The Muse API vs JSearch: curated jobs, no key to test or Google for Jobs results by API
The Muse API is a public JSON API for job and company listings posted on The Muse. JSearch is a commercial job search API that returns live job postings and salary estimates gathered from Google for Jobs.
The short answer
- The Muse API: A free, no-key way to pull The Muse's curated job listings with company context.
- JSearch: Broad, Google-for-Jobs-style job search across many boards from one API.
Side by side
| The Muse API | JSearch | |
|---|---|---|
| Searches | Jobs listed on The Muse, filterable by company, category, level and location (including flexible/remote). | Aggregated postings via Google for Jobs, covering LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter and other public job sites. |
| Returns | JSON pages of 20 results; each job has name, contents (description), publication_date, locations, levels, categories, company and refs.landing_page. | JSON jobs with job_id, job title, employer_name, job_publisher, job_city, job_country, job_min_salary, job_apply_link and apply_options; endpoints search-v2, job-details, company-job-salary, estimated-salary. |
| Before the first call | Nothing for testing; an api_key from registration is required for any use beyond testing. | An account and API key from the OpenWeb Ninja developer portal (also sold on RapidAPI). |
| Free | 500 requests per hour without a key; 3,600 per hour with a registered key. No price is stated. | Not stated on its pages |
| Acting on a result | refs.landing_page points to the job page on themuse.com. | job_apply_link is the primary apply link; apply_options lists links from other publishers, each flagged is_direct. |
| Limits on keeping or showing results | Content shown via the API must link back to The Muse; on termination you must destroy stored Muse Content (terms last modified 7/25/2015). | Not stated on its pages |
| Coverage | The location filter lists cities worldwide; no stated country coverage. | Not stated on its pages |
| MCP server | No official server listed | Official OpenWeb Ninja MCP server (npm @openwebninja/mcp-server) includes a jsearch tool: https://github.com/OpenWeb-Ninja/openwebninja-mcp |
Where Openpath fits
If the agent needs a job to apply for in Austin, Texas, or a remote one, Openpath returns the listings themselves, free and with no key. See Openpath vs The Muse API and Openpath vs JSearch.
Questions people ask
What do I need before I can use The Muse API?
Nothing for testing; an api_key from registration is required for any use beyond testing.
Is The Muse API free?
500 requests per hour without a key; 3,600 per hour with a registered key. No price is stated.
What do I need before I can use JSearch?
An account and API key from the OpenWeb Ninja developer portal (also sold on RapidAPI).
Is JSearch free?
Its pages listed no free use when we read them on October 15, 2026.
Sources
Every line about another company comes from its own pages. Prices and terms change, so check the source before you rely on one.
The Muse API, read on October 15, 2026:
- themuse.com/developers/api/v2: “Registration is required for any use beyond testing.”
- themuse.com/developers/api/v2: “you're limited to 500 requests per hour”
- themuse.com/developers/api/v2: “This will allow you to make up to 3600 requests per hour.”
- themuse.com/api/public/jobs: “https://www.themuse.com/jobs/dmcsinaigracehospital/registered-nurse-registered-nurse-medsurg-telemetry-full-time-nights-6ec354”
- themuse.com/developers/api/v2/terms: “any Muse Content provided through the Apps by utilizing the Muse API will link back to The Muse Website”
JSearch, read on October 15, 2026:
- agents.openwebninja.com/manifest.json: “Returns live job postings from Google for Jobs covering LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter and other public job sites”
- agents.openwebninja.com/zcj/v8c3szxamb6i/services/jsearch/openapi.json: “The primary link to apply for the job.”
- agents.openwebninja.com/zcj/v8c3szxamb6i/services/jsearch/openapi.json: “Alternative apply links from other publishers.”
- openwebninja.com/documentation: “Sign up, manage subscriptions, and access API keys”
- github.com/OpenWeb-Ninja/openwebninja-mcp: “Official Model Context Protocol server for OpenWeb Ninja APIs”