In most cases, AI search engines are free. However, some AI search engines have premium plans. Our favorite free AI search engine is Komi, thanks to its straightforward design and reliable results. Our favorite overall favorite AI search engine, Google's AI Mode, is also free to use, albeit with some limits. In general, most people won't need to pay for a premium AI search engine.

AI search engines rely on large language models (LLMs). Think of these as complex equations that you can plug questions into and get responses from. With an AI search engine, the underlying LLM searches the internet to find information relevant to your prompt and then condenses it into a concrete answer. So, instead of Googling "Is raw chicken safe to eat after three days in the fridge" and clicking through to an article you have to read to find the answer, you can prompt an AI search engine with the same question and get an answer that sources that same article. (The answer is no.)

The distinction between AI chatbots, AI search engines, and traditional search engines is nebulous. However, in the context of this list, we seek search engines with substantial AI functionality, as opposed to AI chatbots that primarily focus on areas other than search. That said, you can search the web with AI chatbots, too.