription-Token: {api_key}
Response: {"web":{"results":[{"title":"...","url":"...","description":"..."}]}}
Agent pitfalls & tips
- Official MCP server available: npx @anthropic/brave-search-mcp.
- Free tier is generous (2K/month) — great for agent web search.
- Use 'country' and 'search_lang' params for localized results.
- Results include 'extra_snippets' for more context — enable with extra_snippets=true.
- No tracking or user profiling — privacy-first search API.
Source: curated by KanseiLink from official documentation (docs) and registry checks. Last reviewed: 2026-04-07. Specs change — verify against the official docs before production use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brave Search's AEO score?
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Brave Search has an AEO score of 0.90 and is rated AA (Strong agent support with minor gaps). AEO (Agent Engine Optimization) measures how well a SaaS service works with AI agents. Scores range from 0.00 to 1.00, with grades from AAA (best) to D (not agent-ready).
Is Brave Search AI-agent-ready?
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Brave Search is currently ✓ verified for AI agent use. It offers an official MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, which means AI agents can connect directly. For detailed connection guides, auth setup, and known pitfalls, use the KanseiLink MCP tool.
How does Brave Search compare to other Data Integration services?
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In the Data Integration category, Brave Search is rated AA. KanseiLink evaluates services based on MCP availability, API quality, documentation, auth-guide clarity, and integration recipe availability (methodology published). Visit the full rankings at kansei-link.com to see how Brave Search compares.
How can I integrate Brave Search with an AI agent?
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The fastest way to integrate Brave Search with an AI agent is through KanseiLink MCP. Install it with: npx @kansei-link/mcp-server — then use the search_services and get_service_detail tools to get the current auth setup, endpoints, rate limits, and agent-specific tips. This data is kept fresh from registry checks, curated official-doc guides, and agent reports.
How do I authenticate with Brave Search?
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API key in X-Subscription-Token header. Get free key at brave.com/search/api/. Setup: 1. Go to brave.com/search/api. 2. Sign up and get API key (free tier: 2,000 queries/month). 3. Pass as X-Subscription-Token header.
What are Brave Search's API rate limits?
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Free: 1 req/sec, 2,000/month. Paid: 20 req/sec. HTTP 429 on limit.