Kagi Reaches 50k Users

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Perception of 50k Users & Sustainability

  • Some are surprised the number is “only” 50k and read it as weak reception in a world used to free search.
  • Others argue 50k paying users in a Google/Bing-dominated, free-to-use market is impressive.
  • Multiple references note Kagi reported profitability about a year ago; some accept that as enough, others question long‑term sustainability and growth speed.
  • Back-of-the-envelope estimates put revenue around ~$5M ARR, with debate over how to value such a niche SaaS and whether standard SaaS multiples apply.

Pricing, Billing Models & Regional Affordability

  • Strong split between people who hate metered/micropayments and those who actively prefer pay‑per‑use over subscriptions.
  • $10/month unlimited is praised by heavy users, but lighter or lower‑income users find $5 for 300 searches too little and too expensive, especially in developing countries.
  • Calls for regional pricing meet pushback: Kagi says most costs are per-search, making cheaper regional tiers hard without subsidy; some users don’t want to “subsidize” others.
  • There’s frustration with prepay credit that can’t immediately buy extra searches mid‑month.

Value vs Free Search Engines

  • Fans emphasize:
    • No ads, no “SEO junk,” far fewer Pinterest/“vibe-written” results.
    • Ability to block or de‑rank domains and boost niche sites.
    • Feeling of not being “advertising meat”; willingness to pay for that.
  • Skeptics:
    • See little or no improvement over Google/DDG, especially with ad blockers.
    • Miss Google Maps/Flights and often end up back on Google for location or commercial queries.
    • Dislike mandatory login across devices and worry about identifiability.

Search Quality, Index, and Dependencies

  • Debate over whether Kagi is “objectively superior” to Google/Bing:
    • Some cite better relevance, especially for technical and non‑ad queries.
    • Others say it struggles in some languages and niches, and note it’s largely a meta‑search engine, still reliant on external indexes.
  • Concern about dependence on Bing APIs; some links suggest large partners may be exempt from upcoming changes.
  • A minority argues search cannot remain small and great because building/maintaining a full web index is capital‑intensive.

AI Features & Changing Search Behavior

  • Users report fewer traditional searches since LLMs (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) appeared; some now reach for AI first.
  • Kagi’s “? at the end of a query” AI answer and Assistant (multi‑model broker) are big draws for some and half the perceived value.
  • Others dislike the AI focus, preferring Kagi remain a “pure” search engine; some canceled when they felt resources drifted into AI and swag instead of core search improvements.

Scope Creep, Company Culture & Trust

  • Expansion into maps, email, browser (Orion), and AI sparks mixed reactions:
    • Some want an ecosystem (search + mail + tools).
    • Others want Kagi to concentrate on excellent search and not “platformize” into bloat.
  • Maps are widely seen as weak vs Google; email plans are intriguing but switching cost is high.
  • Old hiring copy about “you will work a lot” and low compensation raises burnout/pay concerns.
  • Spending a large chunk of investor funds on free t‑shirts alienated some, who see it as frivolous for such a small, fragile company.
  • There’s a broader discussion about staying small, user-funded, and VC‑free vs chasing unicorn‑style hypergrowth and “enshittification.”

Usage Patterns & Miscellaneous

  • Reported averages cluster around 15–30 searches/day per user; weekday traffic notably higher than Sundays.
  • Some users experience latency or Safari integration quirks; others are very happy with Orion on macOS and anticipate a Linux version.
  • There are scattered moral/geo-political objections (e.g., working with certain countries), which for a few are deal‑breakers.