BRAVE has announced a shift in how its Brave Search API is billed, moving newly activated plans from a postpaid, pay‑as‑you‑go model to a prepaid, pay‑as‑you‑go model. Existing subscribers on a postpaid plan will remain unaffected, but if they cancel and re‑activate, future usage will be on the prepaid scheme.
For users who rely on the free tier, Brave continues to offer a monthly credit structure rather than a freely unlimited service. Every account receives a $5 monthly credit, refreshed rather than accumulated, which covers roughly 1,000 free searches. The article notes that many users, including those via AI agents with built‑in web search, do not depend heavily on the Brave Search API. Free users can still access the service within these limits, though the article emphasises that the credits are designed to accommodate typical needs.
New sign‑ups must still undergo credit card verification. A temporary preauthorisation of $0 or $1 may appear during signup, which Brave then releases or refunds, with the monthly $5 credit applied thereafter. Importantly, a prepaid balance can be set to $0 and consumption capped, allowing continued free use in the long term. If usage exceeds 1,000 searches, the service pauses and no further billing occurs, effectively preventing charges beyond the prepaid limit.