Tako vs. web search APIs
The search API that returns answers, not links.
A web search API hands your agent a list of URLs to open, parse, and reconcile. Tako returns structured, cited data in under 500ms, with everything web search gives you plus licensed data you can't scrape. Here's how they compare.
Which is better, Tako or a web search API?
It depends on what your agent does with the results. If it needs facts, numbers, or charts it can cite, Tako is the better choice: it includes the same class of web search, performs at parity with leading web search APIs on SimpleQA and FRAMES, and adds licensed data and a structured, cited answer in the same call. If your agent only needs a list of pages to read and summarize itself, a plain web search API is enough.
LEADING DATA PROVIDERS
WHAT YOUR AGENT GETS BACK
One clean answer, or a pile of links to parse.
The same question, asked two ways. Tako returns a structured, cited knowledge card. A traditional search API returns homework.
One knowledge card: cursor.com's monthly visits in France, with a named source and an as-of date. Embed the chart as-is, or have your agent cite it in its answer.
Your agent still has to open each link, parse the page, reconcile numbers that disagree, and hope they're current. Every step is glue code you write, run, and pay tokens for.
INSIDE YOUR AGENT
The same research question, with and without Tako.
The agent calls Tako once, gets sourced data back, and answers with the real numbers.
Without a trusted data source, the agent can only apologize, make up a number, or cite last quarter's article. Your users can't tell which one they got.
WHY CHOOSE TAKO OVER A WEB SEARCH API
Everything your agent needs to answer with facts, in one call.
Strictly better than web search
Everything web search returns, plus licensed data on top. Your agent never misses what's on the web, and gets trusted, structured facts with it.
Licensed, proprietary data
Facts from data-licensing partners, not scraped guesses. The numbers you can't reliably pull off the open web.
Cost-efficient by design
Today your agents scrape, parse, clean, and store data before they can use it. Tako returns it directly: one structured call, no pipeline to build or maintain.
Always up to date
Continuously refreshed, so your agent answers with today's numbers instead of a stale cached page.
Structured & citable
Ready-to-use structured results with a source on every fact, so your agent can show its work.
Drop-in for any agent
One endpoint, MCP + SDK ready. Wire it into your existing agent stack in an afternoon.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Tako and a web search API?
A web search API returns ranked links and page text. Your agent must then read the pages, extract the numbers, and hope they are current. Tako returns the resolved answer with the figures behind it in one call, and a source on every fact.
Does Tako replace my web search API?
Tako includes the same class of web search over the open web, so it can replace it. On the standard web-search benchmarks SimpleQA and FRAMES, Tako performs at parity with leading web search APIs in both accuracy and latency.
How does Tako score on web search benchmarks?
Tako matches leading web search APIs on SimpleQA and FRAMES. On benchmarks that require reasoning across sources, Tako is 21 percent more accurate than the next-best web search API on VerticalRTK.
Which data does Tako license that the open web does not have?
Company financials, macroeconomic indicators, website and app traffic, sports, prediction markets, and United States government spending. Data-licensing partners include S&P Global, Semrush, YouGov, Polymarket, AccuWeather, and Quodd.
Can I use Tako with an AI agent or an MCP client?
Yes. Tako ships an MCP server and SDKs. Point your agent at one endpoint and it gets live web search plus licensed data together.
Does Tako reduce the number of tool calls my agent makes?
Yes. Because one call returns web results and structured data together, Tako reduces tool calls by up to 75 percent on agent research workflows.
Give your agent data it can trust.
Swap the list of links for structured, cited answers. MCP and SDK ready, wired into your stack in an afternoon.