Pay-per-call web search returning structured results at $0.01/request via MPP/Tempo
What it does
Parallel Search is an HTTP API endpoint (`POST /api/search`) that performs web searches and returns structured results with excerpts. It is part of the Parallel API Gateway, which also offers URL content extraction and deep async research tasks. The search endpoint accepts a query string (or an objective with explicit search queries) and supports two modes: "one-shot" for comprehensive results and "fast" for lower latency. Payment is handled via the Machine Payment Protocol (MPP) on the Tempo blockchain using pathUSD, at $0.01 per request.
The endpoint is payment-gated using HTTP 402 challenges. Callers use the `npx mppx` CLI or SDK, which automatically intercepts the 402 response, signs the payment on Tempo, and retries the request. No manual credential construction is needed. A rate limit of 60 requests per minute per IP applies, with 429 responses including a Retry-After header.
The broader Parallel gateway includes companion endpoints: `POST /api/extract` ($0.01/URL) for scraping and extracting structured content from web pages, and `POST /api/task` ($0.10 pro / $0.30 ultra) for deep asynchronous AI research tasks that return a run_id for polling. Free endpoints are available for polling task status (`GET /api/task/{runId}`) and checking wallet balances (`GET /api/wallet/balance/{address}`). All payments are final and settled immediately on-chain; no refunds are available.
Capabilities
Use cases
- —AI agents performing web research without browser access
- —Automated pipelines that need structured search results with excerpts
- —Multi-hop research workflows combining search, extraction, and deep tasks
- —Programmatic web search with micropayment settlement
Fit
Best for
- —AI agents needing on-demand web search via CLI or SDK
- —Developers wanting structured search results without API key management
- —Workflows requiring both fast and comprehensive search modes
- —Machine-to-machine web search with automatic crypto micropayments
Not for
- —High-volume search requiring more than 60 requests/minute
- —Users who need free or ad-supported search
- —Applications requiring traditional API key authentication instead of crypto payments
Quick start
# 1. Create a Tempo wallet
npx mppx account create
# 2. Fund with pathUSD, then search:
npx mppx https://parallelmpp.dev/api/search --method POST -J '{"query":"AI funding 2026","mode":"one-shot"}'Example
Request
{
"mode": "one-shot",
"query": "AI funding 2026"
}Endpoint
Quality
Full OpenAPI schema with clear pricing, request body definitions, and examples. The endpoint is a POST-only route so the HEAD/GET probe returning 404 is expected and does not indicate downtime. No example response schema is documented, which prevents a higher score.
Warnings
- —Probe returned 404 on HEAD and GET because the endpoint only accepts POST; this does not indicate the endpoint is down.
- —No response schema is documented — the shape of search results is unknown.
- —All payments are final with no refunds per the provider's stated policy.
- —/docs and /pricing pages return 404; documentation lives only on the homepage and GET /api.
Citations
- —Search endpoint costs $0.01 per request, settled in pathUSD on Tempohttps://parallelmpp.dev/api
- —Two search modes: one-shot (comprehensive) and fast (lower latency)https://parallelmpp.dev
- —Rate limit is 60 requests per minute per IPhttps://parallelmpp.dev
- —All payments are final; no refunds once confirmed on-chainhttps://parallelmpp.dev/api
- —Payment amount is 10000 base units of pathUSD (6 decimals) = $0.01https://parallelmpp.dev/api
- —Companion endpoints include /api/extract at $0.01/URL and /api/task at $0.10–$0.30https://parallelmpp.dev