Tavily Research
by Tavily
Research API that returns cited reports on demand
Reviewed by the the30top research team · Last reviewed 2026-10-27
Overview
Tavily's Research endpoint takes a question, runs multiple searches and returns a detailed report with numbered, MLA, APA or Chicago citations. You can prefer or block domains, attach up to five text files as extra sources and ask for output that matches a JSON schema. It is an API, so analysts without engineering support cannot use it directly, and a single pro run can use up to 250 credits against the 1,000 free credits you get each month.
Our verdict
A practical research backend with a real free tier and transparent credits. Hand it to engineers, not to analysts.
Best for
Developers who want cited research reports inside their own agents or products.
Avoid if
You want a ready-made research workspace for non-technical analysts.
Pros
- Free monthly credits with no card required
- Control over domains, citation style and output shape
- Clear per-request credit ranges
Cons
- Developer product with no analyst interface
- Pro runs can use up to 250 credits each
- Research endpoint limits are not stated on the pricing page
Key capabilities
Frequently asked questions
Does Tavily have a free plan?
Yes. The Researcher plan is free with 1,000 API credits a month and no credit card required.
How many credits does a Tavily research request use?
Tavily's docs list 4 to 110 credits per request on mini and 15 to 250 credits on pro.
Can Tavily use my own files?
Yes. You can attach up to five .txt, .md or .json files and the agent cites any file it draws from.