Context.dev vs Bing Search API for AI agents
Context.dev is a web data API for AI agents (scrape, search, crawl, extract) whose search endpoint can return page content with each result. Microsoft's Bing Search APIs were retired on August 11, 2025 and are no longer available.
The short answer
- Context.dev: One credit pool for search, scraping and extraction, with page Markdown attached to results.
- Bing Search API: Nothing for new projects: it is retired; Microsoft points customers to Grounding with Bing Search inside Azure AI Agents.
Side by side
| Context.dev | Bing Search API | |
|---|---|---|
| Searches | Ranked web results (the provider does not name the engine; its country option maps to Google's gl parameter). | – |
| Returns | 10 to 100 results with URL, title and snippet; optional page Markdown or relevant passages per result. | – |
| Before the first call | An account and API key (Bearer); no card for the free tier. | – |
| Free | 1,000 credits a month, no credit card (search costs 1 credit per 10 results). | – |
| Paid | Developer plan $19/month for 7,500 credits; overage $2.20 per 1,000 credits. | – |
| Acting on a result | Through the web page each result links to | – |
| Limits on keeping or showing results | Terms bar systematically retrieving data from the service to compile a database without written permission. | – |
| AI in its terms | Context.dev may use customer data to train and improve its machine-learning models, unless a separate no-training agreement applies. | – |
| MCP server | Official MCP server: https://mcp.context.dev/mcp (OAuth or API key) | – |
Questions people ask
What do I need before I can use Context.dev?
An account and API key (Bearer); no card for the free tier.
Is Context.dev free?
1,000 credits a month, no credit card (search costs 1 credit per 10 results).
Sources
Every line about another company comes from its own pages. Prices and terms change, so check the source before you rely on one.
Context.dev, read on October 15, 2026:
- context.dev/pricing: “Start with 1,000 free credits/mo, no credit card required.”
- context.dev/pricing: “Web and news search cost 1 credit per 10 results.”
- docs.context.dev/api-reference/web-scraping/search: “Search the web and optionally return page content or relevant passages with each result.”
- docs.context.dev/api-reference/web-scraping/search: “Number of results to request and return (10–100). Defaults to 10.”
- context.dev/terms: “Systematically retrieve data or other content from the Services to create or compile”
- context.dev/terms: “Context.dev may use Customer IP to train and improve the machine learning”
- docs.context.dev/install-mcp: “https://mcp.context.dev/mcp”
- context.dev/pricing: “$19 /month Start building 7,500 credits per month”
Bing Search API, read on October 15, 2026:
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/announcements/bing-search-api-retirement: “Bing Search APIs will be retired on August 11, 2025.”
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/announcements/bing-search-api-retirement: “the product will no longer be available to be used or new customer signup.”
- learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/announcements/bing-search-api-retirement: “Customers are encouraged to migrate to Grounding with Bing Search as part of Azure AI Agents.”